ABSTRACT
During the last three decades, a better understanding of viral replication and disease states caused by viral infections have led to the development of newer antiviral agents with enhanced activity and better tolerability. This review focuses on newer systemic and topical antiviral agents that are used in treatment of herpes viruses including herpes simplex type-1 (HSV-1) and type-2 (HSV-2), varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and cytomegalovirus CMV) as well as the human papilloma virus (HPV). Included in this article are the agents famciclovir, penciclovir, valganciclovir, imiquimod, docosanole and brivudin.
Subject(s)
2-Aminopurine/analogs & derivatives , Acyclovir/analogs & derivatives , Aminoquinolines/therapeutic use , Antiviral Agents/pharmacology , Bromodeoxyuridine/analogs & derivatives , Fatty Alcohols/therapeutic use , Ganciclovir/analogs & derivatives , Humans , Virus Diseases/drug therapyABSTRACT
Vancomycin is considered the workhorse for the treatment of most drug-resistant gram-positive bacterial infections. However, concerns have been raised regarding the increasing rates of vancomycin-resistant enterococci and the clinical shortcomings of vancomycin in the treatment of invasive Staphylococcus aureus infections. Resources have been committed to the development of antimicrobial agents with activity against these organisms. This review will focus on the newer antibacterial agents that have been developed for the treatment of resistant gram-positive pathogens. Included in this review are the agents: quinupristin-dalfopristin, linezolid, daptomycin, telithromycin, and tigecycline.
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Drug Resistance, Bacterial , Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections/drug therapy , Humans , Ketolides/therapeutic use , Minocycline/analogs & derivatives , Peptides, Cyclic/therapeutic useABSTRACT
Human herpes virus-6 was first reported in 1986 and is the sixth member of the herpes virus family. HHV-6 consists of two closely related variants HHV-6A and HHV-6B. The majority of infections occur in healthy infants with most infections caused by HHV-6B. The virus preferentially infects CD4+T-lymphocytes and the surface marker CD46 acts as a co-receptor. Infection is followed by persistence and latency in different cells and organs including monocytes/macrophages, salivary glands, the brain and the kidneys. In this article we will discuss the clinical manifestations of HHV-6 infection in healthy children and the syndromes associated with HHV-6 reactivation in immunocompromised patients. Evidence of association between HHV-6 infection and different clinical entities such as multiple sclerosis, malignancy, infectious momononucleosis, drug hypersensitivity syndromes and skin eruptions is discussed. Published data on the use and efficacy of antiviral agents in complicated infections and infections in immunocompromised patients is presented.