According to a study published in the medical journal the
Lancet, a patch impregnated with the toxins released by E. coli could be an
effective method to prevent travelers' diarrhea.
The patch, which is produced by the biotechnology company
Iomai, is currently in the Phase-2 evaluation and the results of a field study revealed
that the patch significantly cut the risk of moderate to severe travelers'
diarrhea by 75 percent compared with a placebo patch. The few vaccinated
travelers who were sickened had illnesses that were significantly shorter and
milder.
During the field study the researches have evaluated 170
healthy adults who traveled to Maxico and Guatemala, geographical regions
known for as a risk zones for travelers' diarrhea.
The illness is caused by bacterial enteropathogens, E. coli
being responsible for approximately 80 percent of the cases, followed by
another bacteria called Shigella.
The onset of traveler’s diarrhea usually occurs within the
first week of travel but may occur at any time while traveling, and even after
returning home. Most cases begin abruptly. The illness usually results in
increased frequency, volume, and weight of stool. Altered stool consistency
also is common.
Typically, a traveler experiences four to five loose or watery
bowel movements each day. Other commonly associated symptoms are nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping, bloating, low fever, urgency, and
malaise, and usually the appetite is low or non-existent .
This year, approximately 55 million international travelers
will visit countries where bacteria that cause travelers' diarrhea are endemic,
particularly Africa, Asia and Latin America,
and about 20 million of those travelers will develop travelers' diarrhea.
Form the 170 people involved in the Iomai’s study 59 have received
the real patch, while 111 have received a Placebo patch.
The results showed 22% of those who got the placebo patch
developed diarrhea compared with 15% of those who got the vaccine patch.
Iomai said that is targeting an end-of-Phase 2 meeting with
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2008 prior to conducting the pivotal
Phase 3 study in 2009.
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