
Group Chief Health Officer
Associate Prof Salome Charalambous
Associate Professor Salome Charalambous is the Group Chief Health Officer at The Aurum Institute. She holds a medical degree from the University of the Witwatersrand and an MSc and PhD in Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
As part of programme implementation, she also conducted research studies and published articles on TB-HIV integration, HIV programme evaluations and other topics related to HIV and TB. She is currently the Principal Investigator on a number of clinical trials and large cluster-randomized epidemiological studies.
Journal Articles
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Glover, N.A., Ivanova, O., Sathar, F., Riess, F., Shambhu, R.R., Mekota, A.M., Zurba, L., Menezes, C., van Blydenstein, S.A., Kalla, I. and Hoelscher, M., 2024. Lung outcomes and related risk factors in patients after SARS-CoV-2 infection: a hospitalised single-centre cohort from Johannesburg, South Africa. Eclinicalmedicine, 71.
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Hoffmann, C.J., Herce, M.E., Chimoyi, L., Smith, H.J., Tlali, M., Olivier, C.J., Topp, S.M., Muyoyeta, M., Reid, S.E., Hausler, H. and Charalambous, S. Reaching for 90: 90: 90 in correctional facilities in South Africa and Zambia: Virtual cross-section of coverage of HIV testing and antiretroviral therapy during universal test and treat implementation. JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, pp.10-1097.
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Hamada, Y., Lugendo, A., Ntshiqa, T., Kubeka, G., Lalashowi, J.M., Mwastaula, S., Ntshamane, K., Sabi, I., Wilson, S., Copas, A. and Velen, K., 2024. A pilot cross-sectional study of non-communicable diseases in TB household contacts. IJTLD OPEN, 1(4), pp.154-159.
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Charalambous, S., Maraba, N., Jennings, L., Rabothata, I., Cogill, D., Mukora, R., Hippner, P., Naidoo, P., Xaba, N., Mchunu, L. and Velen, K., 2024. Treatment adherence and clinical outcomes amongst in people with drug-susceptible tuberculosis using medication monitor and differentiated care approach compared with standard of care in South Africa: a cluster randomized trial. EClinicalMedicine, 75.
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Mudzengi, D.L., Chomutare, H., Nagudi, J., Ntshiqa, T., Davis, J.L., Charalambous, S. and Velen, K., 2024. Using mHealth Technologies for Case Finding in Tuberculosis and Other Infectious Diseases in Africa: Systematic Review. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 12, p.e53211.
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Wallis, R.S., Sabi, I., Lalashowi, J., Bakuli, A., Mapamba, D., Olomi, W., Siyame, E., Ngaraguza, B., Chimbe, O., Charalambous, S. and Rachow, A., 2024. Adjunctive N-acetylcysteine and lung function in pulmonary tuberculosis. NEJM evidence, 3(9), p.EVIDoa2300332.
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Holtgrewe, L.M., Johnson, A., Nyhan, K., Boffa, J., Shenoi, S.V., Karat, A.S., Davis, J.L. and Charalambous, S., 2024. Burden of tuberculosis in underserved populations in South Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS Global Public Health, 4(10), p.e0003753.
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Goscé, L., Tadesse, A.W., Foster, N., Van Kalmthout, K., van Rest, J., van der Wal, J., Harker, M.J., Madden, N., Abdurhman, T., Gadissa, D. and Bedru, A., 2024. Modelling the epidemiological and economic impact of digital adherence technologies with differentiated care for tuberculosis treatment in Ethiopia. BMJ Global Health, 9(12).
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Malhotra, A., Nonyane, B.A.S., Shirey, E., Mulder, C., Hippner, P., Mulatu, F., Ratshinanga, A., Mitiku, P., Cohn, S., Conradie, G. and Chihota, V., 2023. Pragmatic cluster-randomized trial of home-based preventive treatment for TB in Ethiopia and South Africa (CHIP-TB). Trials, 24(1), p.475.
