AIDS
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Comparative Study
The impact of HIV on Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteraemia in a South African population.
To determine the impact of HIV infection on Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteraemia in adults and children by analysing the prevalence and clinical features of such diseases and determining the prevalent serotypes/serogroups and susceptibility patterns of isolates. ⋯ The burden of bacteraemia due to S. pneumoniae in HIV-seropositive individuals admitted to our hospital is considerable. Differences in the S. pneumoniae serotypes/serogroups in HIV-infected patients have been demonstrated with resultant differences in antibiotic susceptibility patterns. Excellent potential for vaccine coverage was demonstrated for both HIV-seronegative and HIV-seropositive individuals. Further studies are necessary to test the clinical efficacy of pneumococcal vaccination of HIV-seropositive adults and children as a potential preventative measure against this prevalent disease.
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To estimate the potential direct cost of making triple combination antiretroviral therapy widely available to HIV-positive adults and children living in countries throughout the world. ⋯ Our results demonstrate that the cost of making combination antiretroviral therapy available worldwide would be exceedingly high, especially in countries with limited financial resources.
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Comparative Study
Mother-to-child transmission of HIV: implications of variation in maternal infectivity.
To examine the implications of variation in maternal infectivity on the timing of mother-to-child HIV transmission through breastfeeding. ⋯ Our model has helped identify a previously unrecognized determinant of the timing of breastfeeding-related HIV transmission, which may have adverse implications for the effectiveness of certain interventions to reduce mother-to-child HIV transmission such as maternal antiretroviral therapy in breastfeeding populations and the early cessation of breastfeeding.