Salome Charalambous
Associate Professor AdjunctCards
About
Research
Publications
2025
Effect of digital adherence technologies on treatment outcomes in people with drug-susceptible tuberculosis: four pragmatic, cluster-randomised trials
Jerene D, van Kalmthout K, Levy J, Alacapa J, Deyanova N, Dube T, Mganga A, Tasca B, Bogdanov A, Efo E, Gamazina K, Garfin A, Kochanov V, Leung A, Madden N, Maraba N, McQuaid C, Mleoh L, Onjare B, Powers R, Terleiva Y, van Rest J, Gebhard A, Fielding K, Charalambous S. Effect of digital adherence technologies on treatment outcomes in people with drug-susceptible tuberculosis: four pragmatic, cluster-randomised trials. The Lancet 2025 PMID: 40086457, DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(24)02847-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDrug-susceptible tuberculosisTreatment outcomesPoor treatment outcomesPrimary outcomeDigital adherence technologiesIntervention armCluster randomised trialIntention-to-treat populationStandard of care armTuberculosis treatment outcomesDocumented treatment failureLoss to follow-upStandard of careAdherence technologiesTreatment failureTreatment startAdult patientsFollow-upPatientsTreatment statusPatient outcomesCare armTuberculosisMedicationTrialsEvaluating community knowledge of tuberculosis preventive therapy in rural South Africa
Foppiano Palacios C, Moll A, Shrestha R, Kompala T, Davis J, Charalambous S, Chimoyi L, Chihota V, Andrews L, Shenoi S. Evaluating community knowledge of tuberculosis preventive therapy in rural South Africa. BMC Public Health 2025, 25: 918. PMID: 40055618, DOI: 10.1186/s12889-025-21719-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsKnowledge of TBTB knowledgeExploratory factor analysisCommunity membersPublic health educationRural South AfricaCross-sectional studyPreventive therapyTuberculosis preventive therapyMultivariate linear regressionLinear regressionHealth educationChi-square testMedian scoreCounseling effortsCommunity eventsDescriptive statisticsEvaluate knowledgeTesting initiativesCultural beliefsTB incidenceCommunity knowledgeKwaZulu NatalSouth AfricaFactor analysisUnderstanding the occurrence and determinants of catastrophic costs of rifampicin resistant tuberculosis in South Africa to inform a patient-centered care program
Wang Z, Ndebele F, Sibeko Z, Bohlela S, Segwaba P, Fanampe B, Setlhare L, Charalambous S, Van Rie A, Van Rie A. Understanding the occurrence and determinants of catastrophic costs of rifampicin resistant tuberculosis in South Africa to inform a patient-centered care program. International Journal Of Infectious Diseases 2025, 152: 107756. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107756.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPatient-centered approachAnnual household incomeCatastrophic costsFree State ProvinceHousehold incomeTB diagnosisIndirect cost dataRR-TB treatmentTB treatment episodesRandomized controlled trialsCare programTelephone interviewsSocial protection interventionsTrial participantsClinic visitsPatient costsMultiple imputationVulnerable populationsBackground TuberculosisIndirect costsControlled trialsFree of chargeEconomic burdenEconomic evaluationSouth AfricaN-acetylcysteine modulates markers of oxidation, inflammation and infection in tuberculosis
Mapamba D, Sabi I, Lalashowi J, Sauli E, Buza J, Olomi W, Mtafya B, Kibona M, Bakuli A, Rachow A, Velen K, Hoelscher M, Ntinginya N, Charalambous S, Churchyard G, Wallis R, consortium T. N-acetylcysteine modulates markers of oxidation, inflammation and infection in tuberculosis. Journal Of Infection 2025, 90: 106379. PMID: 39756697, DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2024.106379.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAdjunctive N-acetylcysteineN-acetylcysteinePulmonary tuberculosisEx vivo whole blood cultureAffecting IL-10Effect of N-acetylcysteineFar-advanced pulmonary tuberculosisRecovery of lung functionN-acetylcysteine treatmentWhole blood culturesHost-directed therapiesPost-tuberculosis lung diseaseReduction of oxidative stressClearance of MtbAnti-inflammatory effectsBiomarkers of oxidationBlood culturesSecondary endpointsTotal glutathionePreclinical modelsClinical outcomesMtb burdenMonth 1Healthy volunteersIL-10
2024
Modelling the epidemiological and economic impact of digital adherence technologies with differentiated care for tuberculosis treatment in Ethiopia
Goscé L, Tadesse A, Foster N, van Kalmthout K, van Rest J, van der Wal J, Harker M, Madden N, Abdurhman T, Gadissa D, Bedru A, Dube T, Alacapa J, Mganga A, Deyanova N, Charalambous S, Letta T, Jerene D, White R, Fielding K, Houben R, McQuaid C. Modelling the epidemiological and economic impact of digital adherence technologies with differentiated care for tuberculosis treatment in Ethiopia. BMJ Global Health 2024, 9: e016997. PMID: 39653521, PMCID: PMC11628985, DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2024-016997.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDigital adherence technologiesHealthcare providersTB deathsPatient cost savingsStandard of careAdherence technologiesLabelling interventionsEpidemiological impactASCENT trialDifferentiated careMedication labelsIncident TBImprove tuberculosisProvider costsTB incidenceCareTB episodeProvidersCompartmental transmission modelPotential long-termCost of treatmentInterventionTreatment completionHealthcareEpidemiological benefitsBurden of tuberculosis in underserved populations in South Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Holtgrewe L, Johnson A, Nyhan K, Boffa J, Shenoi S, Karat A, Davis J, Charalambous S. Burden of tuberculosis in underserved populations in South Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS Global Public Health 2024, 4: e0003753. PMID: 39361564, PMCID: PMC11449336, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0003753.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchLatent TB infection prevalenceLatent TB infectionUnderserved populationsTB prevalenceMeta-analysisSystematic reviewNational averagePrevalence of TB diseaseCalculate prevalence ratiosTB diseaseCase-finding strategiesPopulation of personsAssessed study qualityHigh TB prevalenceHigh-burden countriesBurden of tuberculosisTB interventionsPrevalence ratiosStudy qualityReduce tuberculosisHIV statusActive TB diseaseGeneral populationModerate heterogeneityTB incidenceAdjunctive N-Acetylcysteine and Lung Function in Pulmonary Tuberculosis.
