Fig. 1. (a) Trends in baseline CD4 R cell count assessment in people living with HIV during 2006-2020. (b) Percentage of people living with HIV (WHO stage 1 or 2) with CD4 R count above or below 200 cells/ml.

Neuromeningeal cryptococcosis (NMC) is a life-threatening opportunistic infection in advanced HIV disease patients (AHDP). It is caused by Cryptococcus spp. complexes and mainly occurs in sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, we performed molecular characterization and antifungal susceptibility profiling of Cryptococcus isolates from AHDP in Kinshasa (DRC). Additionally, we investigated a possible association between NMC severity factors and the Cryptococcus neoformans (Cn) multilocus sequence typing (MLST) profiles. We characterized the isolates using PCR serotyping, MALDI-TOF MS, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing, and MLST. Susceptibility testing for the major antifungal drugs was performed according to the EUCAST guidelines. Parameters associated with NMC severity, such as hypoglycorrhachia (< 50 mg/dL), increased cerebral spinal fluid opening pressure (> 30 cm H2O), and poor therapeutic outcome were compared with the Cn MLST sequences type (ST). Twenty-three out of 29 Cryptococcus isolates were identified as serotype A using PCR serotyping (79.3%; 95% IC: 65.5–93.1), while six (20.7%; 95% IC: 6.9–34.5) were not serotypable. The 29 isolates were identified by ITS sequencing as follows: Cryptococcus neoformans (23/29, 79.3%), Cutaneotrichosporon curvatus (previously called Cryptococcus curvatus) (5/29, 17.2%), and Papiliotrema laurentii (Cryptococcus laurentii) (1/29, 3.5%). Using the ISHAM MLST scheme, all Cn isolates were identified as molecular type VNI. These comprised seven different STs: ST93 (n = 15), ST5 (n = 2), ST53 (n = 1), ST31 (n = 1), ST4 (n = 1), ST69 (n = 1), and one novel ST that has not yet been reported from other parts of the world and was subsequently assigned as ST659 (n = 2). Of the included strains, only Papiliotrema laurentii was resistant to amphoterin B (1/29, 3.5%), 6.8% (2/29) were resistant to 5-flucytosine (the single Papiliotrema laurentii strain and one Cryptococcus neoformans isolate), and 13.8% (4/29) to fluconazole, including two of five (40%) Cutaneotrichosporon curvatus and two of 23 (8.7%) C. neoformans strains. We found a significative association between poor therapeutic outcome and a non-ST93 sequence type of causative strains (these concerned the less common sequence types: ST53, ST31, ST5, ST4, ST659, and ST69) (87.5% versus 40%, p = 0.02). Molecular analysis of Cryptococcus spp. isolates showed a wide species diversity and genetic heterogenicity of Cn within the VNI molecular type. Furthermore, it is worrying that among included strains we found resistances to several of the commonly used antifungals.

Introduction Late presentation for HIV care is a well-described issue for the success of ART outcomes and the cause of higher morbidity, mortality and further transmission. Monitoring the level of late presentation and understanding the factors associated with it would help to tailor screening and information strategies for better efficiency. We performed a retrospective cohort study in Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC. The studied population included HIV-positive adults newly enrolled in HIV care between January 2006 and June 2020 at 25 HIV urban care facilities. Patient information collected at presentation for HIV care included age, sex, WHO clinical stage and screening context. We used 2 definitions of late presentation: the WHO definition of advanced HIV disease (WHO stage 3/4 or CD4 cell count < 200 cells/mm3) and a more inclusive definition (WHO stage 3/4 or CD4 cell count < 350 cells/mm3). Results A total of 10,137 HIV-infected individuals were included in the analysis. The median age was 40 years; 68% were female. A total of 45.9% or 47.5% of the patients were late presenters, depending on the definition used. The percentage of patients with late presentation (defined as WHO stage 3/4 or CD4 cell count < 350 cells/mm3) decreased during recent years, from 70.7% in 2013 to 46.5% in 2017 and 23.4% in 2020. Age was associated with a significantly higher risk of LP (p < 0.0001). We did not observe any impact of sex. Conclusions The frequency of late presentation for care is decreasing in Kinshasa, DRC. Efforts have to be continued. In particular, the issue of late diagnosis in older individuals should be addressed.

Introduction ART expansion and viral load as a treatment monitoring approach have increased the demand for viral load testing. Many hurdles affect the coverage, quality and use of viral load results. Estimates of viral load monitoring and viral suppression rates are needed to assess the performance of ART programs and improve HIV management outcomes. Methods PLHIV viral load monitoring data were routinely collected in 84 health facilities in Kinshasa, DRC, between 2013 and 2020. The number of PLHIV under ART, the number of participants with at least one viral load test result, the rate of viral suppression (defined as ≤1,000 HIV RNA copies per mL), and the mean turnaround time from sample collection to release of viral load test results were collected together with clinical data. Results 14,057 PLHIV were included in the analysis. PLHIV were mainly enrolled after the “test and treat” implementation. The patients were followed for a median period of 27 months. The proportion of PLHIV with at least one available viral load largely increased in recent years. The delay from sample collection to release of viral load test results decreased overtime, from 35 days in 2018 to 16 days in 2020. Pregnancy and advanced HIV disease were associated with a lower chance of viral suppression. Conclusions There has been considerable success in increasing viral load access for all PLHIV under therapy in DRC. Nevertheless, viral load testing should be intensified with a particular effort to be made in groups at higher risk of viral failure.

Cryptococcosis is a common opportunistic infection associated with HIV/AIDS. The present review systematically describes the clinical and biological aspects of cryptococcosis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and estimates its 2020 burden in people living with HIV (PLHIV). Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched online databases for records of cryptococcosis/Cryptococcus spp. in the DRC. Meta-analysis was then performed to estimate summary statistics and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). A total of 30 studies were included. These included 1,018 cryptococcosis patients, including 80.8% with neuromeningeal cryptococcosis (NMC) and predominantly immunocompromised due to HIV/AIDS (97.6%). The NMC mean prevalence was estimated at 9.63% (95% CI: 5.99-14.07). More than one in two patients (52.7%) under treatment died. Monotherapy with fluconazole was the main treatment administered (80.6%). Furthermore, we estimate that about 9,265 (95% CI: 5,763-13,537) PLHIV had cryptococcosis in 2020, in DRC; of which about 4,883 (95% CI: 3,037-7,134) would have died in the same year. Among isolates in all included studies, 74 strains have been characterised. Of these, 82.4% concerned Cryptococcus neoformans sensu lato (s.l) (exclusively of serotype A and mostly of molecular types VNI and VNII) and 17.6% concerned Cryptotoccus gattii s.l (belonging to serotype B/molecular type VGI). Cryptococcosis remains common with an unacceptably high mortality rate.A large number of PLHIV affected by and dying from cryptococcosis in 2020 demonstrates its heavy burden among the Congolese PLHIV. To mitigate this burden, it is important to improve the quality and accessibility of care for all PLHIV.