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Tollefson, D., Dasgupta, S., Setswe, G., Reeves, S., Churchyard, G., Charalambous, S. and Duerr, A., 2023. Does a youth intern programme strengthen HIV service delivery in South Africa? An interrupted time‐series analysis. African Journal of Reproduction and Gynaecological Endoscopy, 26(4), p.e26083.
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Chimoyi, L., Kufa, T., Matsena-Zingoni, Z., Marx, F., Otwombe, K., Musenge, E. and Charalambous, S., 2023. Small area analysis of HIV viral load suppression patterns in a high priority district (2012–2016), South Africa. PLOS Global Public Health, 3(3), p.e0001728.
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Jerene, D., Levy, J., van Kalmthout, K., van Rest, J., McQuaid, C.F., Quaife, M., Charalambous, S., Gamazina, K., Garfin, A.C., Mleoh, L. and Terleieva, Y., 2023. Effectiveness of digital adherence technologies in improving tuberculosis treatment outcomes in four countries: a pragmatic cluster randomised trial protocol. BMJ open, 13(3), p.e068685.
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Charalambous, S., Velen, K., Rueda, Z., Croda, J., Herce, M.E., Shenoi, S.V., Altice, F.L., Muyoyeta, M., Telisinghe, L., Grandjean, L. and Keshavjee, S., 2023. Scaling up evidence-based approaches to tuberculosis screening in prisons. The Lancet Public Health, 8(4), pp.e305-e310.
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Tollefson, D., Ntombela, N., Reeves, S., Charalambous, S., O’Malley, G., Setswe, G. and Duerr, A., 2023. “They are gaining experience; we are gaining extra hands”: a mixed methods study to assess healthcare worker perceptions of a novel strategy to strengthen human resources for HIV in South Africa. BMC Health Services Research, 23(1), p.27.
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Tadesse, A.W., Mganga, A., Dube, T.N., Alacapa, J., van Kalmthout, K., Letta, T., Mleoh, L., Garfin, A.M., Maraba, N., Charalambous, S. and Foster, N., 2024. Feasibility and acceptability of the smart pillbox and medication label with differentiated care to support person-centered tuberculosis care among ASCENT trial participants–A multicountry study. Frontiers in public health, 12, p.1327971.
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Chimoyi, L., Ndini, P., Oladimeji, M., Seatlholo, N., Mawokomatanda, K., Charalambous, S. and Setswe, G., 2024. Exploring the syndemic interaction between social, environmental and structural contexts of HIV infection in peri-mining areas in South Africa: a qualitative study. BMJ open, 14(3), p.e076198.
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Mabuto, T., Woznica, D.M., Ndini, P., Moyo, D., Abraham, M., Hanrahan, C., Charalambous, S., Zack, B., Baral, S., Owczarzak, J. and Hoffmann, C.J., 2024. Transitional community adherence support for people leaving incarceration in South Africa: a pragmatic, open-label, randomised controlled trial. The Lancet HIV, 11(1), pp.e11-e19.
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Reid, M., Agbassi, Y.J.P., Arinaminpathy, N., Bercasio, A., Bhargava, A., Bhargava, M., Bloom, A., Cattamanchi, A., Chaisson, R., Chin, D. and Churchyard, G., 2023. Scientific advances and the end of tuberculosis: a report from the Lancet Commission on Tuberculosis. The Lancet.
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Chimoyi, L., Kufa, T., Matsena-Zingoni, Z., Marx, F., Otwombe, K., Musenge, E. and Charalambous, S., 2023. Small area analysis of HIV viral load suppression patterns in a high priority district (2012–2016), South Africa. PLOS Global Public Health, 3(3), p.e0001728.
