Prevention Strategies Against HIV Transmission: A Proactive Approach.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has now transformed into a manageable chronic condition. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has proven efficacious at controlling the disease progression. Based on compelling evidence, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) developed guidelines for the management of persons infected with HIV. However, there are approximately 50 000 new cases of HIV in the United States each year. In this article, we review proactive methods to reduce the transmission of HIV, which include reinforcing patient education, gel-coated condoms that destroy HIV, HIV vaccinations, and adequately utilizing pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Further development and consistent utilization of innovative prevention tools can significantly reduce the incidence of HIV infections regardless of HIV status.

Vaxchora: The First FDA-Approved Cholera Vaccination in the United States.

Vaxchora is the first vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the prophylaxis of cholera infection. Cholera, a potentially life-threatening bacterial infection that occurs in the intestines and causes severe diarrhea and dehydration, has a low incidence in the U.S., but a high incidence in Africa, Southeast Asia, and other locations around the world. These areas draw travelers from the U.S., so cholera can present in patients who return from visits to these regions. Previous means of prophylaxis included the use of doxycycline for the prevention of traveler's diarrhea, but doxycycline is not specific for cholera. With the approval of Vaxchora, a live attenuated, single-dose, oral suspension vaccine, travelers can now visit these areas with less chance of contracting the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, which causes cholera infections.

Ceftazidime-Avibactam (Avycaz): For the Treatment of Complicated Intra-Abdominal and Urinary Tract Infections.

Ceftazidime-avibactam (Avycaz) for the treatment of complicated infections.

Dulaglutide (Trulicity): The Third Once-Weekly GLP-1 Agonist.

Dulaglutide (Trulicity): the third once-weekly GLP-1 agonist for type-2 diabetes.

Quadracel: Vaccination Against Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, and Poliomyelitis in Children.

INTRODUCTION: Vaccinations in school-aged children are required by state and local law to maintain high vaccination coverage rates, as well as low rates of vaccine-preventable diseases. Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis are childhood diseases that can be life threatening; poliomyelitis, another childhood disease, can be disabling. In turn, vaccinations were developed to provide protection against these diseases. Today, several vaccinations are recommended for children, including but not limited to diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) and poliomyelitis (IPV). DTaP requires five doses, and IPV requires four. Quadracel (diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis adsorbed and inactivated poliovirus vaccine, Sanofi Pasteur Inc.) is a new vaccination developed to condense the last dose of both DTaP and IPV so they do not have to be given separately, thus reducing the total number of vaccinations required. DISCUSSION: The Quadracel vaccine is an option for use in children who are completing the DTaP and IPV series. In a randomized, controlled, phase 3, pivotal trial, Quadracel proved to be as efficacious and safe as Daptacel (diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine adsorbed, Sanofi Pasteur Inc.) and IPOL (poliovirus vaccine inactivated, Sanofi Pasteur Inc.), given separately, to children between the ages of 4 and 6 years. CONCLUSION: Quadracel should be recommended to parents who have children between the ages of 4 and 6 years who meet the necessary administration criteria and need to finalize their DTaP and IPV series. Quadracel's administration in the vaccination series replaces one additional injection, which may benefit children who are afraid of receiving shots and parents who need to schedule one less doctor's appointment.

Tiotropium Bromide/Olodaterol (Stiolto Respimat): Once-Daily Combination Therapy for the Maintenance of COPD.

Tiotropium bromide/olodaterol (Stiolto Respimat): once-daily combination therapy for the maintenance of COPD.

Sodium-Glucose Linked Transporter 2 (SGLT2) Inhibitors in the Management Of Type-2 Diabetes: A Drug Class Overview.

Sodium-glucose linked transporter 2 inhibitors limit the reabsorption of glucose from glomerular filtrate in the kidneys, reducing blood glucose levels in patients with type- 2 diabetes. This article is meant to evaluate this class of medications for clinicians.

An overview of upcoming changes in pregnancy and lactation labeling information.

BACKGROUND: Many medications can be used safely and effectively to provide health benefits for disease state management during pregnancy with minimal risk to the fetus or mother. Today nine out of ten women take at least one medication during pregnancy, and the number of women taking four or more medications has more than doubled over the past 30 years. However, the lack of safety data combined with the generalizations of the current risk category system (A, B, C, D, X) makes risk versus benefit assessment difficult. DISCUSSION: In response to these concerns, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has decided to implement a new pregnancy and lactation labeling rule designed to improve risk versus benefit assessment of drugs used in pregnant and nursing mothers; this rule is set to take effect in June of 2015. This change is designed to provide clear and detailed information for both patients and healthcare providers pertaining to three main categories: pregnancy, lactation, and females and males of reproductive potential. The new labeling rule also removes the previous letter risk categorization system. CONCLUSION: The upcoming changes regarding pregnancy and lactation safety labeling are going to have a vast impact on drug safety interpretation and prescribing practices. While this rule will provide practitioners with more detailed information pertaining to pregnancy, lactation, and reproduction, it will also place more responsibility on the practitioners to ensure the safety of their patients. This review will summarize these changes and discuss their potential effect on clinical practice.