From: "ANNE WILSON, CDC NAC" Subject: CDC AIDS DAILY SUMMARY 02/18/94 AIDS Daily Summary February 18, 1994 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National AIDS Clearinghouse makes available the following information as a public service only. Providing this information does not constitute endorsement by the CDC, the CDC Clearinghouse, or any other organization. Reproduction of this text is encouraged; however, copies may not be sold, and the CDC Clearinghouse should be cited as the source of this information. Copyright 1993, Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD "Writer Randy Shilts Dies; Chronicled Rise of AIDS" Washington Post (02/18/94) P. B7 (Smith, J. Y.) Randy Shilts, a journalist covering AIDS for the San Francisco Chronicle and author of a best-selling book on the disease, died of AIDS on Feb. 17 at the age of 42. Shilts was one of the first openly gay reporters to work for a mainstream newspaper. At the Chronicle, he became a liaison between the homosexual community and the general public for news and opinions about AIDS. He is probably best-known, however, for his book "And the Band Played On: People, Politics, and the AIDS Epidemic." Appearing in 1987, the book was a detailed, well-documented history of America's failure to deal with AIDS. In 1993, it was made into an HBO movie starring Richard Gere and Alan Alda. Shilts also announced last year that he had been infected with HIV in 1987. Related Story: New York Times (02/18) P. D17; Los Angeles Times--Washington Edition (02/18) P. A1; Baltimore Sun (02/18) P. 3A "Blood Safety Measure Goes to House Panel" Baltimore Sun (02/18/94) P. 4B The Senate yesterday approved the Blood Safety Act of 1994, which would require doctors to inform patients before elective surgery of options that would ensure their protection from AIDS and other blood-borne diseases spread through transfusions. The bill would oblige surgeons to advise patients that donating their own blood is the only guarantee against contracting disease during transfusion. Surgeons would also force surgeons to inform patients about other options, including use of a relative's blood. While most opponents--including the Red Cross--concur that self-donated blood is safest, they argue that blood donated by a relative can be even more dangerous than anonymous blood because an infected spouse or child might lie about having AIDS. Although the blood supply in general is safe, according to bill sponsor Sen. Vernon F. Boozer, a few hundred people each year contract HIV through blood transfusions. The measure now moves on to the House Environmental Matters Committee. "Baltimore Needle-Swap Gains Allies" Baltimore Sun (02/18/94) P. 4B (Langfitt, Frank) Some of Maryland's most influential public officials yesterday endorsed plans for a Baltimore needle-exchange program that has been rejected by the state legislature for the past two years. In addition to top health and public safety officials, Baltimore Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke, state Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., and House Speaker Casper R. Taylor Jr. also announced their support of the plan at yesterday's House committee hearing. The pilot program would allow drug addicts to trade used needles for clean ones and, proponents contend, would prevent the spread of AIDS. Legislators, however, have twice blocked the plan out of fear that the program would encourage drug use. Schmoke is seeking legislative help to circumvent a state law prohibiting distribution of drug paraphernalia. If approved, the city would open several clinics this summer to accommodate as many as 1,000 drug addicts, said Dr. Peter Bellenson, city health commissioner. The prospect for a needle exchange appears to be more favorable this year, in part because Gov. William Donald Schaefer--once a firm opponent to the program--has reconsidered his position. "Response to AIDS Gains in Subtlety" New York Times (02/18/94) P. C28 (Smith, Roberta) As AIDS continues its rampage, art continues to be created in response, and the art grows more subtle and profound. An example is "From Media to Metaphor: Art About AIDS," an exhibition at the Grey Art Gallery and Study Center of New York University. The exhibition displays a wide range of work, from media posters, videos, and symbols of Act Up and Gran Fury to the photographs and abstract paintings of renowned and unheralded artists. Included in the exhibit are works by famous talents such as Robert Mapplethorpe, David Wojnarowicz, and Keith Harding, all of whom died of AIDS. "From Media to Metaphor," which appears to target audiences not familiar with the esthetic repercussions of AIDS, is a valuable, diverse exhibition. The works included reflect the discussion of AIDS throughout visual culture and suggest that the disease may become a permanent part of the artistic landscape. "France Revamps AIDS Agency" Wall Street Journal (02/18/94) P. A7 The French government dissolved its anti-AIDS agency, and turned the responsibilities of the office over to the Health Ministry. The change was prompted when state auditors found that the agency used money from a fund for hemophiliacs to cover some of its expenses, destroyed 400,000 condoms that were designated as substandard in a distribution program, and paid two former chairmen salaries far higher than the legal limit. France, which has documented 32,000 AIDS cases since