touchREVIEWS in Infectious Diseases Volume 1, Issue 1 – 2022

Welcome to the first issue of touchREVIEWS in Infectious Diseases, which aims to publish topical interviews, reviews, editorials, case studies and original research in the field of infectious diseases. The development of antibiotics and vaccines remain among the greatest accomplishments in medical science, and yet infectious diseases are the single major causes of childhood mortality until […]

I feel so privileged to be selected as the Editor-in-Chief for touchREVIEWS in Infectious Diseases. First, I would like to briefly introduce myself and then share my vision for the journal. I, like many others, decided to pursue medicine at a young age, after witnessing differential treatment that people receive based on income. I wanted to become […]

Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis is associated with significant disease, financial and quality-of-life burdens.1 Fluconazole has been used since 2004 for symptom control; however, its use is limited by the development of resistance and a high rate of vulvovaginal candidiasis recurrence after therapy cessation. Oteseconazole is a new medication that promises to provide women with an effective […]

Q. What were the aims and design of your study? As novel variants of SARS-CoV-2 emerge, vaccines against the virus may become less effective at preventing infection, as was seen with the B.1.529 (Omicron) variant.1 As such, we sought to investigate whether prior vaccination reduced the risk of severe outcomes. We created a time-matched cohort […]

The easing of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) restrictions has raised concerns for people who are ineligible for the vaccine for medical reasons. Tixagevimab and cilgavimab (Evusheld, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK), a combination of two long-acting antibodies, is a potential alternative to vaccination and offers hope to these patients. In an expert interview, Professor Hugh Montgomery gives us […]

It has now been over 2 years since the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and millions of cases have been reported worldwide. It is increasingly being recognized that many individuals suffer from debilitating symptoms for months after the acute phase of the disease. This has been termed long COVID and is a […]

Identifying drugs that control the progression of SARS-CoV-2 and its symptoms has been an urgent research priority during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The RECOVERY study (Randomised evaluation of COVID-19 therapy [RECOVERY]; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04381936) is the world’s largest clinical trial investigating treatments for COVID-19, with more than 40,000 participants across 185 trial sites […]

As a result of prolonged virologic suppression, improved clinical outcomes and longer survival, patients with HIV are exposed to anti-retroviral agents for decades. Despite advances in anti-retroviral therapy, many people living with HIV and taking long-term anti-retroviral therapy have a high symptom burden.1 Bictegravir is a potent integrase strand-transfer inhibitor (INSTI) with a high barrier […]

Combination antiretroviral therapy has significantly improved the life expectancy of people living with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection, but requires daily oral therapy.1 In 2021, CABENUVA (ViiV Healthcare, Brentford, UK), the first and only complete long-acting regimen for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults, received regulatory approval, based on the findings of the […]

Vaginitis is one of the most common health-related issues that affects women worldwide. It can be caused by bacterial, fungal or protozoal infections. Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is the second most common cause of vaginitis, accounting for one-third of all cases in women of reproductive age.1 In the USA, VVC results in approximately 1.4 million outpatient visits […]

While the global commitment to treating HIV has saved countless lives, efforts to prevent new HIV infections have not been so fruitful. The annual number of new HIV infections among adults worldwide has barely changed over the past 5 years, with a disappointing 31% decline since 2010, much lower than the 75% target for 2020 that […]

An alliance of United Nations organizations and associated partners have unified to create the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), which has set a goal of ending the HIV epidemic by the year 2030.1 Similarly, the ‘Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S.’ initiative, by the Department of Human Health and Services, has an overarching goal […]

With the on-going coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic challenging almost every aspect of life, immunity to COVID-19 following vaccination or infection has become the centre of attention. Several vaccines provide protection, but the duration of protective immunity is not known. Even less understood are the duration of protection after natural infection and the role of […]

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB) – i.e. when the disease presents outside of the lungs – has existed since antiquity, as evidenced by studies in paleopathology.1 The skeleton is a common site for extrapulmonary TB, but isolated rib TB is rare.2 One in 50 patients with musculoskeletal TB will have rib involvement.2–4 Extrapulmonary TB is more common in areas […]