Infectious Disease Alert 2004-06-01

Antivirals and the SARS Coronavirus

Interferon a-n1 (Wellferon), interferon a-n3 (Alferon), and interferon b-1b (Betaferon) were each found to have in vitro activity against a strain of the SARS coronavirus.

Melioidosis in Australia

Melioidosis is endemic in parts of Australia that may be visited by tourists. Allen Cheng reported that, as of March 20, 15 patients with melioidosis had been seen at the Royal Darwin Hospital during the 2003-2004 rainy season. The Royal Darwin is the referral center for the Top End region of the Northern Territory of Australia.

An Aspirin A Day Keeps the Biofilm at Bay

Aspirin possesses potent activity against the formation of biofilms formed by Candida albicans and could be useful in combination for managing biofilm-associated infections.

Misidentification of Candida Species by Clinical Laboratories — Not a Good Thing!

Almost 1 in 20 Candida species isolated were misidentified by clinical laboratories; these errors have potential for engendering adverse clinical outcomes. C glabrata was the species most frequently misidentified.

Does Eradication of Staphylococci from the Nose Reduce Nosocomial Infection in Nonsurgical Patients?

Mupirocin application to the nose of hospitalized Staphylococcus aureus carriers did not decrease the incidence of nosocomial S aureus infection, but it did delay its appearance.

ICAAC/IDSA/ASTMH 2003 Conference Coverage

The following summary of selected abstracts from 3 meetings will be published in multiple parts. The 43rd Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) met in Chicago September 14-17, 2003. The Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) met in San Diego October 9-12, 2003. The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene met in Philadelphia December 3-7, 2003.

Updates By Carol A. Kemper, MD, FACP

Animal Reservoirs for SARS; SARS Screening Identifies TB Cases Instead; Measles Outbreak Among Chinese Adoptees; Recovery of Vaccinia after Smallpox Inoculation; Risk of Hepatitis A in Travelers to Developing Countries

Pharmacology Watch: Missing Link Between Vaccines and Diabetes

Breast Cancer and the Use of Statins; Warnings Issued for IBS Drugs; FDA Actions

Special Supplement-The Evolution of Antiretroviral Therapy: Applying Clinical Trial Data to Optimize HAART in the Management of HIV

History and Goals of Antiretroviral Therapy; Clinical Trials: Recent Assessments of Various Triple Nucleoside Regimens as HAART for Treatment-Naïve HIV-Infected Patients; Lower Efficacy With Stavudine, Didanosine, and ABC Triple NRTI Regimen; Tenofovir DF (TDF)/ABC/3TC Versus EFV/ABC/3TC in Antiretroviral-naïve HIV Patients; Atlantic Study: An Assessment of d4T/ddI/3TC; CLASS: Triple NRTI d4T/3TC/ZDV Versus NNRTI- and PI-based HAART; Efficacy From Trials With Quadruple PI-Sparing Therapy

Clinical Briefs in Primary Care Supplement

Infectious Disease Alert – June 1, 2004

June 1, 2004