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Syphilis is an important global health threat and little has changed in its treatment since the mid-20th century. For late-latent or syphilis infection of unknown duration, the standard treatment of multiple intramuscular injections of benzathine penicillin G (BPG) are associated with significant pain and distress to clients and caregivers, negatively impacting on treatment completion.
Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination has off-target (non-specific) effects that are associated with protection against unrelated infections and decreased all-cause mortality in infants. We aimed to determine whether BCG vaccination prevents febrile and respiratory infections in adults.
Mass drug administration (MDA) with monthly dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHA-PQP) appears useful in malaria control and elimination strategies. Determining the relationship between consecutive piperaquine phosphate (PQP) exposure and its impact on QT interval prolongation is a key safety consideration for MDA campaigns.
The aim of this narrative review is to summarise efficacy and pharmacokinetic data for Plasmodium vivax in children. The burden of P. vivax malaria in children continues to remain a significant public health issue, and the need for improved treatment regimens for this vulnerable population is critical.
Regular intramuscular benzathine penicillin G injections have been the cornerstone of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) secondary prophylaxis since the 1950s. As the pharmacological correlate of protection remains unknown, it is difficult to recommend changes to this established regimen. Determining the minimum effective penicillin exposure required to prevent Streptococcus pyogenes infection will accelerate development of new long-acting penicillins for RHD prevention as well as inform opportunities to improve existing regimens. The CHIPS trial will address this knowledge gap by directly testing protection afforded by different steady state plasma concentrations of penicillin in an established model of experimental human S. pyogenes pharyngitis.
Notifications of syphilis in Australia have increased since 2011, particularly among gay and bisexual men who have sex with men (GBMSM). Adherence to current late latent syphilis treatment regimen is low-moderate, which is a significant health issue. To address this treatment non-compliance, a single high-dose benzathine benzylpenicillin G regimen has been under clinical trial.
The antirelapse efficacy of primaquine is related to the total dose administered, whereas the risks of haemolysis and gastrointestinal intolerance are associated with the daily dose administered. National Malaria Control Programmes require local information on efficacy, tolerability and safety to optimize antimalarial treatment policies for Plasmodium vivax malaria control and elimination efforts.
Controlling the syphilis epidemic in Australia is a public health priority. Regular intramuscular (IM) injections of benzathine penicillin G (BPG) are the current standard of care for late latent syphilis in Australia; however, repeated IM BPG injections are painful, and treatment completion rates are low. Early-phase clinical trials have demonstrated the tolerability and safety of high-dose subcutaneous infusions of BPG (SCIP), where the total treatment dose can be delivered at a single visit. Here we describe the experiences and preferences of attendees of Western Australian sexual health clinics in the Perth metropolitan region who have syphilis and were treated with SCIP.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of mortality and are among the foremost causes of disability globally. CVD burden has continued to increase in most countries since 1990, with trends driven by changing exposures to harmful risk factors, population growth, and population aging.
Paediatric patients continue to lack access to age-appropriate oral medicines for their treatment and have to depend on the off-label use of medicines approved for adults, which compromises dosing accuracy and exposes children to unpleasant bitterness.