Current opinion in infectious diseases
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The increasing prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as well as newly discovered S. aureus strains with reduced susceptibility to vancomycin mandates development of new antistaphylococcal agents. This review summarizes currently available and forthcoming antimicrobials for treatment of S. aureus endocarditis. ⋯ Antistaphylococcal penicillins remain the treatment of choice for MSSA. Of the currently available newer agents, daptomycin appears to have the most rapid bactericidal activity and provides a much-needed alternative to vancomycin for treatment of MRSA or MSSA bacteremia and right-sided endocarditis.
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Curr. Opin. Infect. Dis. · Dec 2006
ReviewSchistosomiasis: challenges for control, treatment and drug resistance.
Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease that has recently attracted increased focus and funding for control. Despite shifts in global health policy towards the implementation of mass chemotherapeutic control programmes at the national scale in sub-Saharan Africa, however, many challenges still exist. ⋯ The morbidity due to schistosomiasis has been shown to be greater than was previously thought. The reduction in morbidity of schistosomiasis by control programmes has been demonstrated, while new tools include a validated dose pole for delivering the correct treatment, geographical information systems mapping for determining high-risk areas, and Lot Quality Assurance Sampling for determining treatment strategies at the local level. Sustainability and future funding are issues to be addressed. Despite some positive results, myrrh is apparently ineffective against schistosomiasis, but fortunately no resistance to praziquantel has developed. We predict the impact of schistosomiasis control will be a healthier generation of children within 5 years.