Saskia den Boon, MSc, PhD

Epidemiologist and Project Director for the International HIV-associated Opportunistic Pneumonias (IHOP) Study

Affiliation / Contact details:
Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration Mulago Hospital Complex
P.O. Box 7475

Kampala, Uganda

sdenboon@muucsf.org

Qualifications:

Professional interests:
Epidemiological research in the field of infectious diseases with a current focus on tuberculosis and HIV, the translation of research findings into policy and practice in order to improve health care in developing countries, public health, nutrition.

Current activities:
Saskia manages the International HIV-related Opportunistic Pneumonias (IHOP) Study and the Mulago Inpatient Noninvasive Diagnosis (MIND) of Pneumonia Study. Both studies aim to obtain epidemiological information on the frequency of pneumonias (tuberculosis, PCP, PKS, bacterial pneumonia, cryptococcal pneumonia) in mostly HIV-infected patients who are admitted to the hospital with chest symptoms. The MIND-study furthermore aims to test new diagnostic tools for tuberculosis while also looking for ways to use current diagnostic tools in innovative ways. Most of the research is carried out at Mulago Hospital in Kampala and a nearby HIV-clinic. Saskia is responsible for the daily management of all study activities including the supervision of the study team. As epidemiologist Saskia is involved in the writing of proposals and manuscripts, the implementation of studies and the mentoring of students.

Publications:

• Andama A, Cattamanchi A, Davis JL, Den Boon S, Worodria W, Huang L. Modified Giemsa method for confirmation of Pneumocystispneumonia in low-income countries. BMJ Case Reports 2009 (Published online).

 

• Cattamanchi A, Davis JL , Worodria W, Den Boon S, Yoo S, Matovu J, Kiidha J, Nankya F, Kyeyune R, Byanyima P, Andama A, Joloba M, Osmond DH, Hopewell PC, Huang L. Sensitivity and Specificity of Fluorescence Microscopy for Diagnosing Pulmonary Tuberculosis in a High HIV Prevalence Setting. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2009; 13(9): 1130-6.

 

• Kritzinger FE, Den Boon S, Verver S, Enarson DA, Lombard CJ, Borgdorff MW, Gie RP, Beyers N. Annual risk of tuberculosis infection is not decreasing in endemic area in South Africa. Trop Med Int Health 2009; 14(2): 136-42.

 

• Botha E, Den Boon S, Lawrence KA, Reuter H, Verver S, Lombard CJ, Dye C, Enarson DA, Beyers N. From suspect to patient: tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment initiation in primary health care facilities in South Africa. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2008; 12(8): 936-41.

 

• Botha E, Den Boon S, Verver S, Dunbar R, Lawrence K, Bosman M, Enarson DA, Thoms I, Beyers N. Initial default from tuberculosis treatment: how often does it happen and what are the reasons? Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2008; 12(7): 820-823.

 

• Den Boon S, Verver S, Lombard CJ, Bateman ED, Irusen EM, Enarson DA, Borgdorff MW, Beyers N. Comparison of symptoms and treatment outcomes between actively- and passively-detected tuberculosis cases. Epidemiology and Infection 2008; 136(10):1342-9.

 

• Den Boon S, Verver S, Marais BJ, Enarson DA, Lombard CJ, Bateman ED, Irusen E, Jithoo A, Gie RP, Borgdorff MW, Beyers N. The association between passive smoking and infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis in children. Pediatrics 2007; 119(4): 734-739.

 

• Den Boon S, Van Lill SWP, Borgdorff MW, Enarson DA, Verver S, Bateman ED, Irusen E, Lombard CJ, White NW, De Villiers C, Beyers N. High prevalence of tuberculosis in previously treated patients, Cape Town, South Africa. Emerging Infectious Diseases 2007; 13(8): 1189-1194.
• Den Boon S, White NW, Van Lill SWP, Borgdorff MW, Verver S, Lombard CJ, Bateman ED, Irusen E, Enarson DA, Beyers N. An evaluation of symptom and chest radiographic screening in tuberculosis prevalence surveys. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2006; 10(8): 876-882.

 

• Den Boon S, Bateman ED, Enarson DA, Borgdorff MW, Verver S, Lombard CJ, Irusen E, Beyers N, White NW. Development and evaluation of a new chest radiograph reading and recording system for epidemiological surveys of tuberculosis and lung disease. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2005; 9(10): 1088-1096.

 

• Den Boon S, Van Lill SWP, Borgdorff MW, Verver S, Bateman ED, Lombard CJ, Enarson DA, Beyers N. Association between smoking and tuberculosis infection: a population survey in a high tuberculosis incidence area. Thorax 2005; 60: 555-557.

 

• Den Boon S, Schellekens JFP, Schouls LM, Suijkerbuijk AWM, Docters van Leeuwen B, Van Pelt W. Verdubbeling van het aantal consulten voor tekenbeten en Lyme-borreliose in de huisartsenpraktijk in Nederland (Doubling of the number of cases of tick bites and Lyme borreliosis seen by general practitioners in the Netherlands). Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 2004;148(14):665-670.