Sexually transmitted infections: what's new?
(2012)
Journal - Acta clinica Belgica (Belgium )
Abstract :
Since the beginning of the third millennium the incidence of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) is rising in Europe and in Belgium, and this after a steady decline in the second half of last century. It concerns new or lesser known diseases such as Hepatitis C and Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) and 'old' diseases such as gonorrhoea and syphilis, occurring in specific risk groups. In this article we give an update of the diagnostic means and therapeutic challenges that are of interest for the clinician. Besides these (re)-emerging diseases we touch on Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Herpes Simplex (HSV). This selection of diseases is based on the daily experience of the clinicians working in the STI clinic of the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp. Data and clinical guidelines are derived from the Scientific Institute of Public Health in Brussels, the European and American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Guidelines of the Flemish Agency for Care and Health. New evolutions in diagnostics, prevention and treatment options make it necessary to regularly update the knowledge of this group of diseases, especially when they are complicated by HIV co-infection. As the incidence of neither HIV nor STIs seem to decrease in Belgium and Europe, it remains necessary to stay aware of the state-of-the-art management.
| ISSN : | 0001-5512 |
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| Mesh Heading : | Anti-Infective Agents Communicable Diseases, Emerging Drug Resistance Hepatitis C Humans Papillomavirus Infections Papillomavirus Vaccines Risk Factors Risk-Taking Sexually Transmitted Diseases therapeutic use epidemiology epidemiology transmission epidemiology prevention & control transmission diagnosis |
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| Mesh Heading Relevant : | epidemiology therapy |
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The Use of Interferon-? Release Assays for Tuberculosis Screening in International Travelers.
(2011)
Journal - Current infectious disease reports (United States )
Abstract :
Tuberculosis (TB) infection is relatively frequent among travellers to high incidence-countries, especially in long-term travellers and those involved in health work. It is important to diagnose recent infection, both for the affected individual and to prevent further transmission. Based on published literature, we assess the value of interferon-? release assays (IGRAs) as a complement to or replacement of the tuberculin skin test (TST) for the diagnosis of latent TB infection in the setting of a travel clinic. A comparison of available IGRAs with the TST in terms of operating characteristics and practical considerations is presented. We conclude that IGRAs offer some practical advantages that may benefit certain well-defined patient groups of a travel clinic, but that current evidence is incomplete. We identify research questions to better define the role of IGRAs in these populations.
Review editorial: prevention of tuberculosis in resource-poor countries with increasing access to highly active antiretroviral treatment.
(2005)
Journal - Tropical medicine & international health : TM & IH (England )
Abstract :
The administration of isoniazid (INH) has been proposed, evaluated and implemented to prevent tuberculosis (TB) disease among patients who are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This strategy has been developed in communities where TB is highly endemic and at a time when antiretroviral (ARV) treatment was not, or was rarely available. Although INH prevention programmes were somewhat pushed to the background due to the worldwide advocacy for ARV drugs, prevention of TB remains of paramount importance. The dual HIV-TB infection poses problems, not only for the individual and his/her clinician but also for the programme manager. We review various aspects of TB preventive treatment in countries with a high prevalence of HIV-TB co-infection and limited resources but with increasing access to ARV treatment.
| ISSN : | 1360-2276 |
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| Mesh Heading : | AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections Antibiotics, Antitubercular Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active Antitubercular Agents CD4 Lymphocyte Count Drug Therapy, Combination Humans Isoniazid Rifampin Tuberculosis therapeutic use methods therapeutic use therapeutic use therapeutic use transmission |
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| Mesh Heading Relevant : | Developing Countries prevention & control prevention & control |
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