the epidemic began in 1981, has more AIDS cases than any other European country. The country also has 110,000 people who are infected with HIV. "Art Imitates Life in Calif. Lawyer's View of AIDS Firing" Los Angeles Times--Washington Edition (02/17/94) P. 13 Gay Calif. lawyer Martin D. Caprow says that watching the film "Philadelphia" was "like watching my own nightmare." The 37-year-old attorney was fired from his job in 1992 because a senior partner learned of his HIV-positive condition and because his infection would prevent the firm from obtaining a new, less expensive health insurance plan. Now, Caprow--who has since developed full-blown AIDS--is the plaintiff in a trial that strikingly resembles the fictional case portrayed in "Philadelphia," in which a gay lawyer sues his firm on the grounds of AIDS discrimination. The senior partner at San Diego's Frank & Freedus firm, however, testified that Caprow was dismissed because the firm was losing clients and needed to cut expenses--not because he had HIV. According to the senior partner, Caprow was not as good as other lawyers with comparable standing in the firm. The case is being heard without a jury because lawyers for Frank & Freedus feared jurors would be influenced by the film. "HIV Service Agency Set" Houston Chronicle (02/17/94) P. 32A The responsibility of administering HIV service funds from the Texas Department of Health and the Health Resources Services Administration will be assumed by a new agency. The Houston Regional HIV/AIDS Resource Group replaces the Greater Houston HIV Alliance, which became embroiled in financial and political disputes after a split with county officials two years ago. The new agency will administer close to $3 million in state services funds as well as a federal grant for federal care, according to executive director Michael J. Springer, who formerly served as head of the HIV Alliance. "Blood Bank Tech Spattered, Dies From AIDS" American Medical News (02/07/94) Vol. 37, No. 5, P. 14 The director of a blood bank was not responsible for the death of a technician who was splashed with HIV-infected blood, ruled a Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Because of the patient's urgent need for platelets, HIV test results of the donor's blood were not confirmed before an apheresis procedure was conducted. During the procedure, there was difficulty with the tubing of the apheresis machine. The technician removed segments of tubing containing the donor's blood without clamping or restricting the flow of blood, which consequently spurted onto her hands and arms. Despite the proximity of a sink and gloves, the technician ignored hospital infection control policy by failing to immediately wash the blood from herself. She remained covered with blood for about 45 minutes while she cleaned blood from the floor and machine--without wearing gloves--and put the machine back into operation, at which point she finally washed the blood off. HIV tests on the donor's blood came back positive, and the technician eventually tested HIV-positive as well. When she died of AIDS in October 1989, her family filed suit against the blood bank and director. The suit alleged that the director was negligent in scheduling the procedure before discovering the results of the HIV test, and in failing to warn the technician about the unknown test results. It also blamed the director for not requiring the technician to wear gloves at all times. A jury found that the blood bank and director had indeed been negligent, but not enough so as to cause her death. After an appeal, the court affirmed the jury's decision. "Vaginal Microbicides and Prevention of HIV Infection" Lancet (02/05/94) Vol. 343, No. 8893, P. 362 (Stein, Zena A.) Zena A. Stein of the HIV Center for Clinical Behavioral Studies at New York State Psychiatric Institute points out that Lange et al.'s report on the World Health Organization's conference on vaginal microbicides omits one recommendation. That proposal suggests research into a microbicide that is not also a spermicide. At present, individual couples as well as family planning agencies probably do not look to vaginal microbicides as reliable contraception, says Stein. There are, however, many couples, societies, and religious groups who have no desire for contraception, but are aware of the need to protect themselves against infection. The first step, Stein states, is to determine whether or not spermatozoa are vectors for HIV. If they are not--the most likely outcome--this recommendation could prove fruitful, she concludes. "AIDSLine: Microspordia and Diarrhea" Advocate (02/08/94) No. 648, P. 34 Microspordia may not play as critical a role in HIV-related chronic diarrhea as was previously thought, according to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine on Nov. 1, 1993. The study evaluated the presence of microspordia in the intestinal biopsies of 106 HIV patients. The results indicated that 55 patients suffering from chronic diarrhea were no more likely to be infected with the organism than were the 51 patients who didn't have diarrhea, even when taking into account the current helper-cell counts. More importantly, however, the researchers discovered 13 patients who had no gastrointestinal symptoms, but were infected with the microbe. The AIDS Daily Summary will not publish on Monday, February 21, 1994. Publication will resume on Tuesday, February 22.