Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease Communication A Practical Approach to Screening for Strongyloides stercoralis

Strongyloides stercoralis, causative agent of a neglected tropical disease, is a soil-transmittedhelminth which may cause lifelong persisting infection due to continuous autoinfection. In the case ofimmunosuppression, life-threatening hyperinfection and disseminated strongyloidiasis can develop.We propose a pragmatic screening algorithm for latent strongyloidiasis based on epidemiologicexposure and immunosuppression status that can be applied for any kind of immunosuppressivetherapy. The algorithm allows the diagnosis of latent strongyloidiasis with optimal accuracy in awell-equipped setting, while for endemic settings where the complete testing array is unavailable, anempiric treatment is generally recommended. Accurate diagnosis and extensive empiric treatmentwill both contribute to decreasing the current neglect of strongyloidiasis.

Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease

Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease

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2414-6366

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N/A

6