Early post-discharge mortality is high among HIV-infected Zambians admitted to the hospital. Likely this is in part due to missed opportunities to identify lethal coinfections and optimize HIV care during admission (and before discharge). In this study the investigators will develop and pilot a new approach to inpatient HIV care that follows international guidelines for management of advanced HIV disease.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
72
The investigators will provide patients a package of diagnostic tests at the time of admission to comprehensively assess for HIV coinfections and treatment failure. These labs are all recommended in advanced HIV guidelines but in this study we will provide all tests as a bundle rather than step-by-step as suggested in guidelines.
Participants will be assigned a patient navigator who will support the patient and bedsider (treatment supporter/guardian) during the hospitalization. The navigator will be an HIV counselor who can provide counseling and health education, as well as support specimen transport, obtaining results, booking tests in other departments, linkages to ART clinic, and discharge planning
University Teaching Hospital
Lusaka, Zambia
Coinfection diagnosis
Positive test for tuberculosis or cryptococcus on admission
Time frame: Through hospital discharge, an average of 2 weeks
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