Tag: bacteria
Calcium induces chronic lung infections
Researchers have now discovered that calcium induces the switch from acute to chronic infection. One of the most serious pathogens is the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which frequently causes hospital infections and is... read more
Antiseptic baths to prevent infections deemed effective for long-term use
Long-term use antiseptic soap in bathing critically ill patients to prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) did not cause high levels of resistance in bacteria on the patients' skin.... read more
Candida Auris a “Perfect Storm” Superbug
How an invasive fungus got health officials' attention. Try as they might, the infection control specialists at Royal Brompton Hospital could not eradicate the invasive fungus that was attacking already gravely ill patients... read more
Mechanisms of Severe Mortality-associated Bacterial Co-infections Following Influenza Virus Infection
The mechanisms of severe morbidity following influenza-bacteria co-infections mainly include failure of an antibacterial immune response and pathogen synergy. Moreover, failure to resume function and tolerance might be one... read more
A Randomized Trial of the Amikacin Fosfomycin Inhalation System for the Adjunctive Therapy of Gram-Negative VAP
Clinical failures in ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) caused by gram-negative bacteria are common and associated with substantial morbidity, mortality, and resource utilization. In this trial of adjunctive aerosol therapy... read more
Prevalence of multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria among nursing home residents
Multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria (MDR-GNB) are associated with an increasing proportion of infections among nursing home (NH) residents. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to critically... read more
Viral coinfection is shaped by host ecology and virus-virus interactions across diverse microbial taxa and environments
Infection of more than one virus in a host, coinfection, is common across taxa and environments. Viral coinfection can enable genetic exchange, alter the dynamics of infections, and change the course of viral evolution. Yet,... read more
Lung Microbiome: Key to Respiratory Ills?
Recently, JAMA discussed this research and its potential clinical applications with 2 experts on the front lines, Jack Gilbert, PhD, a microbial ecologist at the University of Chicago and director of its new Microbiome Center... read more
Komodo dragon-inspired synthetic peptide DRGN-1 promotes wound-healing of a mixed-biofilm infected wound
Cationic antimicrobial peptides are multifunctional molecules that have a high potential as therapeutic agents. We have identified a histone H1-derived peptide from the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), called VK25. Using... read more
New Guidelines for Accurate Diagnosis of C. difficile Infection
Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), a potentially lethal bacterial infection, causes colon inflammation and is responsible for 3,700 deaths in Europe per year. This highly symptomatic infection causes fever, diarrhea,... read more
World's most threatening superbugs ranked in new list
The World Health Organization has drawn up a list of the drug-resistant bacteria that pose the biggest threat to human health. Top of the list are gram-negative bugs, such as E. coli, which can cause lethal bloodstream infections... read more
Fecal microbiota transplantation a decolonization treatment option
The use of fecal microbiota transplantation is an option to eradicate highly drug-resistant enteric bacteria carriage, according to results from a small pilot study conducted by French investigators. A prospective study of... read more
Study shows brute force antibiotics can overcome resistance
Researchers at the University College London have developed a new method that may overcome antibiotic resistance in bacterial cells. The team used sensitive equipment to measure the mechanical forces that four different antibiotics,... read more
Scientists develop potential new TB vaccine
Researchers are working on a potential new tuberculosis vaccine that would be the first new TB vaccine in a century to combat drug-resistance. The new vaccine uses biobeads to place antigens from the tuberculosis bacterium... read more
Cholera bacteria infect more effectively with a simple twist of shape
The bacteria that cause the life-threatening disease cholera may initiate infection by coordinating a wave of mass shapeshifting that allows them to more effectively penetrate the intestines of their unwitting victims, according... read more
Best Conditions for Legionella Growth
Researchers have identified the optimal conditions for the growth of Legionella which causes a very serious, often deadly, type of pneumonia, Legionnaires' disease. Inspired by a number of large Legionnaires' outbreaks,... read more
Co-infection is Frequent in Patients Hospitalized with Influenza
According to a recent article published online in Intensive Care Medicine, co-infection occurs commonly in patients with influenza-related infections that require intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Influenza infection causes... read more
Disruption of the microbiota across multiple body sites in critically ill children
Microbiota in critically ill children differs sharply from the microbiota of healthy children and adults. Acknowledgement of dysbiosis associated with critical illness could provide opportunities to modulate the microbiota... read more
Antibiotic Resistance just became more complex
Bacteria that are susceptible to antibiotics can survive when enough resistant cells around them are expressing an antibiotic-deactivating factor. This new take on how the microbial context can compromise antibiotic therapy.... read more
Bacteriophages may harbor antibiotic resistance genes
Scientists at the Catalan Institute for Water Research have carried out a comprehensive analysis of several viromes from different habitats to explore whether bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) harbor antibiotic... read more
Mild electric e-scaffold disrupts bacterial biofilms
Researchers at Washington State University (Spokane, WA, USA) used an e-scaffold made out of conductive carbon fabric and a mild electrical current to produce a low, constant concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2, an effective... read more
Non-antibiotic treatments for bacterial diseases in an antibiotic resistance era
The progressive spread of antibiotic resistance genes is forcing us to reconsider our treatment options against some bacterial pathogens. Treating bacterial infections will likely become more challenging in the future. We... read more
