MESSAGE

Message from the Editor

This edition of the Journal, released to coincide with the Southern African HIV Clinicians Society's biannual conference, showcases local clinical research in keeping with the conference theme, 'Excelling in Clinical Care'.

In their forum article, Geffen et al.^[1] open the issue with a call for two potentially significant adaptations to the 'one size fits all' policies that characterise many public sector services, to deliver antiretroviral therapy across southern Africa. Paediatric neurological and psychiatric complications are an area of particular complexity in HIV management, and to help primary care providers investigate, diagnose and manage children, Nassen et al.^[2] have produced simple yet comprehensive guidelines.

Two submissions explore the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV from very different perspectives. First, Pillay et al.^[3] investigate the potential role of DC-SIGN and related molecules in the vertical transmission of HIV. Shifting from molecular methods to health systems perspectives, Ibeto et al.^[4] explore the patient- and service-level factors that may contribute to HIV transmission at a population level.

Two articles showcase strong examples of local clinical research. Working in KwaZulu-Natal, Kudsk-Iversen et al.^[5] describe the challenges in diagnosing and managing patients presenting with diarrhoea in a district hospital, pointing to the need for clearer guidelines - a possible future focus of the Society. Sogbanmu et al.^[6] document the challenges in implementing guidelines for the management of cryptococcal meningitis in the Eastern Cape. These two articles demonstrate the importance of locally appropriate guidelines to support clinical care.

I hope that you enjoy this issue of the Journal and the conference. For those of you who cannot attend the sessions in Cape Town, we will run the best abstracts from the meeting in the December edition.

Happy reading.

Landon Myer
School of Public Health & Family Medicine
University of Cape Town
landon.myer@uct.ac.za

References

1. Geffen N, Robinson R, Venter F, Low M. One size doesn't fit all: Tailoring adult antiretroviral treatment. Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine 2014;15(3):77-78. [http://dx.doi.org/10.7196/SAJHIVMED.1095]        [ Links ]

2. Nassen R, Donald K, Walker K, et al. Management of mental health disorders and central nervous system sequelae in HIV-positive children and adolescents. Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine 2014;15(3):81-96. [http://dx.doi.org/10.7196/SAJHIVMED.1091]        [ Links ]

3. Pillay K, Cloete M, McLeod H. Expression of DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR in placentas of HIV-positive patients. Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine 2014;15(3):97-101. [http://dx.doi.org/10.7196/SAJHIVMED.1094]        [ Links ]

4. Ibeto M, Giddy J, Cox V. Closing the gaps: Steps towards elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine 2014;15(3):108-109. [http://dx.doi.org/10.7196/SAJHIVMED.1047]        [ Links ]

5. Kudsk-Iversen S, Gilbert JP, Azarath A. Management of patients presenting with diarrhoea to a regional emergency department in KwaZulu-Natal: Call for clearer, more relevant guidance. Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine 2014,15(3):102-103. [http://dx.doi.org/10.7196/SAJHIVMED.1082]        [ Links ]

6. Sogbanmu OO, John MA, Lalloo U. Management of cryptococcal meningitis in adults at Mthatha Hospital Complex, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine 2014;15(3):104-107. [http://dx.doi.org/10.7196/SAJHIVMED.991]        [ Links ]