cryptococcal
meningitis
[cryptococcus
neoformans, which is found mainly in dirt and bird droppings]
What
Makes Cryptococcus neoformans a Pathogen?
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol4no1/buchanan.htm
AIRBORNE
PATHOGEN DATA BASE
http://www.bio.psu.edu/People/Faculty/Whittam/apdbase/f5.html
Sick
Building Syndrome
http://www.nsc.org/ehc/indoor/sbs.htm
Cryptococcal meningitis, a life-threatening infection of the membranes that line the brain and spinal cord (meninges), can occur when a patient is exposed to the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans. The organism can infect almost all organs in the body, although it most commonly causes disease of the meninges, skin, or lungs.
Symptoms: fever, vomiting, headache, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, and a general feeling of not being well. Sometimes symptoms include a stiff neck and seizures.
FDA Approves Ambisome For The Treatment Of Cryptococcal Meningitis In Aids Patients - 06-July-2000
- Amphotericin
B (Fungizone)
-
Liposome encapsulated amphotericin B: Abelcet [The Liposome Company], Ambisome
[Fujisawa Healthcare, Inc.; Gilead Sciences, Inc. ] and Amphotec [Sequus
Pharmaceuticals]
Side
effects:
Amphotericin
B can cause fevers, chills, headache, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,
kidney damage, and suppression of bone marrow which can lead to anemia.
- fluconazole
(Diflucan) [Pfizer, Inc.]
-
Itraconazole (Sporonox) [Janssen Pharmaceutica] can also be used for maintenance
treatment for histoplasmosis.
About Fujisawa and Gilead
Fujisawa Healthcare, Inc., headquartered in Deerfield, IL, develops, manufactures, and markets proprietary pharmaceutical products in the United States and abroad. Fujisawa Healthcare, Inc. is a subsidiary of Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., based in Osaka, Japan. Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., founded in 1894, is a leading pharmaceutical manufacturer with international operations in North America, Europe, and Asia. Additional information on Fujisawa Healthcare, Inc. and its products can be found on the Internet at www.fujisawa.com.
Gilead
Sciences, headquartered in Foster City, CA, is an independent biopharmaceutical
company that seeks to provide accelerated solutions for patients and the
people who care for them. The Company discovers, develops, manufactures
and commercializes proprietary therapeutics for challenging infectious
diseases (viral, fungal and bacterial infections) and cancer. Gilead maintains
research, development or manufacturing facilities in Foster City, CA; Boulder,
CO; San Dimas, CA; Cambridge, UK; and Dublin, Ireland and sales and marketing
organizations in the United States, Europe, and Australia. For more information
about Gilead, visit the Company's Web site at www.gilead.com.
- UNAIDS
- Health
GAP Coalition
Asia
Russell
phone:
+1-215-731-1844
e-mail:
asia@critpath.org
http://www.healthgap.org
- Treatment
Action Campaign
Cape
Town Office
Zackie
Achmat
phone:
+021-364-5489
Johannesburg
Office
phone:
+011-403-7021
Durban
office
phone:
+031-304-3673
http:www.tac.org.za
- Médecins
Sans Frontières (sopprannominati simpaticamente:
Medici-Senza-lobi-Frontali)
Kris
Torgeson, Press Officer
phone:
+1-212-655-3764
e-mail:
Kris_Togeson@newyork.msf.org
http://www.accessmed-msf.org
Boehringer
Ingelheim
Bristol-Myers
Squibb
Glaxo
Wellcome
Merck
& Co., Inc.
F.
Hoffmann-La Roche.