Effect of rK39 testing in guiding treatment initiation and outcome in patients with visceral leishmaniasis in Ethiopia: A prospective cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The rapid diagnostic test (RDT) rK39 is currently being used for routine diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in East Africa. However, continuous monitoring of the performance of the assay, in particular its impact on the clinical decision in initiating anti-leishmanial treatment and outcomes remains needed as there are concerns about the diagnostic performance of this test.

Methods

VL patients prospectively enrolled in a diagnostic trial and with rK39 RDT were included. We evaluated the effect of rK39 testing in guiding treatment initiation and outcome. On the basis of rK39 RDT test result as well as clinical case definition for VL and microscopy examination, the clinicians decide whether to initiate VL therapy or not. Poisson regression models were used to i

SUBMITTER: Hagos DG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8202953 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature