Gina Battaglia

Long-term usage of crofelemer, a drug that relieves noninfectious diarrhea symptoms in patients with HIV, was well-tolerated and produced few adverse events in a recent study.

Although fecal microbial transplant is highly effective in treating recurrent C. difficile infection, a survey of infectious disease specialists shows that several barriers prevent the treatment from being available at most institutions.

Study results show that daptomycin cleared MRSA infections within four days of treatment in 80% of patients and was particularly effective against extra-vascular infections.

Acid reduction from PPI treatment may alter bacterial flora in the digestive system, which may increase an individual's susceptibility to infection.

Shortening IFN-free combination treatment of chronic HCV to 16 weeks and eliminating the induction dose of deleobuvir reduces viral load and treatment-induced side effects, according to a recent clinical trial.

Study results show that patients treated with Stribild had significantly reduced viral load and increased CD4 counts after 96 weeks, with fewer patients discontinuing treatment due to side effects.

Implementation of computerized customized order entry sets in a large urban hospital reduced HIV medication error rates by more than 35%.

Study finds men with HIV and chronic HCV infection are more likely to receive treatment than women. The same study also indicates Caucasians with HIV and HCV co-infection are more likely to receive treatment than their African-American counterparts.

Researchers reported the MMRV and separately administered MMR plus varicella vaccines were associated with a greater incidence of fever, seizures, and immune thrombocytopenia purpura seven to 10 days after vaccine administration.

Study finds there are often long delays between diagnosis and referral for treatment by a specialist for patients with hepatitis C, and also long delays from the time of referral to initiation of treatment.