MEDSCAPE's Infectious Diseases MedPulse 10-13-01

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MedPulse is a weekly index of key news and features on Medscape's

specialty sites compiled by Medscape's Editors.

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___________________ NEW FEATURE ARTICLES THIS WEEK ____________________

-- MEDSCAPE ORIGINAL ARTICLES --

CONFERENCE REPORT - STDS: PROGRESS!

A peek at the upcoming CDC guidelines for treatment of STDs, and progress in vaccines.

Medscape Infectious Disease, 2001

http://id.medscape.com/43702.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

NEW AGENTS FOR ANTI-HIV THERAPY

New antiretrovirals are needed to improve treatment efficacy, reduce toxicities, and provide ongoing therapeutic options for patients already experienced with current agents.

http://id.medscape.com/43746.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

-- MMWR --

WEEKLY UPDATE: WEST NILE VIRUS ACTIVITY ---UNITED STATES, SEPTEMBER

26--OCTOBER 2, 2001

Five human cases of WNV encephalitis were reported in Connecticut (two) and New Jersey (three); no deaths were reported.

http://id.medscape.com/43616.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

VACCINATION COVERAGE AMONG CHILDREN ENROLLED IN HEAD START PROGRAMS AND LICENSED CHILD CARE CENTERS AND ENTERING SCHOOL --- UNITED STATES AND SELECTED REPORTING AREAS, 1999--2000 SCHOOL YEAR

Although the incidence of vaccine-preventable disease is at an all-time low, coverage from >90% to >95% is considered necessary to prevent transmission of measles in secondary schools.

http://id.medscape.com/43614.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

PUBLIC HEALTH DISPATCH: UPDATE: OUTBREAK OF POLIOMYELITIS ---DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND HAITI, 2000--2001

Travelers to the Dominican Republic and Haiti who are not vaccinated adequately are at risk for polio.

http://id.medscape.com/43615.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

-- INFECTIONS in MEDICINE --

RATIONALE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HIV POSTEXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS

Transmission of HIV infection may occur through accidental exposure in the health care setting. Prompt initiation of prophylaxis is recommended for exposed workers.

Infect Med 18(9):428-438, 2001

http://id.medscape.com/43706.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

-- OTHER JOURNALS --

IN VITRO ACTIVITIES OF COMMONLY USED ANTIBIOTICS AGAINST PREVALENT

UROPATHOGENS: IMPLICATIONS FOR EMPIRIC THERAPY

Three-day therapy with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) is currently recommended as one of the standard therapies for managing acute uncomplicated bacterial cystitis in otherwise healthy, nonpregnant women.

http://id.medscape.com/43715.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF MORTALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH MEDICATION ERRORS

A medication error, as defined by the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention (NCCMERP), is any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the health care professional, patient, or consumer.

http://id.medscape.com/43726.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

RECURRENCE OF GENITOURINARY HYDATID CYST AFTER NEPHRECTOMY

Hydatid disease (HD), or echinococcosis, is a parasitic infection that is endemic to sheep-raising areas of the world, such as Argentina, Spain, Australia, and Mediterranean countries.

http://id.medscape.com/43730.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

FOUR HIV/AIDS ITEMS

Announcements from the FDA regarding Nucleic Acid Test system approval, a Gene Therapy meeting, the TruGene HIV-1 Genotyping Kit and Open Gene DNA Sequencing System approval, and the Antiviral Advisory Committee meeting on tenofovir

http://id.medscape.com/43745.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

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___________________________________ NEWS ______________________________

-- BIOTERRORISM & ANTHRAX --

FBI INVESTIGATING NEW ANTHRAX CASE IN FLORIDA

A co-worker of the Florida man who died of anthrax last week has tested positive for the extremely rare disease that could be used as a biological warfare agent, officials said on Monday.

http://id.medscape.com/43603.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

BIOTERRORISM PREPAREDNESS REQUIRES MORE THAN MONEY, SENATE COMMITTEE TOLD

More money alone will not be enough to better prepare the nation to cope with a potential bioterrorist attack, health experts told a Senate committee Tuesday.

http://id.medscape.com/43655.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

US DOCTORS SAY THIRD ANTHRAX CASE UNLIKELY

Health officials in northern Virginia said on Tuesday a man was being tested for anthrax, but preliminary results indicated that he very likely did not have the rare disease -- following two cases in Florida that sparked fears of biological warfare.

http://id.medscape.com/43658.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

PUBLIC, LAWMAKERS SAID TO BE OVERREACTING TO BIOTERRORISM THREAT

A bioterrorism expert told a House Committee on Wednesday that bad information has led to an unreasonable level of panic about the probability of a bioterrorist attack in the United States.

http://id.medscape.com/43689.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

INDIAN COMPANIES COULD SUPPLY GENERIC VERSIONS OF ANTHRAX DRUG

If the anthrax scare were to spread from the US across the globe, cash-strapped governments would find dozens of suppliers in India willing to sell the costly medicine needed to treat the disease at cut-rate prices.

