Articles tagged with: Opportunistic Infections
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Results from a recent study show that most sepsis infections in HIV-positive patients who are admitted to hospital intensive care units are acquired from hospitals or other health care settings, rather than being HIV-related illnesses. In addition, the risk of death in HIV-positive patients is more closely linked with the severity of the infection than factors relating to HIV.
“With the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy, [non-HIV-related] infections are becoming a more common reason for people with HIV to be admitted to intensive care units. However, we know little…
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Results from a recent multi-national study suggest that delaying the start of antiretroviral therapy may increase the risk of disease progression and death in individuals diagnosed with late-stage HIV infection, including those with opportunistic diseases. The results also show that older people, those with higher amounts of HIV in the blood, and those with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma at diagnosis are likely to have a poorer disease outcome.
The authors added that participants who did not experience disease progression in the first 48 weeks after late-stage HIV diagnosis were likely to have…
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The results of a recent study indicate that treatment for colorectal cancer reduces CD4 cell counts and may, therefore, put HIV-positive individuals at risk for opportunistic infections.
However, according to the study authors, this risk may be reduced with a combination of antiretrovirals and medications to prevent opportunistic infections, which are infections that often occur in people with compromised immune systems.
The authors suggested that doctors treating patients with colorectal cancer screen the patients for HIV before starting chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Colorectal cancer is a non-AIDS-defining cancer, meaning that it…
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Results of a recent study indicate that younger HIV-positive children are at an increased risk for complications after surgery, particularly post-operation infections. Major surgeries also increase the risk of complications. HIV disease severity was not linked to complication risk.
However, the study authors noted that their study was limited in that most of the children involved had advanced HIV infection and were underweight.
Based on their results, the researchers recommended postponing surgeries in HIV-positive children until they are one year old or older whenever possible. They also stated that infections…
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Roche Updates Fuzeon Prescribing Information To Warn Of Increased Pneumonia Risk – Roche updated the prescribing information for Fuzeon (enfuvirtide) last week to include information on a possible increased risk of bacterial pneumonia. Results from a recent study showed that patients taking Fuzeon were at about a 30 percent higher risk of contracting pneumonia. Although Roche is not certain that the higher rate is due to Fuzeon treatment, the company recommends that patients taking the drug be carefully monitored for signs of pneumonia. For more information, please see the FDA website.
Abbott Agrees To Cut Kaletra Drug Price For ADAPs – Abbott Laboratories announced last week that it has agreed to cut the price of its protease inhibitor Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir) for government-funded AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs). Abbott will reduce the price of Kaletra by 8 percent to $5,037 per patient per year. ADAPs provide antiretroviral drugs to low-income people with HIV who cannot afford their medications. Due to the recession, many state ADAPs have been faced with budget cutbacks and increasing enrollment. According to the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, as of April 22, there were 7,674 people on ADAP waiting lists nationwide. For more information, please see the article in the Chicago Tribune.
Federal Judge Orders New York City To Restore AIDS Funding – A federal judge has ruled against a plan by New York City to cut funding for the city’s HIV/AIDS Service Administration (HASA). The proposed cuts would have eliminated 254 case managers from HASA’s staff. The judge ruled that the cuts violated New York City Local Law 49 and a federal court order that require HASA to maintain a case manager to client ratio of 1 to 34. The judge informed lawyers representing the city that they have 30 days to show that the budget cuts to HASA will not occur. For more information, please see the Housing Works press release.
Tobira Therapeutics Recruits Participants For Phase 2 Clinical Trial For CCR5 Inhibitor Cenicriviroc – Pharmaceutical company Tobira Therapeutics is currently recruiting participants to study the effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of its investigational CCR5 inhibitor cenicriviroc (TBR-652). Currently the only CCR5 inhibitor approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is Selzentry (maraviroc). Participants will receive cenicriviroc plus Truvada (tenofovir/emtricitabine) or Sustiva (efavirenz) plus Truvada. The study is recruiting approximately 150 previously untreated HIV-positive adults. Trial locations include sites in Arizona, Florida, New York, and New Jersey. For more information, please see the U.S. Clinical Trials Registry.