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Once-daily trovafloxacin 200 mg was compared with high-dose amoxicillin, 1 g three times daily, given for 7 to 10 days. At end of treatment (day 10), the response was clinically successful (cure + improvement) in 93% of 152 clinically evaluable trovafloxacin patients and in 89% of 160 amoxicillin patients. At study end (day 35), respective rates were 91% and 81% (95% confidence interval: 1.6, 17.6; P=0.01). In evaluable patients with positive baseline radiographs, 93% of trovafloxacin and 88% of amoxicillin patients demonstrated radiological resolution at end of treatment. Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae eradication rates were comparable at end of treatment in both treatment groups, but at study end Streptococcus pneumoniae eradication rates were higher in trovafloxacin patients (100% vs 81%). At study end, all four trovafloxacin patients with baseline penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae were clinically cured with pathogen eradication, whereas two of five amoxicillin patients with baseline penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae were clinical failures with pathogen persistence. For patients in whom no pathogen was identified, trovafloxacin was significantly more effective at end of treatment (P=0.096) and study end (P=0.013). Treatment-related adverse events were comparable; the most common were headache, vomiting and dizziness in trovafloxacin patients, and diarrhoea. headache and abdominal pain in amoxicillin patients.

Among HIV-infected women, unprotected sex with the main sexual partner is common practice. Conversely, studies about condom use with sexual partners of unknown HIV sero-status are sparsely reported. We aimed to assess the impact of oral contraception on unsafe sexual behaviours with occasional partners in women HIV-infected through injection drug use. The analysis focused on 90 women, enrolled in the French cohort MANIF 2000 and reported having engaged in sexual relationships with occasional partners during a 48-month period. Visits where women reported unprotected sex with occasional partners in the prior 6 months were compared to visits where they reported protected sex using a logistic model based on Generalised Estimating Equations. Unprotected sex with occasional partners was independently associated with oral contraception (OR[95%CI] = 3.2[1.4-7.2]), reporting only one occasional partner (OR[95%CI] = 3.1[1.6-6.2]) and antiretroviral treatment receipt. No significant association was found between unprotected sex and CD4 level or plasma viral load. With the growing population of people living with HIV as a chronic infection, the development and evaluation of HIV-prevention interventions tailored toward women remain a public health priority. Risk reduction counselling and interventions are needed to promote either the use of dual contraception or, alternatively, that of female condom.

In adults, RSV is a frequent cause of flu-like symptoms. It can sometimes cause lower respiratory tract illness, which can be severe, and should be considered in the differential diagnosis in such cases. The PCR method is a particularly effective diagnostic test, but as yet is not routinely available.

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