http://id.medscape.com/43769.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

UK DOCTORS URGE LESS 'SECRECY' OVER DISASTER PLANNING

The British Medical Association (BMA) has expressed concern over what it calls the 'secrecy' surrounding disaster planning for an attack involving biological or chemical weapons.

http://id.medscape.com/43772.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

THIRD PERSON TESTS POSITIVE FOR ANTHRAX IN FLORIDA

A third publishing company employee in Florida tested positive for exposure to anthrax, which has killed one man, and the probe into the cases is now a criminal investigation, officials said on Wednesday.

http://id.medscape.com/43779.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

FLORIDA DEATH SPREADS ANTHRAX FEAR; CIPRO SALES RISE

The death of a Florida man this week from anthrax has increased fears of biological warfare and boosted demand for antibiotics across the US, healthcare industry officials said on Wednesday.

http://id.medscape.com/43781.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

EUROPE MAY BE ILL-PREPARED FOR BIOLOGICAL ATTACKS

UK scientists warned on Friday that Europe needs to improve disease surveillance and response systems to ensure that outbreaks of infectious disease are adequately controlled, particularly in light of recent concerns that biological weapons may be used in terrorist attacks.

http://id.medscape.com/43782.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

-- HIV/AIDS --

MATERNAL ZIDOVUDINE USE INCREASED AFTER US GUIDELINES PUBLISHED

Zidovudine use by HIV-infected pregnant women and their infants increased markedly after the US Public Health Service released guidelines in 1994 designed to limit vertical HIV transmission.

http://id.medscape.com/43687.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

RITONAVIR AND FLUTICASONE COMBINATION MAY CAUSE CUSHING'S DISEASE

Two cases of iatrogenic Cushing's disease in HIV patients who took both ritonavir and fluticasone have raised concerns about co-morbidity, according to Dr. Cassie Workman of the AIDS Research Initiative in Darlinghurst, Sydney.

http://id.medscape.com/43529.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

CARDOVASCULAR RISK RAISED IN HIV PATIENTS ON ANTIRETROVIRALS

Initial results from a worldwide study indicate that HIV-infected patients who use antiretroviral therapy are at high risk of cardiovascular disease, according to Dr. Matthew Law, statistician for the Australian HIV Observational Database.

http://id.medscape.com/43533.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

GENERAL PRACTITIONERS ARE A CRITICAL LINK IN HIV DRUG COMPLIANCE

The information given by general practitioners to patients about their HIV treatments could be vital in ensuring compliance, according to Dr. Abigail Wroe of the Department of Psychology at the University of Auckland, New Zealand.

http://id.medscape.com/43551.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

This is only a selection of this week's HIV/AIDS NEWS. Read all the latest news about advances in the field, from Reuters and Medscape Wire.

http://www.medscape.com/hiv/news

And you can subscribe to the HIV/AIDS Medpulse, as well as other specialty Medpulses, by updating your profile at the following link:

http://www.medscape.com/profile

-- OTHER STDs --

HIGH-DOSE TINIDAZOLE TREATS METRONIDAZOLE-RESISTANT VAGINAL TRICHOMONIASIS

High-dose tinidazole is highly effective and well tolerated in women with metronidazole-resistant vaginal trichomoniasis, even those who fail treatment with high-dose metronidazole.

http://id.medscape.com/43752.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

CIDOFOVIR EFFECTIVE IN TREATMENT OF HPV INFECTION

Cidofovir topical gel effectively treats genital warts caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), according to a report in the September 1st issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases.

http://id.medscape.com/43537.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

DOUCHING INCREASES THE RISK OF BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS

Among nonpregnant women, recent douching increases the risk of bacterial vaginosis almost three-fold.

http://id.medscape.com/43598.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

NEW TOPICAL TREATMENTS FOR HERPES LABIALIS EVALUATED

The results of an animal study show that penciclovir cream is the most efficacious of the topical treatments for herpes labialis that are newly approved by the US Food and Drug Administration or have recently been clinically evaluated.

http://id.medscape.com/43695.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

-- VACCINES --

ROTAVIRUS VACCINE DOES NOT INCREASE RISK OF INFANT INTUSSUSCEPTION

The number of intussusception cases in infants who received the rotavirus vaccine appears to be substantially lower than initially estimated, according a report in The Lancet for October 13.

http://id.medscape.com/43778.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

SHIGELLA DNA VACCINE VECTOR PROVIDES PROTECTIVE IMMUNITY TO HIV

A live Shigella vaccine vector containing HIV-1 gp120 DNA is capable of inducing protective immunity to HIV in a mouse model, according to a report published in the October issue of the Journal of Virology.

http://id.medscape.com/43788.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

