Bianca Sossen
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biancasossen.bsky.social
Bianca Sossen
@biancasossen.bsky.social
research doctor, PhD candidate 👩🏻‍⚕️ happiest in the Karoo 🌿 LSHTM/Chevening alum, UCT Fogarty HATTP fellow. Mostly thinking about TB.
Grateful to have had the chance to put together an #IJID review paper on all things HIV-TB for #WorldTBDay 2025. It was written before the attacks on science in general, and on those living with HIV/TB in particular (1/n)
March 24, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Reposted by Bianca Sossen
Looking at #CROI2025 program and seeing lots of withdrawn work, am assuming mainly from CDC folks who were presenting their work. Let that sink in, the CDC can’t present at one of the biggest HIV research conference in the world…this is what US research looks like now
March 8, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Reposted by Bianca Sossen
Nice to see VQUIN and TB-CHAMP finally out. Both studies evaluated levofloxacin (compared w/placebo) as preventive treatment for MDR TB contacts.
Meta-analysis showed 60% reduction: evidence.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
Each study:
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
A Meta-Analysis of Levofloxacin for Contacts of Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis
Data from randomized trials evaluating the effectiveness of tuberculosis (TB) preventive treatment for contacts of multidrug-resistant (MDR)-TB are lacking. Two recently published randomized trials...
evidence.nejm.org
December 19, 2024 at 4:59 PM
Several years ago I worked on a HHC study, with a team of very smart people in the field of Asymptomatic TB. Excited to now share the first paper: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39692469/ 🤓 Diagnostic accuracy of Chest X-ray CAD Software for Detection of Prevalent and Incident TB in Household Contacts
December 18, 2024 at 6:23 PM
Reposted by Bianca Sossen
So happy to have been a part of the

1st Africa Advanced TB Diagnostics Course

125+ participants from over 20 African countries

Collaboration between Wits University, NHLS, NICD, McGill University & Gates Foundation
December 12, 2024 at 11:25 AM
While I might be biased on the topic choice, this was one of the most interesting panels I've heard - on the practical aspects (both opportunities and barriers) of TB diagnostic innovation from within Africa. Finally a 'Wanel' from the Global South 🎉
December 10, 2024 at 3:56 PM
Reposted by Bianca Sossen
On this day in 1981, a landmark paper in NEJM described four patients with evidence of immunodeficiency associated with PJP pneumonia, disseminated CMV, and Kaposi sarcoma. The disease would come to be known as HIV/AIDS. Revisit the paper: nej.md/41iekKD

#MedSky #IDSky
December 10, 2024 at 2:28 PM
Reposted by Bianca Sossen
1st African Advanced TB diagnostics course in Joburg, S Africa 🇿🇦!

125 participants from over 20 African countries

Collaboration between @mcgill.ca & Wits University
December 9, 2024 at 8:24 AM
So grateful for the chance to attend this incredible event in the TB diagnostics calendar, but on African soil 🇿🇦 Big reminder today that we have so many exciting TB tools available to us already, we just need to put them to better use - to find the patients that *we* are missing
December 9, 2024 at 5:09 PM
Reposted by Bianca Sossen
CMV-ologists may be interested to know that a recording of our October meeting on indirect effects is now available on the @royalsociety.bsky.social website

royalsociety.org/science-even...

#IDSky #ViroSky #EpiSky #TxID
The indirect effects of cytomegalovirus infection: mechanisms and consequences | Royal Society
Discussion meeting organised by Professor Tom Yates and Professor Helen Payne on the indirect effects of cytomegalovirus infection.
royalsociety.org
November 28, 2024 at 9:47 AM
Reposted by Bianca Sossen
The hits just keep coming! GeneXpert can detect TB and RIF resistance in urine in people with HIV. This could be a huge step to #EndTB, if #Danaher would make GeneXpert accessible by lowering the price of their tests to $5. It's #TimeFor5
🚨New Publication🚨 led by @biancasossen.bsky.social

In a 7 country study, we found that urine Xpert Ultra was as sensitive & more specific than AlereLAM for #TB diagnosis in people with #HIV

Also predicts mortality and allows detection of Rif resistance.

authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...

🧪🛟
November 21, 2024 at 5:23 PM
Reposted by Bianca Sossen
Important results for TB diagnosis in PWHIV!

Urine-Xpert Ultra for the diagnosis of #tuberculosis in people living with #HIV: a prospective, multicentre, diagnostic accuracy study

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
November 21, 2024 at 4:56 PM
What a breath of fresh air to be excited by science on social media again 🤩🦋 And very excited to be able to use it to share this paper - adding to the evidence on Urine Xpert Ultra in adults with HIV:
🚨New Publication🚨 led by @biancasossen.bsky.social

In a 7 country study, we found that urine Xpert Ultra was as sensitive & more specific than AlereLAM for #TB diagnosis in people with #HIV

Also predicts mortality and allows detection of Rif resistance.

authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...

🧪🛟
November 21, 2024 at 8:32 AM