| BREAKING NEWS & COMMENTARY |
| About 1 million Americans
living with HIV |
July 2005: Between 24% and 27% of people with
HIV do not know that they are infected. |
| Avian influenza update: more
deaths reported |
November 2005: The CDC declares the 1918 strain
a bioweapon. |
| Clinical guides for HIV testing
updated |
August 2005: Task force suggests HIV screening
for all pregnant women, not just those at risk. |
| CMS
lifting prohibition on hand sanitizers in hospital corridors |
January 2005: The regulation change will be
effective Feb. 23. |
| Coronavirus linked to
respiratory illnesses and Kawasaki disease |
February 2005: More research needed into why all
children that contract the respiratory illness do not go on to develop Kawasaki
disease. |
| FDA
approves new influenza vaccine for this season |
September 2005: In addition, the FDA inspects
the Chiron plant in UK, says improvements have been made. |
| Guillain-Barré syndrome
reported in five people after MCV4 administration |
October 2005: However, the FDA has not changed
its vaccine recommendations. Physicians should continue to offer the vaccine,
but also provide this new information about GBS to patients. |
| Hemoglobin C properties better
able to fend off malaria than other types |
August 2005: Malaria proteins did not stick to
the surface of hemoglobin type C cells. |
| H5N1
influenza strain raises concern about a pandemic |
September 2005: If the virus mutates and can
efficiently transmit from person to person, it could cause a deadly
pandemic. |
| HICPAC gives guidance on
reporting nosocomial infections |
April 2005: There is a growing interest
nationwide in developing mandatory reporting systems for health care-associated
infections. |
| ICAAC postponed and relocated to
D.C. following Hurricane Katrina |
September 2005: Meanwhile, residents of New
Orleans face infectious disease threats from flood waters. |
| IDSA committee proposes
guidelines for managing encephalitis |
December 2005: The committee stressed the
importance of recognizing epidemiologic and clinical clues that suggest a
specific etiology of encephalitis. |
| The
IDSA drafts guidelines for antimicrobial stewardship |
December 2005: Researchers say these guidelines
are needed because of inappropriate antimicrobial use and increasing resistance
rates. |
| Investigational HIV PI recommended
for accelerated approval |
June 2005: An FDA advisory committee voted yes
with reservations for accelerated approval of tipranavir after evaluating
safety and efficacy data. |
| Largest Marburg outbreak may
have peaked, WHO officials say |
May 2005: Cases have decreased from 35 new cases
a week to 15. |
| Minnesota infant has oral polio
vaccine virus |
October 2005: The infant shows no signs of
paralytic illness. There is no immediate health threat to the general public.
|
| Most
labs have destroyed the H2N2 influenza that was shipped worldwide |
May 2005: The CDC and NIH upgraded the biosafety
level of the strain to Biosafety Level 3. |
| Necrotizing fasciitis infections
caused by CA-MRSA noted in L.A. |
August 2005: Treatment for MRSA cases occurring
in L.A. should include antibiotics that are predictably active against this
pathogen. |
| New epidemic strain of
Clostridium difficile has emerged |
February 2005: Early diagnosis and treatment are
important for avoiding severe outcomes. |
| New
facts to consider when giving NNRTIs |
May 2005: DHHS panel revises guidelines to give
health care providers the most up-to-date information for treating adults and
adolescents living with HIV. |
| New
guidelines for managing hospital-acquired pneumonia |
January 2005: Guidelines will stress importance
of shortening antibiotic therapy and choosing antibiotics appropriate for your
hospital’s microbiology. |
| New
look, same mission at Infectious Disease News |
March 2005: Our mission is to help you stay
abreast of the latest information in infectious diseases. |
| New syndrome not previously
seen in S. aureus infections detected |
May 2005: Researchers recommend treating
patients with antibiotics for Neisseria meningitidis, streptococci and
also MRSA when seen with purpura fulminans. |
| Non-B
HIV subtypes identified in Minnesota |
July 2005: Better surveillance of HIV genetic