AIDS VACCINE SEEN WITHIN REACH IN NEXT DECADE

Scientists are increasingly optimistic that an AIDS vaccine will be available in the next 6 to 10 years, although the first one may not be 100% effective, researchers said on Sunday.

http://id.medscape.com/43589.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

AVENTIS PASTEUR MSD LAUNCHES 'FAST-ACTING' TRAVEL VACCINE IN UK

The Franco-American vaccines joint venture Aventis Pasteur MSD has launched in the UK a combination vaccine for typhoid and hepatitis A, which it says is faster-acting and cheaper than GlaxoSmithKline's rival product.

http://id.medscape.com/43652.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

-- PEDIATRIC ID --

ANTIBIOTIC LINKED TO GI COMPLICATION IN INFANTS

Erythromycin treatment in infants, particularly those in the first 2 weeks of life, increases the risk of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS), researchers report in the September issue of the Journal of Pediatrics.

http://id.medscape.com/43582.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

HIGH-DOSE AMOXICILLIN/CLAVULANATE HIGHLY EFFICACIOUS FOR ACUTE OTITIS MEDIA

A new formulation of high dose amoxicillin/clavulanate is highly effective in treating acute otitis media in young children, according to results of a multicenter trial.

http://id.medscape.com/43584.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

-- HEPATITIS --

HEPATITIS C VIRUS COSTS US NEARLY AS MUCH AS ASTHMA

A report released this week indicates that the hepatitis C virus (HCV) cost the US about $5.46 billion dollars in 1997, on a par with the cost of asthma ($5.8 billion in 1994).

http://id.medscape.com/43592.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

RATE OF COINFECTION WITH HIV, HCV INCREASING IN AUSTRALIA

The rate of HIV infection co-existing with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is increasing in Australia, according to Dr. Cassie Workman and others of the AIDS Research Initiative.

http://id.medscape.com/43594.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

-- INFLUENZA --

WINTER INFLUENZA VACCINATIONS WILL BE DELAYED IN US

Trouble with distribution will again delay influenza vaccinations for Americans this month, but those who need it the most should be able to get it, according to US health officials.

http://id.medscape.com/43606.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

-- TUBERCULOSIS --

INFLIXIMAB THERAPY ASSOCIATED WITH REACTIVATION TUBERCULOSIS

Active tuberculosis may develop soon after initiation of treatment with infliximab, according to a report in the New England Journal of Medicine for October 11.

http://id.medscape.com/43667.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

IFN-GAMMA ASSAY COMPARABLE TO SKIN TEST FOR LATENT TB, OFFERS ADVANTAGES

The tuberculin skin test has a new rival for detecting latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

http://id.medscape.com/43640.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

-- DENGUE --

DENGUE FEVER OUTBREAK IN HAWAII FIRST IN 50 YEARS

The Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) is warning all Hawaiian physicians to be alert for possible dengue fever cases, in response to the first documented local transmission of the virus in Hawaii since 1943.

http://id.medscape.com/43649.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

-- BSE/CJD --

DOUBTS CAST ON BSE PRION AS CAUSE OF NEW VARIANT CREUTZFELDT-JAKOB DISEASE

There appears to be no causal link between the variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease that appeared in 1996 and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), a UK researcher argues in the October 13th issue of the British Medical Journal.

http://id.medscape.com/43767.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

-- MALARIA --

GLAXO, UCSF, MEDICINES FOR MALARIA VENTURE PARTNER ON NEW MALARIA THERAPY

British drug giant GlaxoSmithKline plc has agreed to collaborate with the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) and the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) in developing new treatments for malaria, the partners announced on Thursday.

http://id.medscape.com/43770.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

-- OTHER ID NEWS --

DRUG COMPANIES UNDER FIRE FOR NEGLECTING THE POOR

Major pharmaceutical companies came under fire on Tuesday for failing to fund research into drugs to treat 'unprofitable' diseases that kill mainly the poor.

http://id.medscape.com/43680.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

FDA PANEL WILL NOT ENDORSE TEST FOR GRAM-NEGATIVE INFECTION

Sepsis Inc., a majority-owned subsidiary of Canada's Spectral Diagnostics Inc., failed to earn on Thursday the endorsement of expert advisors to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its lead product, a diagnostic test to help detect gram-negative bacterial infections more rapidly.

http://id.medscape.com/43785.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

USDA SAYS FOOD IRRADIATION FIRM MISLEADS ON 'PASTEURIZATION' CLAIMS

The food irradiation company SureBeam Corp. cannot claim that its process is similar to pasteurization, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said in a letter released on Thursday.

http://id.medscape.com/43559.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

IG NOBEL PRIZES RECOGNIZE RESEARCH ON THE FRINGE

Where do studies of falling coconuts, nose picking, and odor-eating underwear gain praise instead of ignominy? At the annual Ig Nobel Prizes ceremony, held Thursday night at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

http://id.medscape.com/43549.rhtml?srcmp=id-101201

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