Salome Charalambous
Associate Professor AdjunctCards
About
Research
Publications
2025
“If we lose it, we are worried”: Individual and provider level perceptions towards weight change among people living with HIV who undergo TB screening in routine health care settings in Gauteng Province, South Africa
Dube T, Mboniswa F, Qwana S, Charalambous S, Ndlovu N, Grant A, Hanifa Y, Machinya J. “If we lose it, we are worried”: Individual and provider level perceptions towards weight change among people living with HIV who undergo TB screening in routine health care settings in Gauteng Province, South Africa. PLOS ONE 2025, 20: e0331904. PMID: 40982432, PMCID: PMC12453174, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0331904.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHealth care workersHIV careCare workersSelf-reported weight lossRoutine health care settingsScreening toolQualitative sub-studyHealth care settingsInductive thematic analysisWeight changeAntiretroviral treatmentSymptoms Screening ToolPerception of ideal body sizeTB screening toolAssociated with HIV/AIDSFocus group discussionsWHO toolFear stigmaCare settingsRisk of tuberculosisThematic analysisAssociated with weight lossPublic clinicsTB screeningQualitative studyEvaluation of QIAreach QuantiFERON-TB lateral-flow nanoparticle fluorescence assay for TB infection diagnosis among TB household contacts in three high-burden settings
Ntshiqa T, Fasanmi A, Nagudi J, Tsope L, Copas A, Stender S, Sabi I, Ntinginya E, Lalashowi J, Matete M, Budiaki L, Mahlalela M, Kisinda A, Mudzengi D, Minja L, Chirwa T, Lönnroth K, Niemann S, Dreyer V, Charalambous S, Velen K, Hamada Y, Rangaka M. Evaluation of QIAreach QuantiFERON-TB lateral-flow nanoparticle fluorescence assay for TB infection diagnosis among TB household contacts in three high-burden settings. PLOS ONE 2025, 20: e0332125. PMID: 40971381, PMCID: PMC12448356, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0332125.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsQFT-PlusIFN-g responseHousehold contactsIFN-gTuberculosis infectionHousehold contacts of peopleQuantiFERON-TB Gold PlusTB infection diagnosisCohort median agePrevalence of tuberculosis infectionTime-to-resultTB household contactsHigh-burden settingsHigh-burden countriesShort time-to-resultCross-sectional studyLow-resource settingsMedian ageInterferon-gammaDiscordant resultsInfection diagnosisModerate concordanceBlood samplesNear-patientResource settingsTargeted transcriptomic analyses of tuberculosis treatment response and outcomes in The Gambia
Manneh I, Darboe F, Jobe H, Kuyateh B, Cham O, Owolabi O, Kotanmi B, Rachow A, Charalambous S, Held K, Dockrell H, Sutherland J. Targeted transcriptomic analyses of tuberculosis treatment response and outcomes in The Gambia. Frontiers In Tuberculosis 2025, 3: 1540194. DOI: 10.3389/ftubr.2025.1540194.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchArea under the curvePoor treatment outcomesTreatment responseTreatment outcomesMonth 2Week 2Drug-susceptible tuberculosisTB treatment responseTuberculosis treatment responseEffective treatment regimensGene expressionMonitor treatment outcomesDetection of mycobacteriaTreatment regimensGood outcomeTB treatmentGene signaturePatientsTreatment monitoringPAXgene tubesRNA gene expressionDiagnosisGene expression differencesFast respondersTuberculosisEpidemiological factors associated with immunological resistance in household contacts exposed to active tuberculosis in South Africa: A logistic regression analysis
Maenetje N, Oladimeji M, Mlotshwa M, Hoft D, Lindan C, Wallis R, Charalambous S, Churchyard G, Edward V, Fiore-Gartland A, Shai J, Maenetje P. Epidemiological factors associated with immunological resistance in household contacts exposed to active tuberculosis in South Africa: A logistic regression analysis. PLOS ONE 2025, 20: e0329562. PMID: 40828791, PMCID: PMC12364365, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0329562.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsQuantiFERON-TB Gold In-TubeTuberculin skin testHousehold contactsRisk scoreYounger ageTB infectionGold In-TubeAdult household contactsActive TB diseaseLatent TB infectionExposure to TBIndex TB casesInfection risk factorsLogistic regression analysisEpidemiologic risk scoreActive tuberculosisClinical characteristicsSkin testDiscordant resultsMultivariate analysisTB diseaseTB casesRisk factorsIndex caseInfectious TBCommunity and Universal Testing for TB among close contacts of microbiologically confirmed pulmonary TB patients in two high TB burden countries: a protocol for a pragmatic cluster-randomised control trial
Moyo M, Ntshiqa T, Hamada Y, Copas A, Sabi I, Ntinginya E, Lalashowi J, Matete M, Kubeka G, Tsope L, Mukora R, Mudzengi D, Nielson T, Lönnroth K, Niemann S, Rangaka M, Velen K, Charalambous S, Stender S, Minja L. Community and Universal Testing for TB among close contacts of microbiologically confirmed pulmonary TB patients in two high TB burden countries: a protocol for a pragmatic cluster-randomised control trial. Trials 2025, 26: 285. PMID: 40790601, PMCID: PMC12341147, DOI: 10.1186/s13063-025-08978-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCluster randomised trialPragmatic cluster randomised trialTB preventive therapyTB index patientsTB burden countriesPragmatic cluster randomised controlled trialCluster randomised controlled trialCase findingCommunity contactsBurden countriesTB case findingTB testTB casesTB diseaseCross-sectional studyRisk of TBTB infectionHousehold contactsHigh-risk populationPrevalence of TB infectionLow-burden settingsHealth facilitiesTB index casesScreening armCost-effectiveness analysisOne year on - the long-term impact of COVID-19 pandemic and government restrictions on the health-seeking behaviour, financial security and mental health of TB survivors
