Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
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Biocides (antiseptics, disinfectants, preservatives, and sterilants) are critical components of intervention strategies used in clinical medicine for preventing the dissemination of nosocomial diseases. Biocides are also used in community environments for personal hygiene and to prevent cross-contamination with foodborne pathogens. ⋯ The scientific community must weigh the risks and benefits of using biocides in clinical and community environments, to determine whether additional precautions are needed to guide biocide development and use. At present, insufficient scientific evidence exists to weigh these risks, and additional research is needed to allow appropriate characterization of risks in clinical and community environments.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Telavancin versus standard therapy for treatment of complicated skin and soft-tissue infections due to gram-positive bacteria.
Telavancin, a novel lipoglycopeptide, exerts concentration-dependent, rapid bactericidal activity on account of its multiple mechanisms of action. Telavancin is highly active against gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-intermediate, and vancomycin-resistant strains. ⋯ Clinical and microbiological results of this study support the further development of telavancin, especially for treatment of infection due to MRSA.
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The occurrence of acquired rifamycin resistance despite use of directly observed therapy for tuberculosis is associated with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease and highly intermittent administration of antituberculosis drugs. Beyond these associations, the pathogenesis of acquired rifamycin resistance is unknown. ⋯ Lower plasma concentrations of rifabutin and, perhaps, isoniazid were associated with ARR failure or relapse in patients with tuberculosis and HIV infection treated with twice-weekly therapy.
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We sought to determine the prevalence of active tuberculosis among ambulatory HIV-infected persons in Tanzania with CD4 cell counts of > or =200 cells/mm3 and a bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccination scar. ⋯ Clinical and subclinical tuberculosis are common among ambulatory HIV-infected persons, and some cases can only be identified by sputum culture. World Health Organization guidelines for screening for latent tuberculosis before treatment do not recommend sputum culture and, therefore, may fail to identify a substantial number of HIV-infected persons with subclinical, active tuberculosis.