Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment Commons^™

Vancomycin-Intermediate Staphylococcus Aureus In A Home Health-Care Patient, Jeffrey C. Hageman, David A. Pegues, Carrie Jepson, Rose Lee Bell, Mary Guinan, Kevin W. Ward, Martin D. Cohen, Janet A. Hindler, Fred C. Tenover, Sigrid K. Mcallister, Molly E. Kellum, Scott K. Fridkin

Public Health Faculty Publications

To date, four of the eight cases of infection by Staphylococcus aureus with reduced susceptibility to vancomycin (vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus [VISA] or glycopeptideintermediate S. aureus [GISA]) have been reported in the United States (1-3). We report a fifth case of VISA infection in the United States, and the first to occur during home health-care therapy. While all previous VISA strains have been oxacillin resistant, one of the two VISA strains identified in this investigation was oxacillin susceptible.

Counseling And Testing For Hiv Prevention: Costs, Effects, And Cost-Effectiveness Of More Rapid Screening Tests, P. G. Farnham, Robin D. Gorsky, D. R. Holtgrave, Wanda K. Jones, Mary Guinan

Public Health Faculty Publications

New rapid human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody tests permit many individuals to receive test results and appropriate counseling at one clinic visit. Because currently used tests require significant time for processing, all individuals must return for a second visit for test results and counseling. Since return rates for the second visit are low, the more rapid tests present an opportunity to improve the efficiency of HIV counseling and testing.

The authors compared the costs and effectiveness of the currently used counseling and testing procedure and a streamlined procedure made possible by the new, more rapid screening tests. When test-positive clients …

Preventing Perinatal Transmission Of Hiv Costs And Effectiveness Of A Recommended Intervention, Robin D. Gorsky, P G. Farnham, Walter L. Straus, Blake Caldwell, D R. Holtgrave, R. J. Simonds, M F. Rogers, Mary Guinan

Public Health Faculty Publications

In the United States, nearly all new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections in children are acquired through perinatal (mother-to-infant) transmission. Each year, approximately 7000 infants are born to HIV-infected women in the United States.¹ Without intervention, an estimated 15-30% of these infants would become infected.² In 1994, results of the AIDS Clinical Trial Group (ACTG) Protocol 076 showed that treatment of infected pregnant women and their infants with zidovudine (ZDV) reduced the rate of perinatal HIV transmission from 25% to 8%.^3,4 Following these findings, the Public Health Service (PHS) issued recommendations for ZDV therapy to prevent perinatal …