Infectious Diseases

Top Medical News
Tumour immune barrier determines immunotherapy efficacy in HCC
15 hours ago
A tumour immune barrier (TIB) structure formed by the interaction of SPP1+ macrophages and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) appears to influence the efficacy of immunotherapy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), reveals a study.
STIs in women remain common despite doxycycline use after sex
Jairia Dela Cruz, 19 hours ago
Young cisgender women remain susceptible to contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) despite the use of doxycycline after sex, as shown in the results of the open-label DPEP Kenya study.
Long COVID: What are the risk and protective factors?
Natalia Reoutova, Yesterday

A population-based, multicentre study finds female gender, transportation-, logistics- or discipline-related occupation, living with domestic workers, smoking, poor or very poor self-perceived health status, ≥3 chronic diseases, chronic medication use, and critical severity of COVID-19 to be associated with severe long COVID, while prior receipt of ≥2 doses of COVID-19 vaccines serves as a protective factor.

Certain ART combinations carry some risk of depression among women with HIV
Jairia Dela Cruz, Yesterday
Women with HIV who use antiretroviral therapy (ART) combinations such as tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) with a cobicistat-boosted integrase inhibitor (INSTI) or protease inhibitor (PI) appear to frequently show somatic depressive symptoms, according to data from the Women’s Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) presented at CROI 2023.
Oral HBV cccDNA inhibitor a promising cure against chronic HBV infection
Yesterday
A recent study has found a small-molecule covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) inhibitor that reduces levels of hepatitis B virus (HBV) cccDNA. This discovery offers a new way to cure patients with chronic HBV infection.
Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate as good as entecavir for patients with HBV-related liver cancer
2 days ago
Treatment with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) yields similar rates of recurrence and overall survival as does entecavir in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), according to a study.
Ceftolozane/tazobactam safe, effective in complicated UTI
Stephen Padilla, 2 days ago
Combination therapy with ceftolozane and tazobactam demonstrates a favourable safety profile in children with complicated urinary tract infection (cUTI) similar to that of meropenem and to the previously reported safety profile in adults with cUTI, a study has shown.
Special Reports
SARS-CoV-2 Variants: Everything you need to know
01 Feb 2023
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve with the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants. The variants of concern have the potential to impact the transmissibility, virulence, and clinical presentation of the disease, affecting the epidemiology, public health measures, and diagnostic and therapeutic options. Mutations in the spike protein of the virus have increased its ability to infect humans and evade neutralization by natural or immunisation-induced antibodies. The highly mutated Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 has multiple sublineages with varying transmissibility and immune evasion potential. Pre-exposure prophylaxis plays a crucial role in protecting the immunocompromised populations against severe disease; however, the rapidly changing landscape of the variants poses a major challenge to the current and future effectiveness of pre-exposure prophylactic monoclonal antibodies.
The role of oral antivirals in COVID-19 treatment: Who, when, and how?
Dr. Roger Paredes, Dr. Nicola Petrosillo, Dr. Petrick Periyasamy, 30 Jan 2023

Though most countries have eased pandemic restrictions, there is no room for complacency in managing COVID-19, which continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality.

At a recent symposium, esteemed experts Dr Roger Paredes, Head of Department of Infectious Diseases at the Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Catalonia, Spain, and Dr Nicola Petrosillo, Head of the Infection Prevention and Control and Infectious Disease Service at University Hospital Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy, gave global perspectives on the continuing unmet needs in the COVID-19 outpatient landscape and discussed the role of antiviral treatment options in patients at risk of progressing to severe COVID-19. Dr Petrick Periyasamy, Head of Infectious Diseases Unit, Medical Department, UKM Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, chaired the session.

Antimicrobial resistance: Next global, public health threat after COVID-19
Pank Jit Sin, 10 Jan 2023
As the dust settles from the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the lurking threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) once again rears its ugly head. Weighing in on this topic is Professor Dr Sasheela Sri La Sri Ponnampalavanar, Infectious Disease Professor, University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). Below is an excerpt from her bylined piece titled ‘Tackling the Next Global and Public Health Threat After COVID-19 – Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).’
Multipathogen testing an essential part of Test-Target-Treat strategy for respiratory illnesses
Dr. Mohan Ravuru, Dr. Johnny Sinon, Assoc Prof. Nuntra Suwantarat, 16 Dec 2022

At a recent webinar, experts discussed the paradigm shift in respiratory illnesses and treatment practices as the COVID-19 pandemic transitions to an endemic phase. The late Dr Mohan Ravuru, Physician Researcher and former Asia Pacific Medical Director, Abbott, Dr Johnny Sinon, Senior Emergency Physician from Makati Medical Center, Philippines, and Associate Professor Nuntra Suwantarat, Infectious Disease Specialist, from Chulabhorn International College of Medicine, Thammasat University, Thailand, delivered informative presentations and engaged the audience through a stimulating panel discussion.

