Feature Articles: 1999 Update on HIV and AIDS
Guest Editor's Note:
Michael Sands, M.D., MPH
I'm delighted to serve as the guest editor for this issue of Jacksonville Medicine highlighting topics in HIV. This also gives me the opportunity to introduce our new Division of Infectious and Communicable Diseases of the University of Florida and Duval County Health Department. The consolidation of university and health department resources into the combined division has given us a model academic-public health partnership which may better serve patients and practitioners alike.
In this issue, Dr. Gerald Horton reviews the newer diagnostic modalities as they apply to HIV clinical syndromes and anti-retroviral therapeutic strategies. Dr. Alan Tennenberg has developed an interest in patient medication adherence, and he highlights the importance of anti-retroviral medication compliance for HIV patients. Issues of co-infection with HIV and tuberculosis and the implications on development of disease prophylaxis and anti-retroviral therapy have become extremely complicated. Dr. Zaw Htay details recent CDC recommendations for prophylaxis and treatment of the co-infected patient. Not limited only to the young, HIV in older patients is an important problem reviewed by Dr. Jeffrey Lauer. Dr. Alexander Vandevelde writes on a matter of great importance to our readership, i.e. the current knowledge and recommendations for prophylaxis following occupational exposure to HIV. Steffany Perkins brings us up-to-date on HIV/AIDS surveillance and reporting, and the Northeast Florida AIDS Network summarizes the state and federal programs available in Jacksonville to cover the expenses of HIV/AIDS medical care. Finally, it is my privilege to summarize the background information and current status of the development of an HIV vaccine. This topic is particularly important to those of us in Jacksonville since our city is one of 40 sites nationwide conducting a Phase III trial of a new vaccine for HIV prevention.
On behalf of all of our authors, I would like to thank Nancy Culpepper for her assistance in the preparation of these articles. We hope that you enjoy this update on emerging issues with HIV.
Michael Sands, MD, MPH&TM
Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine
Chief, Infectious and Communicable Disease, Department of Medicine
University of Florida and Duval County Health Department