Screening HIV-Infected Patients with Low CD4 Counts for Cryptococcal Antigenemia prior to Initiation of Antiretroviral Therapy: Cost Effectiveness of Alternative Screening Strategies in South Africa.
Bruce A LarsonPeter C RockersRachael BonawitzCharlotte SriruttanDeborah K GlencrossNaseem CassimLindi M CoetzeeGregory S GreeneTom M ChillerSnigdha VallabhaneniLawrence LongCraig van RensburgNelesh P GovenderPublished in: PloS one (2016)
In countries with substantial numbers of people with untreated, advanced HIV disease such as South Africa, CrAg screening before initiation of ART has the potential to reduce cryptococcal meningitis and save lives. Reflex screening compared to provider-initiated screening saves more lives and is likely to be cost saving or have low additional costs per additional year of life saved.