Letter From the Editor

Dear HEPP News Readers,

As this issue of HEPP News went to press, we were busy at the 25th Conference on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We started the conference on a great note with the annual HEPP preconference symposium. This year's symposium was entitled: "Bridging the Gap: Getting High-Risk Patients Into Treatment," a topic that went with the theme of our Aug./Sept. 2001 HEPP News. We had fabulous presentations by many well-known correctional doctors, including our own Chief Editor, Anne De Groot, who gave presentations on TB in corrections and on the issues facing women inmates with HIV. Deputy Editor Joe Bick also reported on issues facing transgendered patients and their HIV treatment and prevention: Dr. Michael Wong gave a presentation on hepatitis C in corrections; Joe Paris, another HEPP Editor, spoke about the outbreak of hepatitis B in the Georgia DOC earlier this year; Rob Lyerla, from the CDC, discussed the state of hepatitis B in corrections nationwide; and Dr. Eric Avery, spoke on mental health treatment in HIV-positive patients in corrections. We appreciate the time and effort our presenters gave to make the symposium a success.

Many other HEPP "celebrities" were seen at the conference, including Dr. David Thomas, Dr. Dean Rieger, Dr. Ted Hammett and a great dancer, HEPP advisor Ned Heltzer. We all attended important presentations on health care in prison, especially as it relates to HIV and hepatitis. Next month's issue will include a "Rapid Report" section with conference updates. We will focus on the presentations on women, hepatitis B and C, and HIV as they relate to corrections.

In this issue, Associate Editor David Wohl provides a comprehensive drug update, looking at the three newest drugs that have become part of HAART: amprenavir, lopinavir/ritonavir, and the latest FDA approved drug, tenofovir. HIV 101 complements the main article, providing an updated table describing all of the antiretroviral medications now available. This month's spotlight was written by The Corrections Connection's Michelle Gaseau, who interviewed Robyn Gershon from Columbia University's school of public health. Gershon spearheaded a study on post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) in corrections, the first study of its kind. The HEPPigram supplements the interview by providing updated PEP recommendations for various types of exposures to HIV.

After reading this issue, health care providers should understand the basics of the new antiretroviral medications, including dosing and drug interactions; readers should also understand what an occupational exposure to HIV is, which drug regimens to use in the case of an occupational exposure to HIV, and what documentation is recommended.

Next month's issue will focus on opportunistic infections and recommendations for treating those infections presented by Dr. Joe Bick. We encourage our readers to submit summaries from any NCCHC presentation or any other topics!

Sincerely,

Rebecca Nerenberg
Managing Editor, HEPP News

Back to the HEPP News November 2001 contents page.