Salome Charalambous
Associate Professor AdjunctCards
About
Research
Publications
2025
Mental Health, Substance Use, and Tuberculosis Preventive Therapy in People With HIV: A Prospective Cohort Study
Johnson A, Chimoyi L, Shenoi S, Brault M, Forastiere L, Charalambous S, Chihota V, Davis J. Mental Health, Substance Use, and Tuberculosis Preventive Therapy in People With HIV: A Prospective Cohort Study. Open Forum Infectious Diseases 2025, 12: ofaf303. PMID: 40567997, PMCID: PMC12188208, DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofaf303.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTuberculosis preventive therapyUnhealthy alcohol useMental healthDepressive symptomsAlcohol useTobacco useAssociation of mental healthInfluence of mental healthCohort studyMeasure symptoms of anxietyNegatively associated with adherenceDeductive content analysisMixed methods studySubstance useLongitudinal cohort studyPsychological support servicesSymptoms of anxietySymptoms of depressionPreventive therapyProspective cohort studyAntiretroviral therapyHIV mortalityMultivariate regression modelSubstance use disordersMethods studyIs global health security worth 0.01% of our gross domestic product?
Ooms G, Assefa Y, Charalambous S, Dah T, Decoster K, de Jong B, Hensen B, Komatsu R, Magloire N, Mitchell E, Reyniers T, Rosanas-Urgell A, Tarrafeta-Sayas M, Tinto H, Whiteside A, Ravinetto R. Is global health security worth 0.01% of our gross domestic product? PLOS Global Public Health 2025, 5: e0004491. PMID: 40367408, PMCID: PMC12077911, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0004491.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchResistance to tuberculin skin test/interferon-gamma release assay conversion among highly TB exposed, HIV infected goldminers in South Africa
Ntshiqa T, Velen K, Ginindza S, Nhlangulela L, Charalambous S, Hawn T, Churchyard G, Boom W, Chihota V, Wallis R. Resistance to tuberculin skin test/interferon-gamma release assay conversion among highly TB exposed, HIV infected goldminers in South Africa. PLOS ONE 2025, 20: e0318819. PMID: 40343976, PMCID: PMC12063869, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0318819.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIsoniazid preventive therapyTuberculin skin testCD4 countQFT-PlusAssociated with lower CD4 countsTST responseQuantiFERON-TB Gold PlusBody mass index >Median CD4 countLow CD4 countExposure to TBRates of HIVLongitudinal cohort studyMedian ageTST/IGRAAntiretroviral treatmentMedian timePreventive therapySkin testFollow-upCohort studyLogistic regressionHIVMonthsAssay conversionNeuromyelitis optica causing vision loss during TB treatment with sutezolid: evidence of aberrant immunity following infection
Glover N, Paramo L, Giangregorio S, Sukwana B, Koele S, Charalambous S, Ngwanto T, Mashatole S, Mudzengi D, Heinrich N, Svensson E, Abdullah F, Churchyard G, Wallis R. Neuromyelitis optica causing vision loss during TB treatment with sutezolid: evidence of aberrant immunity following infection. IJTLD OPEN 2025, 2: 306-309. PMID: 40365031, PMCID: PMC12068453, DOI: 10.5588/ijtldopen.25.0071.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchImproving Health and Well-Being of People With Post–COVID-19 Consequences in South Africa: Situation Analysis and Pilot Intervention Design
Glover N, Sathar F, Mokome P, Mathabela N, Taleni S, van Blydenstein S, Mekota A, Charalambous S, Rachow A, Ivanova O. Improving Health and Well-Being of People With Post–COVID-19 Consequences in South Africa: Situation Analysis and Pilot Intervention Design. JMIR Formative Research 2025, 9: e58436. PMID: 40209024, PMCID: PMC12005461, DOI: 10.2196/58436.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSemistructured in-depth interviewsHealth care providersFocus group discussionsPost-COVID-19 symptomsPost-COVID-19 careIn-depth interviewsCare providersShort Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing ScaleWarwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing ScaleSit-to-stand testMental Wellbeing ScaleSit-to-standMental health supportPilot support groupSituation analysisPost-COVID-19Well-being of peopleQuality of lifeWell-being of individualsRehabilitation interventionsPhysical functionPost-COVID-19 complicationsHealth supportGroup interventionIntervention designEffect 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, 405: 1155-1166. 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, PMCID: PMC11889810, 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 AfricaCosts and cost-effectiveness of integrated screening for non-communicable diseases in TB contacts
Hamada Y, Mukora R, Pelusa R, Ntshiqa T, Shedrawy J, Velen K, Abubakar I, Charalambous S, Walker S, Rangaka M. Costs and cost-effectiveness of integrated screening for non-communicable diseases in TB contacts. IJTLD OPEN 2025, 2: 160-165. PMID: 40092516, PMCID: PMC11906026, DOI: 10.5588/ijtldopen.24.0625.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNon-communicable diseasesDisability-adjusted life yearsNon-communicable disease screeningNon-communicable disease casesIncremental cost-effectiveness ratioIncremental costCardiovascular diseaseCross-sectional studyHigh riskCost-effectiveHousehold contact investigationCVD riskCare costsCost-effectiveness ratioHealthcare perspectiveAssessed patientsLife yearsProvider costsIntegrated screeningImprove cost-effectivenessPrioritising individualsContact investigationTB contactDrug costsRiskN-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