A comparison of the pharmacokinetics of Aspen Ceftriaxone and Rocephin in community-acquired meningitis.

Background: Community-acquired bacterial meningitis (CABM) is a life-threatening condition that is common among immunocompromised individuals. Intravenous ceftriaxone, of which Rocephin (ROC) is the originator brand, is recommended as first-line therapy in South Africa. Despite concerns regarding therapeutic equivalence with generic agents, this is the first study that has been conducted comparing clinical pharmacokinetics (PK) of a generic ceftriaxone formulation with the originator.

Increased detection of HBV DNA in HBsAg-positive and HBsAg-negative South African HIV/AIDS patients enrolling for highly active antiretroviral therapy at a Tertiary Hospital.

This retrospective study investigated the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in 192 stored sera from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive South African patients initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART), and explored the implications of HBV-HIV co-infection on laboratory diagnosis of HBV. HBV serology (HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc) and nested HBV PCR assays targeting the HBV polymerase gene were performed, with HBV DNA positive samples being quantified with Cobas Taqman HBV test 48 assay (Roche Diagnostics). The study found that 63% (121/192) of patients had past or present HBV infection, and 40.

Mortality and causes of death in HIV-positive patients receiving antiretroviral therapy at Tshepang Clinic in Doctor George Mukhari Hospital.

Introduction: Since the initiation of regular antiretroviral therapy and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in South Africa in 2004, data on effects of HAART on mortality are not available in our hospital.

Objectives: We sought to describe mortality trends and causes of deaths among HIV-infected patients in the HAART era.

Patients And Methods: Consecutive HIV-infected adults who were prescribed HAART in our hospital were prospectively followed-up from July 2004 to December 2006 or until death, loss to follow-up, discontinuation of HAART or referral to another center.

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) at Ga-Rankuwa Hospital.

Pneumocystis carinii is recognized as one of the leading causes of death in AIDS patients in developed countries but its role in this regard in developing countries appears to be less prominent. Sub-Saharan African countries, in spite of their high HIV prevalence, have hardly recorded any cases. We report the first microbiologically proven case of PCP in an adult patient at Ga-Rankuwa Hospital.