Integrated use of laboratory services for multiple infectious diseases in the WHO European Region during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Technical advances in diagnostic techniques have permitted the possibility of multi-disease-based approaches for diagnosis and treatment monitoring of several infectious diseases, including tuberculosis (TB), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections (STI). However, in many countries, diagnosis and monitoring, as well as disease response programs, still operate as vertical systems, potentially causing delay in diagnosis and burden to patients and preventing the optimal use of available resources. With countries facing both human and financial resource constraints, during the COVID-19 pandemic even more than before, it is important that available resources are used as efficiently as possible, potential synergies are leveraged to maximise benefit for patients, continued provision of essential health services is ensured. For the infectious diseases, TB, HIV, hepatitis C (HCV) and STI, sharing devices and integrated services starting with rapid, quality-assured, and complete diagnostic services is beneficial for the continued development of adequate, efficient and effective treatment strategies. Here we explore the current and future potential (as well as some concerns), importance, implications and necessary implementation steps for the use of platforms for multi-disease testing for TB, HIV, HCV, STI and potentially other infectious diseases, including emerging pathogens, using the example of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Date Issued
2022-07
Date Acceptance
2022-04-28
Citation
Eurosurveillance, 2022, 27 (29)
ISSN
1025-496X
Publisher
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
Journal / Book Title
Eurosurveillance
Volume
27
Issue
29
Copyright Statement
© Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
License URL
Sponsor
Imperial College Trust
Commission of the European Communities
Research England
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35866437
Grant Number
WMNF_P71650
825673
Subjects
HIV
integration
laboratory services
sexually transmitted infections
tuberculosis
viral hepatitis
COVID-19
HIV Infections
Hepatitis C
Humans
Pandemics
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Tuberculosis
World Health Organization
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
Sweden