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Murphy, J.P., Kgowedi, S., Coetzee, L., Maluleke, V., Letswalo, D., Mongwenyana, C., Subrayen, P., Charalambous, S., Mvusi, L., Dlamini, S. and Martinson, N., 2022. Assessment of facility-based tuberculosis data quality in an integrated HIV/TB database in three South African districts. PLOS Global Public Health, 2(9), p.e0000312.
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Dheda, K., Perumal, T., Moultrie, H., Perumal, R., Esmail, A., Scott, A.J., Udwadia, Z., Chang, K.C., Peter, J., Pooran, A. and von Delft, A., 2022. The intersecting pandemics of tuberculosis and COVID-19: population-level and patient-level impact, clinical presentation, and corrective interventions. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.
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Hanifa, Y., Fielding, K.L., Chihota, V.N., Adonis, L., Charalambous, S., Foster, N., Karstaedt, A., McCarthy, K., Nicol, M.P., Ndlovu, N.T. and Sinanovic, E., 2018. The utility of repeat Xpert MTB/RIF testing to diagnose tuberculosis in HIV-positive adults with initial negative result. Gates Open Research, 2, pp.22-22.
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Chimoyi, L., Chikovore, J., Musenge, E., Mabuto, T., Chetty-Makkan, C.M., Munyai, R., Nchachi, T., Charalambous, S. and Setswe, G., 2022. Understanding factors influencing utilization of HIV prevention and treatment services among patients and providers in a heterogeneous setting: A qualitative study from South Africa. PLOS Global Public Health, 2(2), p.e0000132.
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Velen, K., Sathar, F., Hoffmann, C.J., Hausler, H., Fononda, A., Govender, S., Lerefolo, M., Govender, A. and Charalambous, S., 2021. Digital Chest X-ray with Computer-aided Detection for TB Screening within Correctional Facilities. Annals of the American Thoracic Society, (ja).
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Chimoyi, L., Hoffmann, C.J., Hausler, H., Ndini, P., Rabothata, I., Daniels-Felix, D., Olivier, A.J., Fielding, K., Charalambous, S. and Chetty-Makkan, C.M., 2021. HIV-related stigma and uptake of antiretroviral treatment among incarcerated individuals living with HIV/AIDS in South African correctional settings: A mixed methods analysis. PloS one, 16(7), p.e0254975.
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Moodley, N., Velen, K., Saimen, A., Zakhura, N., Churchyard, G. and Charalambous, S., 2021. Digital chest radiography enhances screening efficiency for pulmonary tuberculosis in primary health clinics, South Africa. Clinical Infectious Diseases.
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Chetty-Makkan, C.M., Hoffmann, C.J., Charalambous, S., Botha, C., Ntshuntshe, S., Nkosi, N. and Kim, H.Y., 2021. Youth Preferences for HIV Testing in South Africa: Findings from the Youth Action for Health (YA4H) Study Using a Discrete Choice Experiment. AIDS and Behavior, 25(1), pp.182-190.
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Chetty-Makkan, C.M., Grund, J.M., Muchiri, E., Price, M.A., Latka, M.H. and Charalambous, S., 2021. High risk sexual behaviours associated with traditional beliefs about gender roles among men interested in medical male circumcision in South Africa. AIDS Research and Therapy, 18(1), pp.1-9.
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Maraba, N., Orrell, C., Chetty-Makkan, C.M., Velen, K., Mukora, R., Page-Shipp, L., Naidoo, P., Mbatha, M.T., Fielding, K.L. and Charalambous, S., 2021. Evaluation of adherence monitoring system using evriMED with a differentiated response compared to standard of care among drug-sensitive TB patients in three provinces in South Africa: a protocol for a cluster randomised control trial. Trials, 22(1), pp.1-9.
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McQuaid, C.F., Foster, N., Quaife, M., Levy, J., Tadesse, A.W., Charalambous, S., Alacapa, J.V., Deyanova, N., Mganga, A., Houben, R.M.G.J. and Fielding, K.L., 2021. Digital adherence technology for TB: focus on livelihoods as well as lives. The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 25(5), pp.416-417.
