Washington Blade - July 27, 2001

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A National Institutes of Health report released July 20 shows that latex condoms can reduce the spread of HIV and gonorrhea, but there is not enough evidence to say for certain that they protect against other sexually transmitted diseases, the Washington Post reported. The report said researchers could not draw conclusions about the adequacy of condoms in reducing the risk of disease "other than HIV transmission in men and women, and gonorrhea in men."

AIDS activists had distributed the report July 19, contending that the Bush administration would use it to promote an abstinence-only agenda, the Associated Press reported. An estimated 12 million Americans become infected with STDs annually, according to the surgeon general, the Post reported. The activists argue that abstinence warnings are not as effective at preventing sexually transmitted diseases as encouraging the use of barrier contraceptives such as condoms, according to AP. A panel of 28 researchers examined 138 existing peer-reviewed studies involving HIV, gonorrhea, syphilis, strains of genital herpes, and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Company files for approval of 20-minute HIV test

OraSure's Robert Thompson: "There is a clear and immediate public health need for a rapid HIV test."

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - OraSure Technologies last week petitioned the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for pre-market approval of its HIV test that is capable of detecting antibodies in just 20 minutes, Business Wire reported. The test, called OraQuick, can use oral fluids, whole blood, blood serum, or plasma samples to scan for HIV antibodies. Orasure filed a pre-market application for the serum and whole-blood applications only; the company plans to file for plasma and oral fluid applications in the fourth quarter of 2001. "There is a clear and immediate public health need for a rapid HIV test in the United States, said OraSure CEO Robert D. Thompson upon filing the FDA application.

"Critical decisions about treatment depend on the availability of accurate, immediate HIV test results, and we expect OraQuick to fill that need." The drug is currently available in several developing countries and is undergoing clinical trials in the United States, Thailand, and Africa.

Meningitis outbreak in Toronto hits gay men

TORONTO - Public health officials in Toronto confirmed last week that five cases of meningitis have been reported among gay and bisexual men in Toronto over the last two months, killing two, Gay.com reported. The city has seen 22 cases of the disease since January, up from last year's rate of 16 for the same period, according to the Toronto Sun. Robert Trow, program coordinator with the Hassle Free Clinic in Toronto, said this is the first time there has been a noted increase of meningitis among gay men. Toronto Public Health is seeking the assistance of the Ontario health ministry to provide vaccines to combat the spread of the disease. A campaign to inform the community of the increased risks and promote precautionary measures has been launched in the gay community through posters and other advertising, the Sun reported. Meningitis is an infection causing inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord and can be caused by either a virus or bacteria. Although the initial symptoms of viral and bacterial meningitis are similar, the viral version is less serious and symptoms usually disappear within two weeks. The bacterial version requires immediate attention and can be life-threatening. Meningitis is spread through saliva, usually by kissing or sharing food, drinks, cigarettes, or any sexual acts involving saliva contact.

Drug-resistant HIV rising in new patients

NEW YORK - A number of recent studies show that drug-resistant HIV is the cause of a rising number of new HIV infections worldwide, Medscape.com, a medical information Web site, reported. Figures from seven surveys of four European countries, several North American cities, and Madrid revealed that drug-resistant HIV causes up to a quarter of all new infections. Studies show that the drug-resistant virus causes 5 percent of all new HIV infections in Switzerland, compared with 10 percent in France, 13 percent in Germany, and 14 percent in the United Kingdom. A study of new HIV cases in nine North American cities showed that drug-resistant HIV caused 16.5 percent of infections. In Québec, 21 percent of all new HIV cases were caused by the virus, while 26-percent of the cases in Madrid were linked to resistant HIV, according to the studies. The drug-resistant HIV responsible for the new infections was shown to be resistant to at least one standard anti-HIV drug, the most common being AZT.

Most worrisome to the researchers is the rise of multi-drug-resistant HIV. Researchers estimate that of all new HIV infections linked to drug-resistant virus, more than one-third are caused by HIV that is resistant to more than one medication.

Experts: Treatment interruptions don't work

CHICAGO - Structured HIV treatment interruptions ù stopping drug therapy for brief periods of time ù do not work, according to a group of about 50 AIDS treatment experts in Chicago for the 2001 Sessions of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care, ABCNews.com reported. The researchers announced Wednesday, July 18, that their studies found that the so-called drug holidays have poor results and often make the health of those requiring the HIV medications worse, said Renslow Steerer of Cook County Hospital in Chicago.

"People have gotten sick again. There have even been some deaths," he noted. Treatment interruptions have gained the attention of many HIV-positive people hoping to reduce the debilitating side effects of chronic nausea and diarrhea. Some even consider therapy breaks to reduce their spending on the medications, which can soar to more than $10,000 per year. But the treatment experts, while advocating further studies into the effects of treatment interruption, warn that study evidence to date shows that the drug breaks are more harmful than helpful.

-- Staff and wire reports

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