[indices] Fw: e-Pharmalink newsletter - November 2007

["Leesette Turner" <hamis@iafrica.com>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Jackie Nyagah 
To: Leesette Turner 
Sent: Friday, December 14, 2007 2:53 PM
Subject: e-Pharmalink newsletter - November 2007


This edition includes:
News

Cough and cold remedies under the spotlight
New global framework for immunization monitoring and surveillance
HIV and AIDS
Tuberculosis (TB)
Malaria
Focus on Resources
Websites
Training tools
Reports
Courses
---------------------------------------------------------------------------Cough and cold remedies under the spotlight

Over-the-counter cough and cold medicines that have been widely used for decades should not be given to children under 6 years of age. Manufacturers need to conduct clinical trials to show the medicines actually work for children. Evidence from studies is lacking and is inappropriate to keep relying on adult data to suggest the medicines benefit kids.

http://www.essentialdrugs.org/edrug/archive/200710/msg00049.php 


New global framework for immunization monitoring and surveillance

To monitor the Global Immunization Vision and Strategy (2006 - 2010), WHO, together with global immunization partners has developed a global framework for immunization and monitoring surveillance. The framework will help to monitor the strategy which will help to ensure that the fourth Millennium Development Goal (MDG), reduction of child mortality, is partially met through the increase of vaccinations. Vaccinations are one of the low-cost effective ways to reduce mortality in children less than five years.

http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/85/12/07-048223.pdf 

 HIV and AIDS 

d4T dose can be reduced without loss of effectiveness

The Experts opinion on pharmacotherapy has published the findings of a systematic review of nine clinical trials of d4T (stavudine, Zerit) which shows that a dose of 30mg twice daily has equivalent efficacy to the standard 40mg dose prescribed to adults weighing more than 60kg, with evidence of fewer side-effects. This may be a viable option given the low cost of a fixed dose d4T/3TC/nevirapine regimen in resource-limited settings in comparison to tenofovir or AZT-based regimens. 

http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/3E7F40F0-7B5F-4F02-824A-06C50947532E.asp 

 

Switch to nevirapine safe for treatment-experienced patients with high CD4 cell counts 

According to findings of an Indian study published in the August 2007 edition of AIDS, patients who experience increases in their CD4 cell counts after initiating potent antiretroviral therapy can safely change therapy to a regimen based on the NNRTI nevirapine. 

http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/383A3A38-3EF6-4AEB-8F15-3EC58870DF12.asp 

 

A single dose of tenofovir/FTC reduces risk of NVP resistance in pregnant women given single-dose NVP

A study published in The Lancet for November 2007, indicates that single dose of tenofovir (Viread) and FTC (emtricitabine, Emtriva) taken in addition to single-dose nevirapine (Viramune) during labour can significantly reduce the risk of subsequent nevirapine resistance

http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/62B99982-2DBA-43FD-947C-968CD59D1443.asp 

 

TUBERCULOSIS (TB):

Incentives and enablers

Many DOTS-based programs throughout the world are seeking to improve tuberculosis (TB) case detection and cure rates through the provision of a variety of incentives and enablers (I&E) to patients and/or providers. Rational Pharmaceutical Management Plus (RPM Plus) in conjunction with Stop TB, WHO and the World Bank have been studying I&E in a variety of contexts with the goal of expanding the evidence base of whether, how, and how much I&E can improve the performance of TB control programs.

http://www1.msh.org/projects/rpmplus/WhatWeDo/Tuberculosis/Incentives-and-Enablers.cfm 


MALARIA:

 

Malaria combination therapy efficacy

Scientists conducting a study in Uganda have found that children receiving a combination of artemether and lumefantrine for the treatment of malaria had a lower rate of treatment failure as compared with other combination therapies.

