Off the Wires - January 2001
Off the Wires - January 2001
Records from the Adult and Adolescent Spectrum of HIV Disease Surveillance Project, reviewed by Dr Patrick S. Sullivan and other investigators with the CDC, showed that there is a slight decrease in the progression to AIDS-defining opportunistic disease among patients who were vaccinated against influenza (Reuters Health Information Services, December 15, 2000; available at: http://www.reutershealth.com). The study involved information from more than 25,000 patients between 1990 and 1999 at 113 clinics in 10 US cities, with the review published in the journal AIDS. Among the 42% of patients immunized against influenza, the hazard was 0.93, with a time to death hazard of 0.97; however, investigators could not determine whether the improvements were a result of the vaccination itself or a factor related to increased preventive care or overall interest in physical health. While other studies have demonstrated that CD4 cell counts have decreased or HIV RNA levels have increased with the use of an influenza vaccine, this most recent study, with the benefit of a larger sample size, determines that there is no increased risk in giving influenza vaccines to AIDS patients. [CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News Update, Monday, December 18, 2000]
In an editor's correspondence in the Archives of Internal Medicine Online (2000;160[21]; available at: http://archinte.ama-assn.org), Sonya Green and Carlos del Rio report that most recent medical school graduates have received no training regarding HIV pretest and post-test counseling. In a study supported under a cooperative agreement from the CDC, the researchers asked incoming medical interns at Emory University about their experience with and knowledge of HIV testing. The survey, conducted in June 2000, involved 71 graduates from 41 medical schools. Only 13% of the participants had received any formal training for HIV pretest and post-test counseling while in medical school, and most of this education was extremely brief. The survey also revealed that only 24% had ever delivered an HIV-positive result -- in most cases only 1 time -- and that knowledge of HIV testing guidelines was limited. [CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News Update, Tuesday, December 12, 2000]
Records from the Adult and Adolescent Spectrum of HIV Disease Surveillance Project, reviewed by Dr Patrick S. Sullivan and other investigators with the CDC, showed that there is a slight decrease in the progression to AIDS-defining opportunistic disease among patients who were vaccinated against influenza (Reuters Health Information Services, December 15, 2000; available at: http://www.reutershealth.com). The study involved information from more than 25,000 patients between 1990 and 1999 at 113 clinics in 10 US cities, with the review published in the journal AIDS. Among the 42% of patients immunized against influenza, the hazard was 0.93, with a time to death hazard of 0.97; however, investigators could not determine whether the improvements were a result of the vaccination itself or a factor related to increased preventive care or overall interest in physical health. While other studies have demonstrated that CD4 cell counts have decreased or HIV RNA levels have increased with the use of an influenza vaccine, this most recent study, with the benefit of a larger sample size, determines that there is no increased risk in giving influenza vaccines to AIDS patients. [CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News Update, Monday, December 18, 2000]
In an editor's correspondence in the Archives of Internal Medicine Online (2000;160[21]; available at: http://archinte.ama-assn.org), Sonya Green and Carlos del Rio report that most recent medical school graduates have received no training regarding HIV pretest and post-test counseling. In a study supported under a cooperative agreement from the CDC, the researchers asked incoming medical interns at Emory University about their experience with and knowledge of HIV testing. The survey, conducted in June 2000, involved 71 graduates from 41 medical schools. Only 13% of the participants had received any formal training for HIV pretest and post-test counseling while in medical school, and most of this education was extremely brief. The survey also revealed that only 24% had ever delivered an HIV-positive result -- in most cases only 1 time -- and that knowledge of HIV testing guidelines was limited. [CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News Update, Tuesday, December 12, 2000]