Category Archives: Co-infections
The utility of therapeutic drug monitoring for ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C – A critical review
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the utility of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) for ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C. DATA SOURCES: Literature searches were conducted through PubMed (1949-June 2009), EMBASE (1980-June 2009), BIOSIS...
Socio-demographic characteristics and behavioral risk factors of female sex workers in sub-saharan Africa: A systematic review
Sex work remains an important contributor to HIV transmission within early, advanced and regressing epidemics in sub-Saharan Africa, but its social and behavioral underpinnings remain poorly understood, limiting the impact...
HIV and syphilis co-infection increasing among men who have sex with men in China: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: This study aims to estimate the magnitude and changing trends of HIV, syphilis and HIV-syphilis co-infections among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China during 2003-2008 through...
Adjuvant corticosteroids for tuberculous pericarditis: Promising, but not proven
BACKGROUND: There is controversy regarding the effectiveness of corticosteroids in tuberculous pericarditis, particularly in patients who are immunocompromised by HIV. AIM: To determine the effectiveness of adjuvant corticosteroids in tuberculous...
A systematic review of the epidemiology, immunopathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of pleural TB in HIV-infected patients
Background. High HIV burden countries have experienced a high burden of pleural TB in HIV-infected patients. Objective. To review the epidemiology, immunopathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of pleural TB in HIV-infected...
Polyneuropathy, anti-tuberculosis treatment and the role of pyridoxine in the HIV/AIDS era: A systematic review
Tuberculosis (TB) is increasing in incidence in certain parts of the world, particularly where there is a co-epidemic of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune-deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), and it is associated with...
Socioeconomic status as a risk factor for HIV infection in women in East, Central and Southern Africa: A systematic review
This is a critical, systematic review of the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and HIV infection in women in Southern, Central and Eastern Africa. In light of the interest in...
Terbinafine in the treatment of onychomycosis: A review of its efficacy in high-risk populations and in patients with nondermatophyte infections
BACKGROUND: The prevalence of onychomycosis is higher in certain high-risk populations, such as the immunocompromised, diabetics and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients. These patients can also develop onychomycosis due to...
Effect of race and/or ethnicity in use of antiretrovirals and prophylaxis for opportunistic infection: A review of the literature
OBJECTIVE: The authors performed a systematic and critical review of published studies investigating potential associations between race and/or ethnicity and use of HIV-related medications, including antiretroviral medications and medications used...
Periodic presumptive treatment of curable sexually transmitted infections among sex workers: A systematic review
BACKGROUND: Unprotected sex work remains a major driver of HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) epidemics in many countries. STI treatment can lower disease burden, complications and prevalence of HIV cofactors. Periodic...