Among the topics covered were the ‘immunity debt’ phenomenon leading to potential epidemics, challenges in the differential diagnosis of COVID-19 and influenza, and the importance of point-of-care, multipathogen testing as a part of the Test-Target-Treat strategy in respiratory diseases.

Turning the TIDES with Dengue Vaccination
15 Dec 2022
Aedes aegypti mosquito is the epitome of ‘small bite, big threat’. A bite from a female Aedes aegypti mosquito is enough to spread dengue. There are four different serotypes of dengue virus, Dengue Virus 1–4 (DENV1–4), thus, individuals can be infected with dengue up to four times. Repeated infections increase the risk of severe dengue, a risk factor for mortality. These serotypes are endemic to a certain countries and cocirculate in the natural environment. Dengue poses a major global health concern, with approximately 40% of the world’s population at risk of infection and more severe cases linked to a 20% mortality rate.
Timely treatment of patients at risk for severe COVID-19 prevents severe outcomes
Dr. Asok Kurup, Dr. Alex Soriano, 31 Oct 2022

Despite widespread uptake of vaccinations, COVID-19 remains a serious health issue for high-risk patients, owing to the emergence of new variants of concern (VOCs), waning immunity, and breakthrough infections.

At a recent symposium in Singapore, esteemed experts Dr Asok Kurup, Consultant Infectious Diseases Physician at Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, Singapore, and Dr Alex Soriano, Head of Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona and Assistant Professor, University of Barcelona, Spain, gave insights on the evolution of global trends since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and discussed key challenges in managing high-risk patients with COVID-19 in the ICU. They also highlighted early treatment strategies to minimize the burden of COVID-19 on healthcare systems.

Burden of Dengue amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
12 Jul 2022
Dengue fever (DF) is endemic in many tropical countries, including Singapore, and is spread by Aedes mosquitoes. All four serotypes of the dengue virus (DENV 1–4) are found in Singapore, with serotype distribution fluctuating from year to year. DENV-1 and DENV-2 were previously the dominant serotypes in outbreaks, but DENV-3 has now replaced DENV-2 as the most common serotype in 2022. Along with a larger proportion of people staying home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this has resulted in an increase in dengue incidence in Singapore. In the week of 12th to 18th June 2022, 1,258 new dengue cases were reported. According to the National Environment Agency (NEA), this number is expected to rise and exceed the highest weekly figure of 1,787 cases recorded in 2020.
Conference Reports
STIs in women remain common despite doxycycline use after sex
Jairia Dela Cruz, 01 Apr 2023
Young cisgender women remain susceptible to contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) despite the use of doxycycline after sex, as shown in the results of the open-label DPEP Kenya study.
Certain ART combinations carry some risk of depression among women with HIV
Jairia Dela Cruz, 31 Mar 2023
Women with HIV who use antiretroviral therapy (ART) combinations such as tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) with a cobicistat-boosted integrase inhibitor (INSTI) or protease inhibitor (PI) appear to frequently show somatic depressive symptoms, according to data from the Women’s Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) presented at CROI 2023.
CAB+RPV LA vs B/FTC/TAF for HIV: Which is better?
Audrey Abella, 27 Mar 2023
In virologically suppressed adults with HIV, the cabotegravir + rilpivirine long-acting (CAB+RPV LA) regimen was on par with bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (B/FTC/TAF) in terms of virologic efficacy, but the former gained the upper hand over the latter in terms of patient satisfaction and preference, the SOLAR* study reports.
New data support B/FTC/TAF use in HIV+ children
Audrey Abella, 21 Mar 2023
Data from a French study presented at CROI 2023 support the use of bictegravir 50 mg/emtricitabine 200 mg/tenofovir alafenamide 25 mg (B/FTC/TAF) in the management of paediatric patients with HIV.
Peg lambda cuts hospitalization, ER visits in COVID-19 outpatients
Audrey Abella, 09 Mar 2023
Early treatment with a single dose of pegylated recombinant IL-29 type III interferon (IFN), otherwise known as peg lambda, significantly reduced clinical events in the phase III TOGETHER study evaluating mostly vaccinated, acutely symptomatic COVID-19 outpatients.
Post-exposure doxycycline prevents STIs in MSM, TGW with HIV or on PrEP
Stephen Padilla, 28 Feb 2023
Use of doxycycline as postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) results in a significant decrease in the incidence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and syphilis and demonstrates a significant impact on the incidence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC), reports a study presented at the 30th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI). Meningococcal B vaccine also helps lower the incidence of GC.
Is PrEP a revolutionary medication that has the power to prevent the spread of HIV-AIDS?
Stephen Padilla, 27 Feb 2023
The incidence of sexually transmitted infection (STI) over the first 4 years of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use remains high and stable, but the incidence of chlamydia and gonorrhea has slightly decreased among daily PrEP users, as shown in a study presented at the 30th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI).