touchREVIEWS in Infectious Diseases Volume 2, Issue 1 – 2023

We are excited to introduce the latest edition of touchREVIEWS in Infectious Diseases. Our mission is to bring you thought-provoking interviews, reviews, editorials, case studies and original research within the realm of infectious diseases. We aspire to engage infectious disease specialists, virologists, immunologists, epidemiologists and healthcare professionals with a keen interest in the captivating field […]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recognized that people with HIV are at a greater risk for severe disease and death than those without HIV, when hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).1–3 It is also known that individuals with neurological conditions such as dementia are also at a higher risk for severe outcomes with […]

Despite being the most severe form of viral hepatitis, there is no FDA-approved therapy for chronic hepatitis delta (CHD).1 Patients with CHD can progress to cirrhosis, as early as 5–10 years after infection. Further complications can also develop, such as esophageal and gastric variceal bleeding, ascites, infections and liver cancer. The results of the phase III […]

By sharing, listening and gaining an understanding of the real-life experiences of individuals living with a condition, clinicians and patients can better work together to improve care and outcomes and shape the healthcare system and policy of the future. Patient advocacy can play a vital role in ensuring this kind of clinic ian–patient collaboration happens. […]

Initial attempts to develop a HIV vaccine focused on creating a vaccine that would generate neutralizing antibodies against the virus, using portions of the HIV envelope from prototype laboratory isolates. The initial attempts using monomeric envelope proteins of largely laboratory adapted strains of HIV were unsuccessful due to their structural dissimilarities to the native HIV […]

HIV is a significant global health issue for which there is no cure. However, the availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has made it possible to effectively treat and prevent HIV infection, leading to a considerable decrease in associated deaths and illnesses.1,2 Most HIV treatment and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) plans involve the use of daily oral combination […]

There have been many developments in the search for a vaccine for the prevention of HIV in recent years. Currently, many techniques are available for preventing HIV infection, but the development of a safe, effective and affordable vaccine is most important in controlling the HIV pandemic.1 In this expert interview, Dr Stephaun E Wallace discusses […]

Article highlights Erythrasma is a common chronic superficial cutaneous bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium minutissimum when conditions are conducive. Corynebacterium minutissimum produces coproporphyrin III (a phosphor) that emits a coral pink fluorescence under Wood’s lamp and helps confirm the diagnosis of erythrasma. Smears, cultures and biopsies are only needed in a minority of patients with […]

Heavily treatment-experienced people living with HIV (HTE-PLWH) represent a minority of those living with HIV.1 While there is variability in the definitions of HTE-PLWH, its prevalence is estimated to be between 1 and 10% of the total number of people living with HIV (PLWH) monitored in high-income countries.2,3 HTE-PLWH are at high risk for clinical progression, […]

The treatment of people with HIV (PWH)/hepatitis B virus (HBV) co-infection, especially those who have additional comorbidities requiring multiple drug therapies can be problematic. Bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (BIC/FTC/TAF) is a co-formulated medication consisting of two components in a single tablet regimen: bictegravir (BIC), an integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI); and emtricitabine (FTC) and tenofovir alafenamide (TAF), […]

The Russian invasion of Ukraine represents the largest humanitarian crisis that Europe has faced in decades. In the first 4 months of the war, over 9.9 million refugees crossed the Ukrainian border, and over 6.1 million Ukrainian refugees were registered across Europe.1 Before the war, Ukraine had a high prevalence of tuberculosis (TB); the prevalence of […]