Custom Search

Scientists Test New Device to Monitor Medication Adherence in HIV/AIDS Patients

Category: AIDS/HIV News RSS
Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 1:02:44 PM
Bookmark and Share     Font Size 
A breath-monitoring device has en developed by experts at the University of Florida and Xhale Inc. which could be useful in checking medication adherence in HIV/AIDS patients.

The inventors of the device say that it may help prevent the emergence of drug-resistant strains of HIV by monitoring medication adherence in high-risk individuals.

"For HIV, it's been shown that if you don't take a very high percentage of your medication, you may as well not take medication at all," said Dr. Richard Melker, a professor of anaesthesiology at the UF College of Medicine and chief technology officer for Xhale.

Patients who take some but not all of their medication increase the likelihood the virus will mutate into a deadlier, drug-resistant form.

While experts have tried several ways to monitor drug adherence ranging from daily log books to blister packs that record the time each pill is dispensed, Melker said only one works well: directly observed therapy (DOT).

"If you have a disease that is deemed to be a public health risk, authorities can put you into a program where you have to come to the clinic every day and be observed putting the pill into your mouth and swallowing it," Melker said.

However, patients find that process inconvenient. Even clinic personnel find it difficult to track patients down when they fail to show up.

Melker says that tests with the new device suggest that it may help solve these problems.
Page 1 Page 1 | 2  Next
 Email Email   RSS Feeds RSS Feeds   Print this page Print   Save this page Save   Link Link   Syndicate Syndicate   Comments Comments   Bookmark and Share
 
Comment & Contribute
* Your comment can be maximum of 2500 characters
Notify me when reply is posted   

fatima

5/7/2008

i think before thinking of finding the medicine you could have thought of a privention vaccine, so that though having it one can not pass to the other person, as for africa HIV is getting worse evryday.
Reply | Forward

Related Links

Medindia Health Network

Tweet this page Share this page
500 + Health news categories
Latest Health News From Leading Resources
Updated every 30 minutes
AIDS
Complete Medindia Resources
World Diabetes Day
Select a News Category
News Archive
Date :
Category :
Keyword :
Medindia on Facebook
Feedback  Advanced Search
Last Updated - - Designed & Content Managed by Medindia Health Network Pvt Ltd. Hosted & Technical Support by FrontPoint Systems
DisclaimerThe contents of this site are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of a qualified physician for any doubts.
To Read full Disclaimer Click Here!
Best viewed with resolution 1024x768 px.
Advertise with us |  Medindia Copyright |  Privacy Policy | Terms of Use |  © All Rights Reserved 1997 - 2009