A Trial of Same-Day Testing and Treatment to Improve Outcomes Among Symptomatic Patients Newly Diagnosed With HIV

A Trial of Same-Day Testing and Treatment to Improve Outcomes Among Symptomatic Patients Newly Diagnosed With HIV

A Trial of Same-Day Testing and Treatment to Improve Outcomes Among Symptomatic Patients Newly Diagnosed With HIV

Haitian Group for the Study of Kaposi's Sarcoma and Opportunistic, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, Florida International University, University of California, Davis, Analysis Group, Inc.

This is a randomized, unblinded study comparing standard vs. same-day treatment for patients with TB symptoms (cough, fever, night sweats, or weight loss) at HIV diagnosis. Six hundred patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to the standard group or the same-day treatment group. All study activities will take place at the GHESKIO Centers in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The study population includes HIV-infected men and women ≥18 years of age who are ART-naïve, and who present with symptoms of TB (cough, fever, nights sweats, or weight loss) at HIV diagnosis.

This study is a randomized trial that will compare outcomes with standard and same-day treatment among patients with TB symptoms at HIV diagnosis. The standard group will receive same-day chest x-ray as well as Xpert Ultra testing with a spot specimen (with 48-hour turn-around-time). Participants will return for Xpert Ultra results and early morning sputum testing on Day 2. TB treatment will be provided on the day of diagnosis (Day 0 for those with high clinical and radiographic suspicion of TB, and Day 2 for those diagnosed by spot Xpert Ultra). Standard group participants who are not diagnosed with TB will be tested and treated for other opportunistic infections (OIs), as clinically indicated, and will initiate ART on Day 7. The same-day group will receive Xpert Ultra testing (with same-day results) and chest x-ray with same-day ART or TB treatment (on Day 0) based on test results. They will also be tested and treated for other OIs as clinically indicated. They will provide early morning sputum for repeat testing on Day 1. Both groups will receive Xpert Ultra testing on both spot and early morning specimens, with liquid culture on both specimens as the diagnostic gold standard; those with TB will start ART according to WHO guidelines. Three specific aims are proposed: Aim 1: To compare the proportion of participants in each group who are alive and in care with undetectable viral load (<200 copies/ml) at 48 weeks after HIV testing. Hypothesis: The proportion of participants retained in care with undetectable viral load will be 51% in the standard and 65% in the same-day group. Aim 2: To compare mortality in each group at 48 weeks after HIV testing. Hypothesis: Mortality will be 10% in the standard group and 4% in the same-day group. Aim 3: To conduct a comparison of cost and cost-effectiveness of standard and same-day care, where cost is measured by the mean treatment cost and effectiveness is measured by being alive and in care with plasma HIV-1 RNA level <200 copies/ml at 48 weeks after HIV testing. Hypothesis: Same-day treatment will cost less per patient retained in care with undetectable viral load. Aim 4: To determine the rates of ART and TB treatment initiation, TB diagnosis after ART initiation, IRIS, adverse events, and adherence in both groups, and to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of single tests and different testing combinations compared to liquid mycobacterial culture results.

On Day 0 (day of HIV diagnosis and study enrollment) participants will receive a chest x-ray and provide a sputum specimen for spot Xpert Ultra testing (48-hour results). Those with high clinical/radiographic suspicion for TB will start same-day TB treatment. On Day 2, participants will return for results of Xpert Ultra testing (spot specimen) and to provide a specimen for early morning Xpert Ultra testing. Those who are Xpert Ultra positive will start TB treatment. Those who are not diagnosed with TB will start ART on Day 7, after testing and treatment for other opportunistic infections. A liquid TB culture will be performed on both the spot and early morning specimens.

On Day 0 (day of HIV diagnosis and study enrollment) participants will receive a chest x-ray and Xpert Ultra testing with same-day results. Based on clinical symptoms, Xpert Ultra results, and chest x-ray, physician will determine whether or not the participant has tuberculosis. Those who are diagnosed with TB will start same-day TB treatment. Those who are not diagnosed with TB will start same-day ART.

Proportion of participants with perfect (100%) adherence as measured by 3-day self-report at 48 weeks after HIV testing

Proportion of participants meeting WHO criteria for ART failure and proportion initiating second-line ART during the study period

Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and likelihood ratios of spot and early morning Xpert Ultra results and chest x-ray, as single and as combined tests, with liquid culture as gold standard

New Division of AIDS Grade 3 or Grade 4 signs, symptoms, or laboratory abnormalities that are at least a one-grade increase from baseline

Inclusion Criteria: Men and women of ≥18 years of age Presence of cough, fever, night sweats or weight loss Ability and willingness to give written informed consent Documentation of positive HIV status (test conducted at GHESKIO) Acceptance of HIV diagnosis, defined as affirmative responses to two questions: "I believe that HIV and AIDS exist" and "I believe that the results of my HIV test show that I am infected". Exclusion Criteria: Any use of ART in the past Treatment for TB in the year prior to screening visit Pregnancy or breastfeeding at the screening visit Active drug, alcohol use, or mental condition that would interfere with the ability to adhere to study requirements, in the opinion of the study physician Score of <3 for any of the 7 questions on the ART readiness survey Planning to transfer care to another clinic during the study period Symptoms consistent with WHO stage 4 neurologic disease (cryptococcal meningitis, TB meningitis; central nervous system toxoplasmosis; HIV encephalopathy; progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy) Severe illness, classified as one of the WHO "danger signs" of temperature >39 degrees Celsius, pulse >120 beats/minutes, respiratory rate >30, or inability to walk unaided.

When the study has been completed, anonymized data will be made publicly available, which will permit replication of reported outcomes.

Zifodya JS, Kreniske JS, Schiller I, Kohli M, Dendukuri N, Schumacher SG, Ochodo EA, Haraka F, Zwerling AA, Pai M, Steingart KR, Horne DJ. Xpert Ultra versus Xpert MTB/RIF for pulmonary tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance in adults with presumptive pulmonary tuberculosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021 Feb 22;2:CD009593. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD009593.pub5.