Viral infections sexually transmitted

Early onset of drug abuse is associated with early sexual activity, crime, and educational failure. Young amphetamine users risk exploitation by adults and are more likely to become involved in criminal or violent behavior and prostitution—having to resort to sex for survival. Consequently, they are also more likely to become infected with HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases and by tuberculosis or other bacterial, fungal, or viral infections. Chronic amphetamine abusers are also more at risk for mental and emotional disorders including anxiety, phobias, and depression. They are at higher risk of suicide. 

Taking into account the above considerations, the SPs were suggested to be ideal microbicides for topical use [105]. A number of potential candidate microbicides have been shown to inhibit virus attachment, fusion, and entry into host target cells for sexually transmitted infections. These include cellulose sulfate, poly(styrene 4-sulfonate), polystyrene sulfonate, polymethylene-hydroquinone sulfonate, naphthalene sulfonate polymer, and a carrageenan derived from seaweed (Carraguard) that may prevent viral entry. Several candidate compounds have already progressed to various stages of clinical trials [106]. Currently, some of them have been formulated and are in phase II/III clinical trials. 

Approximately 90% of the population is infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), and at least 10% with HSV-2 (Nahmias and Roizman, 1973 Whitley, 1997). Humans are the only natural reservoir for this infection, and no vectors are involved in transmission of this virus (Stanberry et al., 2004). HSV-1 primary infection occurs mainly in childhood, and HSV-2 infection occurs predominantly in sexually active adolescents and young adults. Aerosols or close contact are the primary mechanisms of viral transmission. Although transmitted by different routes and involving different parts of the body, these two viral subtypes have similar epidemiology and clinical manifestation. 

The antiviral properties of anionic polymers have recently received a lot of attention as agents to protect against infection with sexually transmitted diseases. Due to the cationic nature of most viruses, several anionic polymers are known to bind viruses. As early as the 1960s, researchers had studied the anti-viral properties of a variety of synthetic polymers [118]. However, not all anionic polymers inactivate viruses. Several classes of anionic polymers have been studied for their ability to inactivate the HIV virus. These polymers include poly(styrene-4-sulfonate), 2-naphthalenesulfonate-formaldehyde polymer, and acrylic acid-based polymers. Certain chemically modified natural polymers (i.e., semisynthetic) such as dextrin/dextran sulfates, cellulose sulfate, carrageenan sulfate, and cellulose acetate phthalate have also been investigated for this purpose. Of a number of such anionic polymers that have shown in-vitro and in vivo anti-HIV activity, a couple of polymeric drug candidates have proceeded to early stage human clinical trials for the evaluation of safety/tolerability [119]. While most of these have shown the desired tolerability and safety, further clinical trials are necessary to discern the therapeutic benefit and see if anionic polymers will be applicable as anti-HIV therapies. 

Another factor which should be mentioned, although little if any data exists, is the potential risk to the pregnant wife of a research worker. Acquired viral infections, such as those intentionally produced by immunization (e.g., with Sabin attenuated poliovirus), can be transmitted to susceptible persons by contact with the immunized person, who has a subclinical or threshold level illness, and can result in acute disease in the susceptible individual (36,336). A laboratory worker may have such an infection which could be transmitted in the same manner. Two cases of Q fever have been known to be transmitted by household contact (38) one documented case of laboratory-acquired Marburg fever was shown to have been transmitted by sexual contact (283). Therefore, indirect transmission of laboratory-acquired illness cannot be dismissed as insignificant in any medical evaluation of the consequences of virus research to a susceptible individual. 

Infection with one or more strains of viral hepatitis often causes acute inflammation of the liver, while chronic infection with hepatitis B or C can lead to cirrhosis. Hepatitis B and C are common in intravenous drug users and can also be transmitted through sexual contact, but many cases of hepatitis C are idiopathic.5,6 Hepatitis C is a more common cause of cirrhosis than hepatitis B in the United States while hepatitis B is more common in the rest of the world.7 See Chapter 21 on viral hepatitis for a complete discussion of infectious hepatitis. 

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