Mixed-method analysis of screening for Strongyloides stercoralis prior to immunosuppression: a problem of limited bandwidth?

Abstract

Background: Guidelines recommend screening for strongyloidiasis prior to immunosuppression in those at epidemiological risk, as hyperinfection following immunosuppression is often fatal. The uptake of this recommendation is unknown and we aimed to explore this in our setting. Aims: To determine the proportion of adult patients at epidemiological risk for strongyloidiasis who were screened prior to immunosuppression at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, and to explore the factors that influenced clinicians' decision to screen for strongyloidiasis prior to immunosuppression. Methods: This study used a mixed-methods approach. First, a 12-month (1 January 2018 to 1 January 2019) retrospective observa..