Attitude towards New Packaging to Reduce Condom-carrying Embarrassment among Thai Youth, A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) incidence has been increasing in Thai youth, mostly from unsafe sex. Embarrassment with carrying condom was one of the main reasons. This study aims to evaluate attitude towards condom use, sexual behavior and the new condom packaging that merges with daily life products in Thai youth. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among volunteers aged 15-24. New packaging were demonstrated and the volunteers were provided with questionnaires to complete in privacy booth and submit anonymously. Results: Of 680 participants with mean age of 19.7±2.7 years and 59.9% females, half of them thought condom should be carried and used. However, the same group did not actually do. Two-thirds of participants were interested and would use the packaging, citing these reasons charming, convenience, and disguise of condom. Females preferred the packaging significantly more than males. Conclusion: Disguising condom packaging, as phone charm and key ring, might be another safe and practical way to encourage youth to carry condoms around

Point-of-care testing for disasters: needs assessment, strategic planning, and future design.

Objective evidence-based national surveys serve as a first step in identifying suitable point-of-care device designs, effective test clusters, and environmental operating conditions. Preliminary survey results show the need for point-of-care testing (POCT) devices using test clusters that specifically detect pathogens found in disaster scenarios. Hurricane Katrina, the tsunami in southeast Asia, and the current influenza pandemic (H1N1, "swine flu") vividly illustrate lack of national and global preparedness. Gap analysis of current POCT devices versus survey results reveals how POCT needs can be fulfilled. Future thinking will help avoid the worst consequences of disasters on the horizon, such as extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis and pandemic influenzas. A global effort must be made to improve POC technologies to rapidly diagnose and treat patients to improve triaging, on-site decision making, and, ultimately, economic and medical outcomes

Adverse events with isoniazid preventive therapy: experience from a large trial.

OBJECTIVES: We describe isoniazid-related adverse events in Thibela TB, a cluster-randomized study of community-wide isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) among gold miners in South Africa, where HIV prevalence is estimated at 30%. METHODS: Consenting employees were screened prior to IPT for active tuberculosis and increased risk of isoniazid toxicity using a questionnaire and chest radiograph. Study-defined IPT-related adverse events were sought at each study visit: liver function tests were only performed if clinically indicated. In a substudy, we questioned consecutive participants at baseline and months 1, 3, and 6 concerning minor IPT-related adverse events. RESULTS: Among 24,221 participants (95.2% men, median age 40 years), 130 individuals had 132 study-defined adverse events (0.54%); 61 (0.25%) possible hypersensitivity rash, 50 (0.21%) peripheral neuropathy, 17 (0.07%) clinical hepatotoxicity, and four (0.02%) convulsions. Four events (two hepatotoxicity, one fatal, and two convulsions) fulfilled criteria for seriousness. Clinical hepatotoxicity was associated with consumption of alcohol [0.11 vs. 0.03% if no alcohol consumed, odds ratio 3.9 (95% confidence interval 1.2-12.1)], but not with sex, age, weight, or concurrent antiretroviral therapy. In the substudy, 324 of 498 (65.1%) participants reported better health since starting IPT; 180 of 324 (55.6%) reported that this was because of increased appetite. The frequency of specific minor symptoms was low among those taking IPT, and all symptoms were reported less often than at baseline. CONCLUSION: The risk of adverse events, particularly hepatotoxicity, was very low in this population. Our data suggest that clinical criteria can safely be used for screening prior to and monitoring during IPT

20-3101

Abstract. INH preventive therapy (IPT) has been shown in several randomized controlled trials to reduce the risk of developing active TB in tuberculin skin test (TST) or purified protein derivative (PPD) positive HIV infected individuals. Detection of latent tuberculosis by TST and determination of factors associated with the PPD positivity in HIV-infected persons are important for the targeting of chemoprophylaxis. Six hundred asymptomatic and early symptomatic HIV-infected subjects attending the AIDS Clinic of the Chulalongkorn University Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand were enrolled in two randomized clinical trials of chemoprophylaxis against TB from December 1994 to December 1996. The availability of baseline characteristics, including TST reactivity, among these participants enabled a cross-sectional analysis of factors associated with PPD positivity. The results showed that 117 (19.5%) were PPD positive and 483 (80.5%) were PPD negative with ages 18-65 years (median 29 years). HIV exposure category was 46.2%, 34.5%, and 6.7% for heterosexual contact, commercial sex work, and homosexual and bisexual male contact respectively. The median CD4 cell count was 315/mm 3 (range, 5-1,074/mm 3 ). HIV exposure category and CD4 cell count were significantly associated with PPD status. Homosexual/bisexual contact had 3 times higher risk of PPD positivity than heterosexual contact (adjusted OR=2.9; 95% CI,1.4-6.1) and risk of PPD positivity was higher among patients with CD4 cell counts of 200-500/ mm 3 (adjusted OR=1.8; 95% CI,1.0-3.1) and above 500/mm 3 (adjusted OR=3.4; 95% CI,1.7-6.7) when compared to patients with CD4 cell counts of less than 200/mm 3 . The HIV-infected persons in Bangkok with homosexual/bisexual contact are at higher risk for latent TB. Population-based tuberculin screening without accompanying HIV testing cannot be used to estimate the prevalence of actual latent TB in a population where HIV infection is widespread, such as in Thailand

Drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome/drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DIHS/DRESS): 11 years retrospective study in Thailand

Background: Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is a rare but life-threatening adverse drug reaction. Several criteria have been established to aid the diagnosis. However, patients with DRESS remained underdiagnosis and undertreatment. Methods: Medical records of hospitalized patients at the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital from January 2004–December 2014 due to DRESS were enrolled retrospectively using RegiSCAR diagnostic criteria. Results: A total of 52 patients were included. Thirty-seven patients (71.2%) were female. The four most common causative agents were phenytoin (23.1%), nevirapine (17.3%), allopurinol (15.4%), and cotrimoxazole (13.5%). The overall prevalence was 9.63 cases per 100,000 inpatients. Median onset time (IQR) was 16 (9–27) days. Allopurinol was associated with longer onset time than others (p = 0.014). Clinical presentation: skin rash 100%, fever 78.8%, and lymphadenopathy 50%. The majority (84.6%) had single internal organ involvement. The most common internal organ involvement was liver (94.2%). Allopurinol was associated with higher incidence of renal involvement (p = 0.01). Up to 60% of patients had eosinophilia. Allopurinol was associated with higher eosinophilia (p = 0.003). A half of patients received systemic corticosteroids. Two mortality cases were reported (omeprazole-fulminant hepatitis and phenytoin-nosocomial infection). Conclusions: DRESS is associated with severe morbidity and mortality. Phenytoin, nevirapine, allopurinol, and cotrimoxazole were the major causes. Allopurinol-induced DRESS had the longest onset time, and was associated with higher eosinophilia and incidence of renal involvement. Raising awareness among both health care providers and public for early detection and withdrawal of the causative agent is critical to save life and reduce morbidity