E-DRUG: Co-trimoxazole prophylaxis for all?
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Dear E-Druggers,
Co-trimoxazole has been recommended for the prevention of Pneumocystis
carinii pneumonia (PCP) in HIV-positive patients since the early '90's. So
far however, few developing countries have started using co-trimoxazole for
this prophylactic indication.
The MRC study in Zambia which today featured in BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4021887.stm and Lancet (http://www.lancet.com/) showed the immense
benefits of using co-trimoxazole prophylactically in HIV positive children,
as it protects them from more opportunistic infections then just PCP. The
spectacular drop in mortality caused the researchers to stop the trial and
recommend that "co-trimoxazole should be given to all children with HIV in
developing countries to help reduce illness and death from opportunistic
infections such as pneumonia".
Is this our cue for introducing large scale prophylactic use of
co-trimoxazole in HIV positive adults as well?
regards
Ron Wehrens, Msc., MBA, Pharmacist
Phasuma Consultancy & Training
P.O. Box 36083
1020 MB Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Tel + 31 20 4038889
Mobile + 31 6 46293590
Fax-to-email +1 206 350 1182
r.wehrens@phasuma.com