Publications

The role and challenges of cluster randomised trials for global health.

Abstract

Evaluating whether an intervention works when trialled in groups of individuals can pose complex challenges for clinical research.

Dron L Taljaard M Cheung YB Grais R Ford N Thorlund K Jahan F Nakimuli-Mpungu E Xavier D Bhutta ZA Park JJH Mills EJ
The Lancet. Global health 2021 May ; 9(5); e701-e710. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(20)30541-6. Epub 2021 04 18
Clinical trial

Randomised trials at the level of the individual.

Abstract

In global health research, short-term, small-scale clinical trials with fixed, two-arm trial designs that generally do not allow for major changes throughout the trial are the most common study design.

Park JJH Ford N Xavier D Ashorn P Grais RF Bhutta ZA Goossens H Thorlund K Socias ME Mills EJ
The Lancet. Global health 2021 May ; 9(5); e691-e700. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(20)30540-4. Epub 2021 04 18
Clinical trial

AMR in low-resource settings: Médecins Sans Frontières bridges surveillance gaps by developing a turnkey solution, the Mini-Lab.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In low-and-middle-income countries (LMIC), data related to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are often inconsistently collected.

Ronat JB Natale A Kesteman T Andremont A Elamin W Hardy L Kanapathipillai R Michel J Langendorf C Vandenberg O Naas T Kouassi F
Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases 2021 Apr 28; . doi: 10.1016/j.cmi.2021.04.015. Epub 2021 04 28
Antimicrobial resistance Clinical bacteriology laboratory Low-and middle-income countries Mini-lab Médecins Sans Frontières Surveillance

Epidemiological, clinical, and public health response characteristics of a large outbreak of diphtheria among the Rohingya population in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, 2017 to 2019: A retrospective study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Unrest in Myanmar in August 2017 resulted in the movement of over 700,000 Rohingya refugees to overcrowded camps in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. A large outbreak of diphtheria subsequently began in this population.

Polonsky JA Ivey M Mazhar KA Rahman Z le Polain de Waroux O Karo B Jalava K Vong S Baidjoe A Diaz J Finger F Habib ZH Halder CE Haskew C Kaiser L Khan AS Sangal L Shirin T Zaki QA Salam A White K
PLoS medicine 2021 Apr 01; 18(4); e1003587. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003587. Epub 2021 04 01

Impact of systematic early tuberculosis detection using Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra in children with severe pneumonia in high tuberculosis burden countries (TB-Speed pneumonia): a stepped wedge cluster randomized trial.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In high tuberculosis (TB) burden settings, there is growing evidence that TB is common in children with pneumonia, the leading cause of death in children under 5 years worldwide.

Vessière A Font H Gabillard D Adonis-Koffi L Borand L Chabala C Khosa C Mavale S Moh R Mulenga V Mwanga-Amumpere J Taguebue JV Eang MT Delacourt C Seddon JA Lounnas M Godreuil S Wobudeya E Bonnet M Marcy O
BMC pediatrics 2021 03 20; 21(1); . doi: 10.1186/s12887-021-02576-5. Epub 2021 03 20
Children Nasopharyngeal aspirate Pneumonia Stool Tuberculosis Xpert MTB/RIF ultra

Community intervention for child tuberculosis active contact investigation and management: study protocol for a parallel cluster randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There are major gaps in the management of pediatric tuberculosis (TB) contact investigation for rapid identification of active tuberculosis and initiation of preventive therapy.

Vasiliu A Eymard-Duvernay S Tchounga B Atwine D de Carvalho E Ouedraogo S Kakinda M Tchendjou P Turyahabwe S Kuate AK Tiendrebeogo G Dodd PJ Graham SM Cohn J Casenghi M Bonnet M
Trials 2021 Mar 02; 22(1); 180. doi: 10.1186/s13063-021-05124-9. Epub 2021 03 02
Cluster randomized controlled trial Community intervention Contact tracing Pediatric tuberculosis Preventive therapy Tuberculosis symptom screening