valacyclovir and Pneumonia--Pneumocystis

Topics: Acyclovir; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; Anti-HIV Agents; Anti-Infective Agents; Antitubercular Agents; Antiviral Agents; Atovaquone; Azithromycin; Chickenpox; Clarithromycin; Cytomegalovirus Infections; Drug Therapy, Combination; Ganciclovir; Herpes Simplex; Humans; Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection; Naphthoquinones; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis; Rifabutin; Toxoplasmosis; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary; Valacyclovir; Valine

Topics: 2-Aminopurine; Acyclovir; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; Anti-Infective Agents; Antifungal Agents; Antiprotozoal Agents; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Antitubercular Agents; Antiviral Agents; Atovaquone; Azithromycin; Clarithromycin; Cytomegalovirus Infections; Drug Therapy, Combination; Famciclovir; Herpes Simplex; Herpes Zoster; Humans; Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection; Mycoses; Naphthoquinones; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis; Toxoplasmosis; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary; Valacyclovir; Valine

HIV-related treatment and prevention strategies for opportunistic infections presented at the 1995 International Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) are highlighted. Research highlights include valaciclovir for CMV prophylaxis, oral ganciclovir for preventing CMV, resistant CMV, and cidofovir (HPMPC) for CMV. Other topics discuss treatments of Mycobacterium avium complex, opportunistic infections and HIV viremia; and reports on the effects of influenza and pneumococcal immunizations on HIV viral load.

Topics: Acyclovir; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; Antiviral Agents; Bacterial Vaccines; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Cidofovir; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cytomegalovirus Infections; Cytosine; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Ganciclovir; HIV; Humans; Influenza Vaccines; Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection; Organophosphonates; Organophosphorus Compounds; Pneumonia; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; United States; Valacyclovir; Valine; Viremia

As more drugs are approved for the prevention of opportunistic infections, concerns regarding the benefits and potential risks of these therapies are arising. A synopsis of the data for prophylaxis against opportunistic infections is provided for the following: Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, fungal infections, Mycobacterium avium complex, cytomegalovirus infections, and toxoplasmosis. General precautions in using preventive medications for people with fewer than 100 CD4 plus cells are highlighted.

Topics: Acyclovir; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; Clarithromycin; Clindamycin; Clinical Trials as Topic; Clotrimazole; Cytomegalovirus Infections; Dapsone; Fluconazole; Ganciclovir; Humans; Itraconazole; Leucovorin; Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection; Mycoses; Pentamidine; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis; Pyrimethamine; Rifabutin; Toxoplasmosis; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination; Valacyclovir; Valine

NIAID's AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) has completed several studies and their findings are reported. Findings from two studies, ACTG 081, involving three therapies for pneumonia prevention, and ACTG 981, examining fluconazole for preventing fungal infections, are reported in The New England Journal of Medicine (March 16, 1995). Other studies reviewed include ACTG 152, using AZT alone and in combination in children, and ACTG 204, examining the effectiveness of valacyclovir and two different doses of acyclovir in preventing cytomegalovirus end stage-organ disease and survival extension.

Topics: Acyclovir; Child; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cytomegalovirus Infections; Didanosine; Drug Therapy, Combination; Fluconazole; HIV Infections; Humans; Mycoses; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis; Valacyclovir; Valine; Zidovudine