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Science/2007/05/23/combo_therapy_found_effective_in_malaria/9785/ 

 

Insecticide for mosquitoes resistant to current pesticides

Mosquitoes responsible for malaria transmission to humans are becoming resistant to pyrethroids used in spraying and to impregnate mosquito nets. Researchers at the Institute of Research for Development in Paris have therefore developed an effective insect repellent compound that can be used against mosquitoes resistant to current chemicals.

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Science/2007/07/18/new_insecticide_created_for_mosquitoes/5131/ 

FOCUS ON RESOURCES

WEBSITES:

Website to monitor Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

http://www.mdgmonitor.org/

The United Nations has launched a new Web site that will show how and where the world is succeeding or failing in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The website will aid in the better monitoring of progress of the MDGs which should spur success. The site presents all the information on the goals in one place, allowing closer monitoring and helping to identify places in need of greater attention. The site gathers statistics from around the world to give a snapshot of how each country is doing in meeting the eight goals, from cutting infant mortality to reducing hunger.

 

Antibiotic Resistance

http://www.dobugsneeddrugs.org 

This website provides information for healthcare professionals, the public, teachers, parents and children on the dangers of unnecessary use of antibiotics particularly for managing respiratory tract infections, including colds, flu, sore throat, cough, ear aches, sinus infections, chest colds (bronchitis) and pneumonia.

TRAINING TOOLS:

Pharmacy Health Literacy Assessment Tool:

This pharmacy health literacy tool was designed by the US government's Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to capture perspectives on pharmacy knowledge of three critical audiences - objective auditors, pharmacy staff, and patients. The three parts of the assessment are complementary and designed to form a comprehensive assessment. Although the assessment was designed to be used in outpatient pharmacies of large, urban, public hospitals that primarily serve a minority population, it can be adapted for use in other pharmacy environments.

http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/pharmlit/ 

 

Training programme for pharmacy staff

This training program is designed to introduce pharmacists to the problem of low health literacy in patient populations and to identify the implications of this problem for the delivery of health care services. The program also explains techniques that pharmacy staff members can use to improve communication with patients who may have limited health literacy skills.

http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/pharmlit/pharmtrain.htm 

 

Counselling Tuberculosis patients

This is a guide for those working with TB patients. It outlines the various forms of counselling skills including how to counsel specific clients, how to help patients solve their problems and how to regulate the counsellors' workload.

http://www.iuatld.org/upload/home_news/tb_counseling_a_guide_eng_final_uk_290.pdf 

REPORTS:

Guidelines for pharmacists on counterfeit medicines

These guidelines are published by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.

http://www.rpsgb.org.uk/pdfs/counterfeitmedsguid.pdf 

Progress made in fight against Malaria

This report, prepared by UNICEF on behalf of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership (RBM), highlights the significant gains in the fight against malaria, particularly in controlling the disease, in sub-Saharan Africa.

http://www.rollbackmalaria.org/docs/unicef2007/malariaUnicef2007ExSum 



Interagency field manual on TB
This manual developed by WHO gives guidelines on the treatment and prevention of TB in refugees and displaced populations.
It includes management of TB in adults, in children and the implementation and monitoring of TB programmes.
http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2007/9789241595421_eng.pdf 

COURSES:Course: Anti-retroviral and related drug supply chain management in low resource settingsVenue: Institute of Health Management Research, JaipurDates: February 24th - March 1st 2008For more details please contact: arvsupply@gmail.com--------------------------------------------------------------------------------e-Pharmalink is the e-mail newsletter of the Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network (EPN) an independent, apolitical, non-profit Christian organisation. This newsletter aims to alert pharmacists and other health professionals of information sources about international trends relevant to their work and opportunities that could support them in their efforts to provide effective and efficient services, particularly in poorer countries. It summarises information reported by a wide range of publications or organisations and includes web links to the original sources. Anyone can receive this e-mail. If you have any information to contribute or comments on the content, or if you would like to unsubscribe, subscribe or recommend someone to receive it, please contact Info@epnetwork.org. This and previous copies of the newsletter are available at www.epnetwork.org/en/e-pharmalink 


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