Wallis R, Sabi I, Lalashowi J, Bakuli A, Mapamba D, Olomi W, Siyame E, Ngaraguza B, Chimbe O, Charalambous S, Rachow A, Ivanova O, Zurba L, Myombe B, Kunambi R, Hoelscher M, Ntinginya N, Churchyard G. Adjunctive N-Acetylcysteine and Lung Function in Pulmonary Tuberculosis. NEJM Evidence 2024, 3: evidoa2300332. PMID: 39189858, DOI: 10.1056/evidoa2300332.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsWhole blood glutathione levelsLung functionN-acetylcysteinePulmonary tuberculosisCulture conversionSecondary outcomesGlutathione levelsEffect of N-acetylcysteineTuberculosis treatment outcomesOutcome of lung functionOral N-acetylcysteineRecovery of lung functionAdjunctive N-acetylcysteineAssociated with improved recoveryN-acetylcysteine treatmentPermanent lung injuryFar-advanced tuberculosisSputum cultureStandard therapyNAC administrationAdverse eventsLung injuryGlobal health concernCohort studyClinical evaluationUsing mHealth Technologies for Case Finding in Tuberculosis and Other Infectious Diseases in Africa: Systematic Review
Mudzengi D, Chomutare H, Nagudi J, Ntshiqa T, Davis J, Charalambous S, Velen K. Using mHealth Technologies for Case Finding in Tuberculosis and Other Infectious Diseases in Africa: Systematic Review. JMIR MHealth And UHealth 2024, 12: e53211. PMID: 39186366, PMCID: PMC11384173, DOI: 10.2196/53211.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchReaching for 90:90:90 in Correctional Facilities in South Africa and Zambia: Virtual Cross-Section of Coverage of HIV Testing and Antiretroviral Therapy During Universal Test and Treat Implementation
Hoffmann C, Herce M, Chimoyi L, Smith H, Tlali M, Olivier C, Topp S, Muyoyeta M, Reid S, Hausler H, Charalambous S, Fielding K. Reaching for 90:90:90 in Correctional Facilities in South Africa and Zambia: Virtual Cross-Section of Coverage of HIV Testing and Antiretroviral Therapy During Universal Test and Treat Implementation. JAIDS Journal Of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 2024, 96: 465-471. PMID: 38985444, DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000003456.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHIV testingCross-sectional analysisAntiretroviral therapyCoverage of HIV testingHIV statusHIV testing coverageUniversal testingHIV epidemic controlTreatment dataCohort-based studyAntiretroviral therapy initiationRoutine dataUTT implementationBackground PeopleCorrectional facilitiesCensus listsZambian sitesHIVSouth AfricaSouth African sitesEpidemic controlUTTCorrectional settingsTherapyFacilitiesHealth-seeking behaviour and patient-related factors associated with the time to TB treatment initiation in four African countries: a cross-sectional survey
Sathar F, Charalambous S, Velen K, Fielding K, Rachow A, Ivanova O, Rassool M, Lalashowi J, Owolabi O, Nhassengo P, Chihota V, Evans D. Health-seeking behaviour and patient-related factors associated with the time to TB treatment initiation in four African countries: a cross-sectional survey. BMJ Public Health 2024, 2: e001002. PMID: 40018527, PMCID: PMC11816287, DOI: 10.1136/bmjph-2024-001002.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTB treatment initiationCross-sectional surveyTB symptomsPrimary care facilitiesTreatment initiationMedian total delayHealth-seeking behaviorNational TB Control ProgrammeTB treatmentCohort of adultsTB control programmesActive case findingPatient-related factorsHealth facilitiesTB servicesHIV prevalenceCare facilitiesDrug-susceptible pulmonary TBTotal delaySecond-leading causeTime to treatment initiationCase findingCox regression modelsStructured questionnaireInitiation of treatment