Specialties - Southern Medical Association

SMJ articles in the specialty "Infectious Disease"

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SMJ Article | Original Article

Proportion and Characterization of Co-infections of HIV and Hepatitis C or Hepatitis B among People with HIV in Alabama, 2007–2016

Objectives: People living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have an increased risk of other infections, including viral hepatitis, which can complicate the treatment and progression of the disease. We sought to characterize Alabama cases of HIV co-infected with hepatitis C virus or hepatitis B virus. Methods: Using surveillance data, we...

Posted in: Infectious Disease15 Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) And Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection5

SMJ Article | Original Article

Opioid Use Among HIV-Positive Pregnant Women and the Risk for Maternal–Fetal Complications

Objective: To assess patient- and hospital-level characteristics associated with opioid use in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–positive pregnant women and fetal health outcomes. Methods: Using the 2002–2014 Nationwide Inpatient Sample database, we analyzed discharge records to describe the rates of opioid use among HIV-positive pregnant women. Logistic regression was used to...

Posted in: Infectious Disease15 Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) And Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection5 Pregnancy5

SMJ Article | Original Article

Pretreatment Assessment of Psychosocial Readiness Is Not Associated with Improved Treatment Outcomes in a Safety-Net HCV Treatment Clinic

Objectives: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is highly curable with antiviral therapy, and traditionally, treatment adherence has been critical for treatment success. We sought to determine whether assessing HCV treatment readiness with a structured treatment readiness tool was associated with increased rates of adherence and cure among patients at a safety-net...

Posted in: Gastroenterology14 Infectious Disease15

SMJ Article | Letter to the Editor

Physician Duties and Responsibilities in Pandemics

To the Editor: In early February 2020, the World Health Organization declared the 2019 novel coronavirus infection (2019-nCoV) to be nearing a global pandemic. Not since the outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) of 2002–2003 and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) of 2015 have population concerns and medical attention...

Posted in: Infectious Disease15

SMJ Article | Original Article

Improving Critical Value Read-Back Failure Rate by Modifying the Notification Procedure

Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine whether a system process change improved successful read-back of critical values by the appropriate provider.Methods: The study implemented a system process change of switching the “first call” physician from the admitting physician to the most recent document writer. Data were compared...

Posted in: Primarily Safety/Quality Improvement1

SMJ Article | Original Article

Utilization of Healthcare Resources by HIV-Positive Children in the United States: A National Perspective

Objective: We characterized and estimated the cost of inpatient hospital utilization by US pediatric patients who tested positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).Methods: The 2012 Kids’ Inpatient Database was analyzed to provide a descriptive assessment of national inpatient hospital utilization. We analyzed a stratified probability sampling of 3.2 million...

Posted in: Infectious Disease15 Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) And Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection5

SMJ Article | Invited Commentary

Commentary on “An Updated Approach to Evaluation and Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infection”

This issue of the Southern Medical Journal contains an important and timely review of Helicobacter pylori diagnosis and treatment.1 Since its discovery in 1983, H. pylori infection has been found to be the main cause of peptic ulcer disease, chronic gastritis, gastric cancer, and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma.

Posted in: Infectious Disease15 Prevention of Infectious Disease2

SMJ Article | Review Article

An Updated Approach to Evaluation and Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infection

Helicobacter pylori is a chronic bacterial infection that can lead to peptic ulcer disease, chronic gastritis, and gastric cancer. Its prevalence in the United States is lower than in most of the world, although specific populations are at particular risk for disease-related complications, including those with lower socioeconomic status and...

Posted in: Infectious Disease15 Prevention of Infectious Disease2

SMJ Article | Original Article

Prevalence of Systemic Hypertension Among HIV-Infected and HIV-Uninfected Young Adults in Baltimore, Maryland

Objectives: Adults with perinatally acquired human immunodeficiency virus (PHIV) infection may be at increased risk for nonacquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) diseases, including systemic hypertension (HTN). The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of HTN among young adults with PHIV compared with recently infected and uninfected young adults.Methods:...

Posted in: Infectious Disease15 Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) And Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection5

SMJ Article | Letter to the Editor

Know the New HIV Testing Guidelines?

To the Editor: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing identifies people infected with HIV.1 A positive assay confirms the diagnosis and provides an opportunity for lifesaving treatment. Accurate detection in an early stage of illness allows pharmacotherapy that could decrease disease severity and reduce viral transmission.2

Posted in: Infectious Disease15 Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) And Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection5

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