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Osman, M., Karat, A.S., Khan, M., Meehan, S.A., von Delft, A., Brey, Z., Charalambous, S., Hesseling, A.C., Naidoo, P. and Loveday, M., 2021. Health system determinants of tuberculosis mortality in South Africa: a causal loop model. BMC Health Services Research, 21(1), pp.1-11.
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Velen, K. and Charalambous, S., 2021. Tuberculosis in prisons: an unintended sentence?. The Lancet Public Health, 6(5), pp.e263-e264.
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Manesen, R., Mekler, K.A., Molobi, T.R., Tyiki, A.A., Madlavu, M.J., Velen, K., Charalambous, S. and van der Heijden, Y.F., 2021. Data quality assessment of a South African electronic registry for drug-resistant TB, 2015–2016. Public Health Action, 11(1), pp.33-39.
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Muravha, T., Hoffmann, C.J., Botha, C., Maruma, W., Charalambous, S. and Chetty-Makkan, C.M., 2021. Exploring perceptions of low risk behaviour and drivers to test for HIV among South African youth. Plos one, 16(1), p.e0245542.
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Vickers, M.A., Darboe, F., Muefong, C.N., Mbayo, G., Barry, A., Gindeh, A., Njie, S., Riley, A.J., Sarr, B., Sambou, B. and Dockrell, H.M., 2020. Monitoring anti-tuberculosis treatment response using analysis of whole blood Mycobacterium tuberculosis specific T cell activation and functional markers. Frontiers in Immunology, 11.
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Mabuto, T., Mshweshwe-Pakela, N., Ntombela, N., Hlongwane, M., Wong, V., Charalambous, S., Kerrigan, D. and Hoffmann, C.J., 2020. Is HIV Post-test Counselling Aligned with Universal Test and Treat Goals? A Qualitative Analysis of Counselling Session Content and Delivery in South Africa. AIDS and Behavior, pp.1-14.
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Chimoyi, L., Velen, K., Churchyard, G.J., Wallis, R., Lewis, J.J. and Charalambous, S., 2020. An ecological study to evaluate the association of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination on cases of SARS-CoV2 infection and mortality from COVID-19. PloS one, 15(12), p.e0243707.
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Velen, K., Podewils, L.J., Shah, N.S., Lewis, J.J., Dinake, T., Churchyard, G.J., Reichler, M. and Charalambous, S., 2021, April. Performance of GeneXpert MTB/RIF for diagnosing tuberculosis among symptomatic household contacts of index patients in South Africa. In Open Forum Infectious Diseases (Vol. 8, No. 4, p. ofab025). US: Oxford University Press.
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Chimoyi, L., Velen, K., Churchyard, G.J., Wallis, R., Lewis, J.J. and Charalambous, S., 2020. An ecological study to evaluate the association of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination on cases of SARS-CoV2 infection and mortality from COVID-19. PloS one, 15(12), p.e0243707.
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Mabuto, T., Mshweshwe-Pakela, N., Ntombela, N., Hlongwane, M., Wong, V., Charalambous, S., Kerrigan, D. and Hoffmann, C.J., 2021. Is HIV Post-test Counselling Aligned with Universal Test and Treat Goals? A Qualitative Analysis of Counselling Session Content and Delivery in South Africa. AIDS and Behavior, 25(5), pp.1583-1596.
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Tlali, M., Fielding, K.L., Karat, A.S., Hoffmann, C.J., Muravha, T., Grant, A.D. and Charalambous, S., 2020. Sensitivity of the lateral flow urine lipoarabinomannan assay in ambulant adults with advanced HIV disease: data from the TB Fast Track study. Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
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Nacarapa, E., Muchiri, E., Moon, T.D., Charalambous, S., Verdu, M.E., Ramos, J.M. and Valverde, E.J., 2020. Effect of Xpert MTB/RIF testing introduction and favorable outcome predictors for tuberculosis treatment among HIV infected adults in rural southern Mozambique. A retrospective cohort study. PloS one, 15(3), p.e0229995.
