Infectious diseases
Article Abstract:
The status of therapies for several infectious diseases is reviewed. AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is a dominant theme with only the agent zidovudine (AZT) available for treatment. Taken over a period of months, zidovudine becomes less effective; this may be due to the development of drug resistance by HIV (human immunodeficiency virus, which is associated with AIDS). Zidovudine is also associated with toxic reactions. More antiviral agents are needed for treating AIDS. A promising medication is 2,3-dideoxyinosine (ddI), which increases the levels of CD4-positive T cells (cells of the immune system) and reduces the levels of HIV p24 antigen (associated with HIV infection). It seems to have less severe side effects than AZT. Additional data are needed to completely evaluate ddI. Control of the AIDS epidemic may ultimately come from the development of vaccines; research with killed whole virus vaccines has been encouraging in non-human species. Another infectious disease agent under investigation is hepatitis C virus, which is responsible for most cases of non-A non-B hepatitis. This virus may cause the hepatitis detected after blood transfusions. A screening test to detect hepatitis C virus in donated blood now exists. Recombinant interferon alpha appears capable of controlling infection with hepatitis C virus. The organism Helicobacter pylori may cause gastritis (stomach inflammation) in patients with type B chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. Several drugs, including antibiotics, eliminate this organism. A new class of antibiotics for oral use, the quinolones, are especially useful for urinary and soft-tissue infections. Guidelines for their use are provided. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1990
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Infectious diseases
Article Abstract:
A brief overview of research on AIDS and antiviral treatments, multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), hospital outbreaks of enterococci infection and the identification of other infectious agents of disease is presented. Criteria for the diagnosis of AIDS have recently been revised to include indicators such as invasive cervical cancer, tuberculosis and recurrent pneumonia. In many patients, drug-resistant strains of HIV emerge after patients have taken zidovudine for six to 12 months. Didanosine and zalcitabine are new antivirals that can be used to treat zidovudine-resistant strains of HIV. With the resurgence of TB, practitioners have now found that some types are resistant to all usual drug regimens. Hope for controlling the epidemic rests on early diagnosis and treatment of TB and ensuring that treatment is completed. Infections with enterococci are common in hospital settings and multi-drug-resistant strains have developed. This underscores the need for restricting antibiotic therapy to only those cases where its use is warranted. The organism responsible for Whipple's disease has been found through genetic analysis to be related to Nocardia and Mycobacterium.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1993
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Infectious diseases
Article Abstract:
An effective HIV vaccine, new drug therapies for AIDS and the treatment drug-resistant tuberculosis are major concerns for physicians specializing in the care and treatment of patients with infectious diseases. An AIDS vaccine will be tested in Brazil, Rwanda, Uganda and Thailand. Didanosine was approved for the treatment of HIV infection, and may be especially effective in treating patients who no longer respond to zidovudine (AZT). Antibodies against bacterial toxins have been effective in treating septic shock. New drugs derived from erythromycin are more effective than the parent drug with fewer side effects. The Immunization Practices Advisory Committee in 1991 extended the groups of people recommended to receive hepatitis B virus vaccine. Hospital administrators must provide the vaccine to any health care worker who comes in contact with patients' blood.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1992
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