diversity is needed to determine national HIV prevalence. |
| Recap of 2005: new threats, old
enemies and more ways to fight the good fight against diseases |
December 2005 |
| Researchers note high efficacy of
trial vaccine against HPV |
January 2005: The vaccine would immunize women
against the two types of HPV that cause nearly 70% of cervical cancer
cases. |
| TB at
an all-time low in United States |
April 2005: However, declining trend is slowing
and some states are seeing increases in TB case rates. |
| Tigecycline
approved |
July 2005 |
| Tipranavir approved for use
in combination HIV therapy |
July 2005: Tipranavir is now the second
non-peptidic protease inhibitor on the market. |
| U.S. budget proposal cuts health
programs |
April 2005: Congress urged to reject 2006 budget
proposal. Groups call for increased funding for federal infectious disease
programs. |
| U.S. soldiers returning with
resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections |
November 2005: Walter Reed officials have
instituted isolation policies and universal precautions, such as wearing gowns,
gloves and masks around positive patients. |
| Waves of infection expected in
wake of tsunamis |
January 2005: World health agencies and experts
are hoping to prevent food- and waterborne illnesses and other infectious
disease threats. |
| HIV/AIDS & STDS |
| AIDS
cocktails may increase risk of CVD |
April 2005: Lipid responses to combination ART provide
partial information as to whether CVD risk is tied to ART. |
| Alternatives to improve
enfuvirtide administration |
October 2005: Data presented at IAS show new possibilities
for HIV patients’ self-injections of the fusion inhibitor
enfuvirtide. |
| ART
patients are living longer but developing different health
problems |
May 2005: Physicians are seeing more cardiovascular problems
than pulmonary problems among patients with HIV. |
| Association of HHV-8 with pulmonary
hypertension questioned by Tokyo study |
March 2005: Kaposi’s sarcoma virus not found in lungs
of Japanese patients with lung disease, but was reported by U.S.
scientists. |
| Combination microbicides provide
protection against HIV in monkeys |
December 2005: Merck and BMS license an agreement with
International Partnership for Microbicides for development of an effective new
entry inhibitor. |
| Declining HIV rates in Ugandan
district attributed to condom use, increasing deaths |
March 2005: Mortality rates, epidemiology and potential
future effects of ART are other contributors that need to be factored into the
equation. |
| Drug-resistant HIV with rapid AIDS
progression reported in New York |
March 2005: Rare multidrug-resistant and rapid-onset AIDS
case in New York City man prompts call to step up prevention and education
efforts. |
| Genetics may hold answers to
HIV/AIDS progression and treatment |
November 2005: Genetic testing may help researchers predict
patients’ risk of developing resistance, toxicity and long-term efficacy
of therapy. |
| HAART not affected by hormonal
contraceptives |
June 2005: No association found between hormonal birth
control use and CD4+ cell count or viral load suppression after HAART
initiation. |
| HIV transmission highest in
early stages of infection |
August 2005: Measures such as partner notification,
counseling services and novel biologicals should be developed specifically for
people with early HIV infection. |
| HPV
progression in people with HIV may be linked to faltering immune
system |
March 2005: People who have HIV are much more likely to
develop serious disease, including cervical cancer, as a result of HPV
infection. |
| HPV vaccine could soon be a
reality |
March 2005: Candidate vaccines are providing good results in
clinical trials. |
| HPV
vaccine shows good prevention against cervical pre-cancers |
November 2005: Merck officials hope to put Gardasil on the
market by the end of the year. |
| Microbicide pipeline may
offer hope for reducing HIV, STD prevalence |
July 2005: There is hope that an effective microbicide will
be available within five to 10 years. |
| Non-occupational postexposure
prophylaxis guidelines issued |
February 2005: Federal treatment guidelines on use of
non-occupational postexposure prophylaxis for those exposed to HIV are a first.
