Infection News

VIENNA — Use of adenovirus derived from chimpanzees showed increased activity and sustainability of T cell activation in an early study of a vaccine for hepatitis C virus, according to new data presented during the International Liver Congress.

VIENNA — Epidemiological modelling showed that scale-up of hepatitis B mother-to-child transmission intervention and treatment in Africa will be as important in the progress to elimination as infant vaccination, according to a presentation at the International Liver Congress 2019.

Children of women who used tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, or TDF, to prevent transmission of hepatitis B to their child did not have lower bone mineral density compared with children who were exposed to placebo, according to findings from a randomized controlled trial published in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Recently published data showed that adding bismuth salts to a triple therapy of proton pump inhibitors, amoxicillin and clarithromycin helped eradicate Helicobacter pylori infection.

Results from a recent study showed that a multifaceted intervention including provider and patient education, electronic medical record-enabled best practice alert, and increased hepatitis C treatment capacity significantly increased hepatitis C screening.

The Louisiana Department of Health selected Asegua Therapeutics, a subsidiary of Gilead Sciences, as their pharmaceutical partner in a “subscription style” payment plan designed to provide state residents with access to hepatitis C treatment, according to a press release from the department.

Current WHO guidelines for chronic hepatitis B failed to detect half of the patients in need of treatment in Ethiopia and more than half of those who met eligibility criteria had developed decompensated cirrhosis.

Cholera cases have increased in Yemen within recent weeks, where 108,889 suspected cases and 190 deaths have been reported since January. Approximately one-third of these cases have been reported in children aged younger than 5 years, according to a report issued by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

One of the most disappointing situations you can encounter while traveling is the dreaded travelers’ diarrhea. Travelers’ diarrhea is the most common travel-related illness that can disrupt vacations and business plans when visiting low-income countries. The rate of travelers’ diarrhea has been reported to be as high as 70%, depending on the time of year and destination, but most recent data suggest that rates have decreased overall and are in the range of 10% to 40%. The highest risk for infection is within the first few weeks while abroad, and it somewhat decreases thereafter. The definition of classic travelers’ diarrhea is three or more diarrheal stools per day, along with at least one other clinical sign, such as abdominal cramps, fever, nausea or vomiting. Approximately 10% of those suffering from this illness will require medical care, and up to 3% may require hospitalization. On average, the duration of illness in those that go untreated is approximately 4 to 5 days.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it is on track to eliminate hepatitis C in all veterans willing and able to receive treatment within a timeframe of two months, according to a press release from the office.