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Jordan, A.M., Podewils, L.J., Castro, K.G., Zishiri, V. and Charalambous, S., 2019. Prevalence and risk factors of tuberculosis disease in South African correctional facilities in 2015. The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 23(11), pp.1198-1204.
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Topp, S.M., Chetty-Makkan, C.M., Smith, H.J., Chimoyi, L., Hoffmann, C.J., Fielding, K., Reid, S.E., Olivier, A.J., Hausler, H., Herce, M.E. and Charalambous, S., 2019. “It's Not Like Taking Chocolates”: Factors Influencing the Feasibility and Sustainability of Universal Test and Treat in Correctional Health Systems in Zambia and South Africa. Global Health: Science and Practice, 7(2), pp.189-202.
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Maenetje, P., Lindan, C., Makkan, H., Chetty-Makkan, C.M., Latka, M.H., Charalambous, S., Mlotshwa, M., Malefo, M., Brumskine, W., Hills, N.K., Price, M.A., and Edward, V., 2019. HIV incidence and predictors of inconsistent condom use among adult men enrolled into an HIV vaccine preparedness study, Rustenburg, South Africa. PloS one, 14(4), p.e0214786.
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Jain, K., Mshweshwe-Pakela, N.T., Charalambous, S., Mabuto, T., and Hoffmann, C.J., 2019. Enhancing value and lowering costs of care: a qualitative exploration of a randomized linkage to care intervention in South Africa. AIDS care, 31(4), pp.481-488.
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Francis, J., Zvada, S.P., Denti, P., Hatherill, M., Charalambous, S., Mungofa, S., Dawson, R., Dorman, S., Gupte, N., Wiesner, L. and Jindani, A., 2019. Arylacetamide deacetylase (AADAC) gene polymorphism and HIV infection affect the exposure of Rifapentine: a population pharmacokinetics analysis. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, pp.AAC-01964. [Epub ahead of print]
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Hanifa, Y., Toro Silva, S., Karstaedt, A., Sahid, F., Charalambous, S., Chihota, V.N., Churchyard, G.J., von Gottberg, A., McCarthy, K., Nicol, M.P., Ndlovu, N.T., Stevens, W., Fielding, K.L., and Grant, A.D., 2019. What causes symptoms suggestive of tuberculosis in HIV-positive people with negative initial investigations?. The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 23(2), pp.157-165.
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Chetty-Makkan, C.M., Grund, J.M., Munyai, R., Gadla, V., Chihota, V., Maraisane, M. and Charalambous, S., 2019. “To speak or not to speak”: A qualitative analysis on the attitude and willingness of women to start conversations about voluntary medical male circumcision with their partners in a peri-urban area, South Africa. PloS one, 14(1), p.e0210480.
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Rachow, A., Ivanova, O., Wallis, R., Charalambous, S., Jani, I., Bhatt, N., Kampmann, B., Sutherland, J., Ntinginya, N.E., Evans, D. and Lönnroth, K., Niemann, S.,Ulrich, E., Schaible, Geldmacher, C., Sanne, I., Hoelscher, M., and Churchyard, G., 2019. TB sequel: incidence, pathogenesis and risk factors of long-term medical and social sequelae of pulmonary TB–a study protocol. BMC pulmonary medicine, 19(1), p.4.
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Grant, A.D., Charalambous, S., Tlali, M., Karat, A.S., Dorman, S.E., Hoffmann, C.J., Johnson, S., Vassall, A., Churchyard, G.J., and Fielding, K.L., 2020. Algorithm-guided empirical tuberculosis treatment for people with advanced HIV (TB Fast Track): an open-label, cluster-randomised trial. The lancet HIV, 7(1), pp.e27-e37.]