|
| Number of pills affect HIV
patient’s drug adherence |
December 2005: Patients taking combination antiretrovirals
are three times more likely to refill their prescriptions on time. |
| Patients, physicians creating
barriers to therapy for HIV/HCV coinfection |
January 2005: HCV treatment “bypassed” by some HIV
doctors. |
| Public misinformed about HIV
vaccine research |
October 2005: HIV Communication Campaign must target
barriers, such as misinformation and distrust, to increase public support and
participation in HIV vaccine research. |
| Public-private collaboration
created to develop a prophylactic AIDS vaccine |
July 2005: Product development collaboration established
between GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals and the International AIDS Vaccine
Initiative. |
| Rapid
HIV tests hit the mass market |
May 2005: It has been 20 years since the first diagnostic
test for HIV was approved, and technology has improved greatly since that
time. |
| Rates of U.S. HIV/AIDS diagnoses
holding steady |
January 2005: Testing rates are higher among CDC-recommended
groups than among the general population. |
| Researchers concerned about risks
associated with ‘POZ parties’ |
December 2005: Sex parties may decrease HIV transmission,
but increase spread of STDs and HIV superinfection. |
| Resurgence of STDs among MSM
prompts call for screening in HIV patients |
September 2005: Test and treat patients for these infections
and teach them about safer sexual behaviors. |
| Screen HIV patients for kidney
disease |
June 2005 |
| Sex-attributed health burden in
U.S. highest among developed countries |
March 2005: Study found that more than 2 million life years
have been lost due to sexual behavior. |
| WHO
reinstates several generic ARVs, adds a few others |
October 2005: Seven Ranbaxy ARVs relisted; three Aurobindo
ARVs added. |
| VACCINE-PREVENTABLE DISEASES |
| Action, not talk, needed to
strengthen U.S. vaccine supply |
March 2005: Only “modest steps” taken
on the issues identified three years ago that could help strengthen the vaccine
supply. |
|
CDC
officials warn to stay alert for pertussis in the hospital |
February 2005: Many nosocomial outbreaks might
be prevented by observing droplet precautions. |
| FDA
approves first pertussis booster |
June 2005: GlaxoSmithKline’s Boostrix will
be used in children and adolescents between the ages 10 and 18. |
| Flu season starts out mild;
high-risk groups not all covered |
January 2005: The ACIP also broadened
recommendations for vaccination to ensure vaccine supply is not wasted. |
| Jump
in mumps cases reported in the UK |
June 2005: More than 8,000 confirmed cases were
reported in 2004, highlighting the need for both doses of MMR. |
| Maurice R. Hilleman
remembered |
May 2005: Hilleman was a pioneer of more than 40
vaccines. |
| National adult immunization is
a largely ignored public health challenge |
September 2005: Influenza, pneumonia and
hepatitis impose a huge toll on U.S. adults. |
| Optimism remains in the face of
setbacks to polio and measles elimination |
August 2005: Samuel L. Katz, MD, says the
diseases will be eliminated. Preventing donor and volunteer fatigue, however,
will be key to success. |
| Preschoolers likely drive
influenza epidemics |
November 2005: Data suggest immunizing children
who spread the disease, not only those at risk for catching it. |
| Rubella eliminated from the
United States, CDC says |
April 2005: Worldwide elimination of the disease
is a priority for many countries, experts say. |
| Second disease may be stopped this
year: polio heads for the history books |
February 2005: Even after cases rose last year
in West Africa, officials are optimistic that through immunization campaigns,
they can eradicate polio by the end of 2005. |
| Two Tdap vaccines get nod from
FDA advisory committee |
April 2005: Sanofi Pasteur and
GlaxoSmithKline’s vaccines would provide pertussis boosters for
adolescents and adults. |
| Zoster vaccine reduces neuralgia
by 66.5% |
June 2005: Study showed the investigational
live-attenuated VZV vaccine reduced incidence, severity and duration of herpes
zoster pain. |
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