Active clinical trials for "Infections"

To compare the efficacy of clarithromycin/ethambutol with placebo or with rifabutin at two different doses in reducing colony-forming units (CFUs) by 2 or more logarithms in patients with Mycobacterium avium Complex bacteremia and maintaining this response until 16 weeks post-randomization. To assess survival and comparative tolerability among the three treatment regimens.

To assess the toxicity profile and determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), if possible, of S-1153 administered orally 3 times daily for 14 days. To investigate the clinical pharmacokinetic parameters for S-1153. To assess anti-HIV activity associated with S-1153 administration through evaluation of CD4 and viral load measurements.

To determine the safety and efficacy of zidovudine (AZT) treatment combined with syngeneic or HLA identical allogeneic lymphocyte transfer in the presence of interleukin 2 (IL-2) as a treatment for AIDS. Patients with documented HIV viremia will be evaluated. Effects on virus replication, immune function, and clinical condition will be monitored with periodic virus cultures, estimates of lymphocyte type and numbers, cell surface markers, in vitro lymphocyte responses and frequent clinical evaluations.

To determine a safe, effective, and convenient dosing schedule for nystatin pastilles in the prophylaxis of oral candidiasis in patients with AIDS or AIDS related syndromes (group III or IV, CDC classification)

This is an open label study to determine the effects of the administration of Interferon-gamma on the clinical condition and immune function of patients with severe, treatment refractory non-tuberculosis mycobacterial infections. The study drug (interferon gamma) will be administered subcutaneously three times a week at 0.05 mg/m(2) for one year. We may also collect blood from the relatives of these patients and normal volunteers in order to characterize the genetic basis, if any, of our patients' disorders.

A subgroup of patients with childhood-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and/or tic disorders has been identified who share a common clinical course characterized by dramatic onset and symptom exacerbations following group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal (GABHS) infections. This subgroup is designated by the acronym PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections). There are five clinical characteristics that define the PANDAS subgroup: presence of OCD and/or tic disorder; prepubertal symptom onset; sudden onset or abrupt exacerbations (relapsing-remitting course); association with neurological abnormalities (presence of adventitious movements or motoric hyperactivity during exacerbations); and temporal association between symptom exacerbations and GABHS infections. In this subgroup, periodic exacerbations appear to be triggered by GABHS infections in a manner similar to that of Sydenham's chorea, the neurological variant of rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever is a disorder with a presumed post-streptococcal autoimmune etiology. The streptococcal pathogenesis of rheumatic fever is supported by studies that have demonstrated the effectiveness of penicillin prophylaxis in preventing recurrences of this illness. A trial of penicillin prophylaxis in the PANDAS subgroup demonstrated that penicillin was not superior to placebo as prophylaxis against GABHS infections in these children, but this outcome was felt to be secondary to non-compliance with treatment, and there was no decrease in the number of neuropsychiatric symptom exacerbations in this group. In a study comparing azithromycin and penicillin, both drugs were completely effective in preventing streptococcal infections - there were no documented titer elevations during the year-long study period for children taking either penicillin or azithromycin. Comparable reductions in the severity of tics and obsessive-compulsive symptoms were also observed. Thus, penicillin was not performing as an "active placebo" as originally postulated, but rather provided effective prophylaxis against Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal. Both azithromycin and penicillin appear to be effective in eliminating GABHS infections, and reducing neuropsychiatric symptom severity; thus, between-group differences are negligible. Since increasing the "n" to demonstrate superiority of one prophylactic agent over another would be impractical, we have amended the study design to address two issues: To determine if antibiotics prophylaxis against GABHS infections is superior to placebo in prolonging periods of remission among children in the PANDAS subgroup. To determine if antibiotics prophylaxis against GABHS infections is superior to placebo in improving overall symptom severity for obsessive-compulsive symptoms and tics among children in the PANDAS subgroup. Because penicillin has a narrower therapeutic index and is less expensive than azithromycin, it is the preferable prophylactic agent. Further, penicillin (250 mg orally twice a day) has a long history of providing safe and effective prophylaxis for rheumatic fever and is the first line oral therapy recommended by the American Heart Association. Thus, penicillin has been chosen as the prophylactic antibiotic in the present study. Blister packs are used to increase compliance and to allow for easier documentation of missed doses.

To evaluate the efficacy of WR 6026 once daily in the treatment of mild PCP. To evaluate the safety and tolerance of WR 6026. To assess the correlation between plasma WR 6026 concentrations and outcome/toxicity.

The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and effectiveness of a soft-gel capsule formulation of saquinavir (SQV-SGC), a protease inhibitor, when given in combination with other anti-HIV drugs. SQV-SGC has been tested in adults for the treatment of HIV infection, but more information is still needed about SQV-SGC in children. Recent studies suggest that this soft-gel capsule form may be safer and more effective than other protease inhibitors.

The purpose of this study is to see if it is safe and effective to give prednisone to HIV-infected patients. Prednisone is a corticosteroid, a hormone produced by the body that inhibits immune cell responses. Prednisone may be able to lower the level of HIV in the body (viral load) by reducing the number of cells that HIV can infect. At the same time, prednisone may be able to increase CD4 cell counts (cells of the immune system that fight infection).

The purpose of this study is to examine how rIL-2 affects HIV-positive patients with CD4 counts over 300 cells/mm3 who are on anti-HIV drug therapy. The drug rIL-2 has been shown to increase CD4 cell counts, which help the body fight off HIV. There is strong evidence that rIL-2 increases CD4 cell counts (cells of the immune system that fight infection). This study examines the effect of 2 different amounts of rIL-2 on CD4 cell count and the amount of HIV in the blood (viral burden).