| BREAKING NEWS & COMMENTARY |
| Anthrax investigation perks up
as FBI conducts searches |
September 2004: FBI searches homes in New York
and New Jersey in relation to its investigation into the anthrax mailings of
2001. |
| Antifungal given weekly may
prevent recurrent yeast infections |
October 2004: A cure remains elusive, but
recurrent bouts were reduced throughout the year. |
| Asia experiencing worrisome avian
flu outbreak; birds being slaughtered |
February 2004: Health officials have long
feared the spread of avian influenza among the susceptible human
population. |
| CDC revises recommendations
for treating gonorrhea in MSM |
July 2004: Increasing cases of
fluoroquinolone-resistant gonorrhea prompt shift to new treatment
recommendation. |
| CDC says heterosexual contact cause
of 35% of new HIV diagnoses |
March 2004: Sixty-five percent of women
acquire their HIV through heterosexual transmission. |
| Dialysis possible cause of West
Nile virus transmission |
September 2004: The epidemiologic
investigation was inconclusive in determining a source of infection. |
| Elderly patients may be
receiving some inappropriate prescriptions |
March 2004: Pain relievers and central nervous
system drugs make up a large part of the problem. |
| FDA approves tinidazole for
liver abscesses in adults, children |
July 2004: New drug therapy expected to become
an important treatment for trichomoniasis, giardiasis and amebiasis. |
| FDA investigates Salmonella
outbreak linked to tomatoes |
August 2004: Since July 2, 289 cases of
salmonellosis have been reported in Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and
West Virginia. |
| GSK awarding $250,000 in
research grants |
July 2004: Applications are now being accepted
for the 2004 Drug Discovery and Development Research Grant Program to recognize
selected HIV/AIDS researchers working toward breakthroughs. |
| HAART, prevention could go
hand-in-hand to reduce HIV |
February 2004: A per partnership decline of
60% in risk of becoming infected occurred following the introduction and
widespread use of HAART in San Francisco. |
| Hepatitis B vaccine recommendations
to reflect implementation challenges |
December 2004: First overhaul of the
ACIP’s recommendations since 1991 could be published by June 2005. |
| HHS rolls out smallpox
compensation program |
February 2004: $42 million is earmarked to
compensate smallpox volunteers and their contacts who suffered certain adverse
events. |
| IDSA issues new treatment
guidelines for community-acquired pneumonia |
January 2004: The recommendations include
specific guidance on choosing antimicrobial therapy. |
| IDSA releases plan to stimulate
antibiotic development |
August 2004: IDSA recommends government
agencies create financial incentives and liability protection to promote
antibiotic research. |
| Influenza vaccine manufacturer
expects delays in delivery |
September 2004: Chiron Corp. officials say
that some batches of their vaccine Fluvirin failed to meet sterility
requirements. |
| International guidelines for
enfuvirtide established |
August 2004: Panel publishes recommendations
that provide clear framework for optimal use of the fusion inhibitor. |
| Labs are now top spot to contract
SARS-CoV |
January 2004: WHO expert panel issues
biosafety guidelines after a lab worker contracted SARS. |
| Low efficacy has officials
questioning AIDS vaccine |
October 2004: After failed trials, concerns
are raised that significant efficacy will not be shown in an ongoing phase-3
trial of ALVAC plus AIDSVAX. |
| MRSA shown to have inducible
resistance to clindamycin |
January 2004 |
| MSM practicing safer sex to protect
partners from HIV |
November 2004: MSM with HIV are taking steps
to reduce transmission, but some are still practicing risky sexual
behaviors. |
| New antibiotic class approved;
first since 1991 |
May 2004: The FDA gave a thumbs up to
telithromycin, the first in a new class of antibiotics called ketolides. |
| New HIV rapid test receives FDA
approval |
February 2004: Uni-Gold Recombigen HIV has
proved safe and effective while also sensitive to HIV antibodies in clinical
trials. |
| N.J. man dies of Lassa
fever |
October 2004: Officials issue health advisory
for those who may have been in contact. |
| Panel sets strains for next
year’s influenza vaccine |
March 2004: The two influenza A strains are
set for next year’s vaccine, but the influenza B strain choice remains
provisional. |
| Public health
infrastructure is the key to bioterrorism preparedness |
February 2004: Since 2002, the government has
pumped $2 billion into public health preparedness against infectious disease
threats, with bioterrorism being just one aspect. |
| Rabies transmitted from
solid-organ transplants |
July 2004: The CDC is investigating the
potential household and health care contacts of the three people who died from
the infected organs. |
| Rare STD spreading among
MSM |
November 2004: Lymphogranuloma venereum is
caused by rare strains of C. trachomatis. |
| Rise in demand may lead to shortage
of malaria therapy |
December 2004: WHO projects a demand of 60
million treatment courses in 2005. |
| Salmonella osteomyelitis in an
immunocompetent patient |
January 2004: Salmonella infections
encompass a wide spectrum of disease. |
| Smallpox vaccine-associated
myopericarditis ‘real entity’ |
June 2004: Symptoms include chest pain,
fatigue, shortness of breath and decreased exercise tolerance, but some
patients are asymptomatic. |
| Traveler’s diarrhea drug
approved |
June 2004: Rifaximin gets nod from FDA to
treat traveler’s diarrhea in patients 12 years and older. |
| Troops are on the front lines
against infectious disease threats |
February 2004: Bioterrorism threats and
potential infectious disease outbreaks vary on where deployed military
personnel are assigned. |
| Variant CJD waning, but second wave
from transfusions possible |
November 2004: Blood banks wrestle with
balancing risk and safety with public demand and cost. |
| Variant norovirus linked to
gastroenteritis outbreaks in 2002 |
April 2004 |
| What’s Your Diagnosis? |
|
| Wisconsin teen survives rabies
infection without vaccine |
December 2004: Cocktail therapy consisting of
coma-inducing drugs and antiviral drugs used in treatment. |
| HIV/AIDS & STDS |
| As HAART prolongs lives,
HIV-related malignancies appear |
September 2004: Screening high-risk populations with anal
Pap smears may decrease the incidence of disease. |
| Cluster of HIV identified in N.C.
