Several strategies have proven effective in reducing transmission of HIV, including access to confidential testing and counseling, early introduction of HIV medications, and male circumcision. Three new studies show what actually affects the spread of HIV in populations, and results vary between different African settings.
Lau and colleagues describe a novel infectious problem — diffuse granulomatous encephalitis due to Mycobacterium chimaera infection occurring after cardiac surgery.
In a multicenter, randomized clinical trial, researchers found that a single dose of intravenous amoxicillin/clavulanic acid significantly reduced the risk of infection following operative vaginal birth (forceps or vacuum extraction) compared to placebo (180 of 1,619 [11%] vs. 306 of 1,606 [19%], respectively; P < 0.0001).
Pyuria is common in asymptomatic children with neurogenic bladders, especially after bladder surgery. The simple presence of pyuria does not necessarily indicate a need for antibiotic treatment.
Transplacental antibodies against Plasmodium falciparum Schizont Egress Antigen-1 may protect infants from severe malarial infection during the first year of life. This new knowledge about these antibodies potentially can inform vaccine development.
Newly released research indicates that a certain combination of drugs, gentamicin and azithromycin, may work as well as ceftriaxone alone for cases of drug-resistant gonorrhea.
About 80% of new HIV transmissions can be linked to people whose infection is undiagnosed or is not currently treated, according to findings from a just-published analysis.
