Chlorhexidine bathing to reduce central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infection: impact and sustainability.

Background: Chlorhexidine bathing has been associated with reductions in healthcare-associated bloodstream infection. To determine the impact and sustainability of the effect of chlorhexidine bathing on central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infection, we performed a prospective, 3-phase, multiple-hospital study.

Methods: In the medical intensive care unit and the respiratory care unit of a tertiary care hospital and the medical-surgical intensive care units of 4 community hospitals, rates of central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infection were collected prospectively for each period.

Pharmacokinetic interaction between nevirapine and ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone when administered concurrently to HIV-infected women.

Objective: To determine the effects of nevirapine (NVP), a nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor of HIV-1 and P450 inducer, on the pharmacokinetics (PK) of ethinyl estradiol (EE)/norethindrone (NET), a widely used oral contraceptive, and to assess the effects of EE/NET on the steady-state PK of NVP.

Methods: Ten HIV-1-infected women underwent intensive PK sampling after single-dose administration of EE/NET (days 0-1). Oral NVP 200 mg once daily (days 2-15), followed by 200 mg twice daily (days 16-29), was added to background potent antiretroviral therapy.

Bacteremia in HIV-infected patients: short-term predictors of mortality.

To identify characteristics associated with mortality in HIV-infected patients with bacteremia, 88 bacteremic episodes in 80 HIV-infected patients were prospectively identified over a 5-month period and observed for 30 days. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and radiologic data were collected. Mean and median age was 41 years.

Efficacy testing of recombinant human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) gp160 as a therapeutic vaccine in early-stage HIV-1-infected volunteers. rgp160 Phase II Vaccine Investigators.

A phase II efficacy trial was conducted with recombinant human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 envelope glycoprotein gp160 (rgp160) in 608 HIV-infected, asymptomatic volunteers with CD4+ cell counts >400 cells/mm3. During a 5-year study, volunteers received a 6-shot primary series of immunizations with either rgp160 or placebo over 6 months, followed by booster immunizations every 2 months. Repeated vaccination with rgp160 was safe and persistently immunogenic.