black men who have sex with men |
May 2004: A study of surveillance data reveals a trend of
HIV among black men who attend North Carolina colleges and universities and who
have sex with men. |
| DHHS panel revises
antiretroviral use guidelines |
December 2004: Up-to-date information offers health care
providers recommendations for treating adults and adolescents with HIV. |
| Drug companies, WHO trying to
streamline current HIV regimens |
June 2004: They are working on new antiretrovirals that
target different stages of the viral life cycle. |
| FDA approves first injectable
filler for HIV related facial wasting |
September 2004: Sculptra offers people living with HIV a
way to treat lipoatrophy disfigurement caused by some HIV treatments. |
| FDA approves first oral fluid rapid
HIV test |
April 2004: Before the approval, all rapid HIV tests
required the use of blood in order to get 20-minute results. |
| Federal plan to label condoms
comes under fire |
October 2004: Youth may get mixed messages from certain
labels on condoms, according to speaker at the Infectious Diseases Society of
America meeting. |
| Gonorrhea rates decreasing,
but antibiotic resistance still a concern |
December 2004: Dramatic increase in antibiotic-resistant
gonorrhea cases prompted shift to new treatment recommendation in MSM this past
year. |
| HIV cases among women increasing
around the world |
December 2004: Approximately half of the 37.2 million
adults living with HIV are women, and the numbers are rising, according to a
joint UNAIDS/WHO report. |
| HIV diagnoses increased in more than
half of the United States |
January 2004: New statistics show that more effort in
prevention strategies is needed. |
| HIV drugs in the pipeline offer
new hope |
September 2004: The drugs represent steps forward in the
ever-changing world of HIV/AIDS. |
| HIV in Asia: Act now or pay later,
groups warn |
August 2004: Ten million more Asians may acquire HIV by
2010 unless urgent action is taken now, says report. |
| HSV vaccine would have significant
impact on public health |
August 2004: Although promising, there is much work to do
before vaccine is available, expert says. |
| Link between smoking, HPV in
women with HIV noted |
June 2004: Increased risk seen regardless of smoking
status, but smoking heightens the risk of persistent HPV. |
| Nevirapine shows resistance
but helps prevent mother-to-child transmission |
March 2004: Research shows that nevirapine still brings
mother-to-child HIV transmission rates down, but may cause maternal resistance
problems later. |
| New trends emerge in HIV vaccine
development |
November 2004: Research teams met to share different
information, but with the same goal in mind – development of an HIV
vaccine. |
| Number of new HIV infections in NYC
women on the rise |
February 2004: First-year surveillance data reveal the
number of people living in New York City who are diagnosed with HIV, not just
AIDS. |
| Primate virus transmitted to
people through meat |
April 2004: It is not known if simian foamy virus is
harmful to human beings nor whether it can be transmitted from person to person
or through blood transfusions. |
| Superinfection among
couples with HIV questioned |
August 2004: Study finds no evidence of superinfection,
suggests physicians continue promoting serosorting. |
| Testosterone replacement improves
muscle mass in women with HIV |
July 2004: Little research done in the use of androgens
for women with HIV. |
| Topical microbicides for
HIV prevention may be ready in 2013 |
April 2004: With an HIV vaccine far in the future, topical
microbicides have gained favor among researchers hoping to empower women in
developing countries. |
| Trichomoniasis pervasive among
high-risk populations |
May 2004: Metronidazole-resistant trichomoniasis has been
reported throughout the United States. |
| WHO lays out the cards for achieving
‘3 by 5’ |
January 2004: WHO and UNAIDS want to get 3 million people
on antiretroviral treatment by the end of 2005. |
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