Jinga N, Hirasen K, Ivanova O, Rachow A, Charalambous S, Lönnroth K, Moolla A, Rassool M, Evans D. One year on - the long-term impact of COVID-19 pandemic and government restrictions on the health-seeking behaviour, financial security and mental health of TB survivors. BMC Public Health 2025, 25: 2660. PMID: 40770626, PMCID: PMC12326666, DOI: 10.1186/s12889-025-24006-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHealth-seeking behaviorPoor health-seeking behaviorTB survivorsHealth-related qualityMental healthCOVID-19 questionnaireHealth-related quality of lifeLogistic regressionResponse to COVID-19Healthcare-seeking behaviorHealth care servicesShort Form SurveyFollow-up study visitsCOVID-19 pandemicFinancial statusAntiretroviral treatmentLong-term impactCross-sectional studyQuality of lifeGovernment responsesLong-term disabilityWHO toolCare servicesSF-36Health conditionsIs South Africa ready for point-of-care, non-sputum tests for TB diagnosis? An assessment of end-user perceptions on a novel urine test and tongue swab for TB testing
Mqedlana-Ntombela N, Fargnoli V, Charalambous S, Velen K, Shilton S, Chihota V. Is South Africa ready for point-of-care, non-sputum tests for TB diagnosis? An assessment of end-user perceptions on a novel urine test and tongue swab for TB testing. BMC Health Services Research 2025, 25: 1013. PMID: 40750880, PMCID: PMC12315466, DOI: 10.1186/s12913-025-13165-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLow-to-middle income countriesSemi-structured interviewsCare recipientsTB diagnosisSouth African health facilitiesHealthcare provider factorsAfrican health facilitiesPatient-level factorsTB testPublic health expertsUrine testsTongue swabsEnd-user perceptionsProvider factorsHealth facilitiesInnovative interventionUndiagnosed TBThematic analysisHealthcare workersPotential barriersHealth expertsIncome countriesInformation sheetEffective implementationLevel factorsEngagement With Digital Adherence Technologies as Measures of Intervention Fidelity Among Adults With Drug-Susceptible Tuberculosis and Health Care Providers: Descriptive Analysis Using Data From Cluster-Randomized Trials in Five Countries
Alacapa J, Tadesse A, Deyanova N, Dube T, Mganga A, Powers R, van Rest J, Madden N, Efo E, Charalambous S, van Kalmthout K, Jerene D, Fielding K. Engagement With Digital Adherence Technologies as Measures of Intervention Fidelity Among Adults With Drug-Susceptible Tuberculosis and Health Care Providers: Descriptive Analysis Using Data From Cluster-Randomized Trials in Five Countries. JMIR Public Health And Surveillance 2025, 11: e62881. PMID: 40720892, PMCID: PMC12303541, DOI: 10.2196/62881.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTB elimination in Southern Africa: overview and critical reflection
Boffa J, Vambe D, Khosa C, José B, Ndjeka N, Nkomo T, Kay A, Mandalakas A, Mvusi L, Omar S, Thi S, Velen K, Charalambous S, Rangaka M. TB elimination in Southern Africa: overview and critical reflection. IJTLD OPEN 2025, 2: 381-387. PMID: 40657267, PMCID: PMC12248405, DOI: 10.5588/ijtldopen.25.0050.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHealth systemLow-cost preventionCommunity-based careTB eliminationSystematic TB screeningPublic health challengeTB preventive treatmentTB careHealthcare prioritiesCountry specific needsSustained political commitmentTreatment supportTB screeningHealth challengesHealthcare capacityTreatment adherenceUniversal testingDrug resistanceSouthern AfricaLimited healthcare capacityPresent barriersSpecific needsPolitical commitmentCareRoutine implementationThe participation of people deprived of liberty in tuberculosis vaccine trials: should they be protected from research, or through research?
Andrews J, Charalambous S, Churchyard G, Cobelens F, Fernández-Escobar C, Frick M, Hanekom W, Hatherill M, Hill P, Pandey S, Rangaka M, White R, Lemos E, da Silva A, Croda J, Garcia-Basteiro A. The participation of people deprived of liberty in tuberculosis vaccine trials: should they be protected from research, or through research? The Lancet Infectious Diseases 2025 PMID: 40587989, DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(25)00305-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTuberculosis vaccine trialVaccine trialsHigh riskEffective tuberculosis vaccineHigh risk of developing diseaseAdult pulmonary tuberculosisRate of tuberculosisRisk of developing diseaseMycobacterium tuberculosis transmissionPulmonary tuberculosisClinical developmentTuberculosis vaccinesMedical researchEthical violationsLiberty rightsTuberculosis transmissionEfficacy trialsTuberculosisTuberculosis controlScientific progressLibertyPlanned trialsTrialsParticipation of peopleVaccine