10 Conclusions about Omicron Infection from an ID Specialist Who Just Had It
Infectious disease specialist Rodger MacArthur, MD, took a long-awaited vacation--and got COVID. He shares his conclusions about the BA.5 variant in particular.
A Fever of Unknown Origin: When a Thorough History is an Afterthought
When a workup begins with lab tests a thorough history can be an afterthought. Before this patient had a blind liver biopsy, case author Dr Rodger MacArthur asked some simple questions.
COVID-19 Epilogue: 10 Lessons Learned During 2 Long Years
Infectious disease expert and clinical investigator Rodger MacArthur, MD, considers what we know now that we didn't on March 12, 2020.
The End of the HIV Pandemic: Whatever Happened to 90-90-90 by 2020?
Get 90% of all HIV-infected persons diagnosed, get 90% of them on ART, and get 90% of those on ART “undetectable.” Are we there yet?
COVID-19 Boosters: Hope or Hype?
Infectious disease expert and NIH-funded researcher Rodger MacArthur, MD, has questions about the evidence on which the Pfizer booster shot recommendations are based.
Ivermectin Insanity
Ivermectin has shown no clinical benefit for the many viral infections it has been studied in - including COVID-19. Why are patients buying it and physicians prescribing it?
Vaccine Hesitancy in Georgia HIV Clinic Reflects Well-worn Myths, Resistance to Facts
Rodger MacArthur, MD, was in his HIV clinic last week and queried his COVID-19 vaccine-hesitant/resistant patients about their reasons. The refrain was familiar and discouraging.
Hotspots, Vaccines, Hesitancy, and the Road Ahead
ID expert Rodger MacArthur, MD, explains hotspot dynamics, the essential role of clinicians as vaccine advocates, and how medical students are engaging and educating the community.
COVID-19 Variant Primer: What we Know So Far
Infectious disease expert Rodger MacArthur, MD, explains what we know so far about the COVID-19 variants and some of the challenges to come.
When COVID-19 Strikes Close to Home: One MD's Story
Early in the pandemic, Dr MacArthur's family worried he would get infected at work and bring the virus home. COVID-19 did come close to home and a few lessons were learned.
The View from One Hospital's COVID-19 Trenches
The bad news, writes ID expert and AIDS researcher Rodger MacArthur, MD, is the New Year's surge in his hospital's COVID-19 cases. The good news? Vaccines.
COVID-related Emotions Near an Edge During Holidays
Pandemic conditions are daily life for healthcare professionals, but addressing the distress and despair among friends, family, and colleagues can be a challenge.
COVID-19 is Not my First Epidemic
The author was a young medical student when the first signs of the HIV epidemic appeared and it shaped his career. How will COVID-19 impact today's young clinicians?
Post-Test on Hepatitis C in Primary Care
Take this brief quiz to see what you’ve learned about the challenges and opportunities of HCV management.
Hepatitis C Drugs Meet Resistance Issues
Resistance-associated variants limit the activity of some drugs, but HIV infection treatment may offer some guidance.
Hepatitis C: What If You Do Not Treat?
Severe outcomes may ensue in a high percentage of patients. The authors discuss the consequences in this brief podcast.
Newer Hepatitis C Drugs Mean Direct Action
The “modern era” of treatment features multiple DAAs that target specific steps within the HCV life cycle.
Medicaid Is Tight on Hepatitis C Drug Coverage
State Medicaid programs and private insurance companies have balked at providing these drugs to their insured customers. But the tide is turning.
Hepatitis C Report: What Tests to Order
Testing is recommended for the persons who are more likely to have the virus but not know it.
Hepatitis C Screening for High Risk Patients
Patients can be identified at earlier stages of disease, before serious liver damage, and have improved clinical outcomes.
Hepatitis C Report: Tuning in to a Silent Epidemic
Knowing the origin and causes could help clinicians better determine who to screen and treat.
SPECIAL REPORT: Hepatitis C and Primary Care
Primary care physicians can play an expanding role in achieving the benefits of testing, care, and treatment to help stem the epidemic.
The Sexual History is Important, Very Important
Taking a detailed sexual history can be uncomfortable, but it's critical in an HIV/AIDS patient. There is too often a devil deep in those details.
On Demand Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
Intermittent (vs daily) pre-exposure prophylaxis in men who have unprotected sex with men yielded an 86% relative reduction in new HIV infections in a new study. The caveats?
Unusual Presentations of Primary HIV-1 Infection
Do you know which symptoms might warrant consideration of the acute retroviral syndrome?
Paradigm Shifts in Antiretroviral Therapy
This AIDS specialist predicts that the era of 2-drug regimens will be upon us. He explains why here and writes, "remember: you read about it first here."
90-90-90 by 2020
How far are we from achieving the goal of diagnosing and treating 90% of HIV-infected people to an undetectable HIV RNA level by 2020?
HIV Rx: After Truvada Comes TAF
A new era of antiretroviral therapy was previewed at IDWeek 2015 where results of trials of a "next gen" Truvada were unveiled.
The Hidden HIV Epidemic in the United States
One US location has a higher incidence of HIV than “any country in sub-Saharan Africa.” What does this tell us about the inadequacies in our HIV prevention efforts?
Caring for Men Who Have Sex With Men in Primary Care
Here's a summary of key recommendations for the primary care practitioner for the care of men who have sex with men from a recent article in The New England Journal of Medicine.