Strategies to enhance access to diagnosis and treatment for Chagas disease patients in Latin America.

Strategies to enhance access to diagnosis and treatment for Chagas disease patients in Latin America.
Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2019 Feb 04;:
Authors: Alonso-Padilla J, Cortés-Serra N, Pinazo MJ, Bottazzi ME, Abril M, Barreira F, Sosa-Estani S, Hotez PJ, Gascón J
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Chagas disease, caused by infection with the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, represents a huge public health problem in the Americas, where millions of people are affected. Despite the availability of two drugs against the infection (benznidazole and nifurtimox), multiple factors impede their effective usage: 1) gaps in patient and healthcare provider awareness; 2) lack of access to diagnosis; 3) drug toxicity and absence of treatment algorithms to address adverse effects; 4) failures in drug supply and distribution; and 5) inconsistent drug efficacy against the symptomatic chronic stage. Areas covered: We review new approaches and technologies to enhance access to diagnosis and treatment to reduce the disease burden. We also provide an updated picture of recently published and ongoing anti-T. cruzi drug clinical trials. Although there has been progress improving the research and development (R&D) landscape, it is unclear whether any new treatments will emerge soon. Literature search methodologies included multiple queries to public databases and the use of own-built libraries. Expert opinion: Besides R&D, there is a major need for continue aw...

Source: Expert Review of Anti-Infective Therapy - February 5, 2019 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther Source Type: research