Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance

Antimicrobial resistance happens when bugs, like bacteria, fungi or viruses, change, or evolve, when they’re exposed to drugs, like antibiotics, antifungals, or antivirals. Bugs that develop antimicrobial resistance are... read more

Epstein-Barr risk increased by Immune Molecule Deficiency

Researchers from the National Institutes of Health National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, or NIAID, have found a genetic immune disorder causing increased risk and poor control of Epstein-Barr virus and EBV-associated... read more

Outsourced Hospital Cleaning linked to MRSA

Analysis of English NHS hospitals suggests that employing private as opposed to in-house cleaners is a false economy. While it may reduce costs, it could also raise risk of infection by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus... read more

Think Sepsis and Act Fast

New attention to sepsis including revised definitions, updated guidelines, and new CMS reporting requirements aims to save lives through prevention and prompt and effective management of infections. CDC released a new Vital... read more

Blood culture decision algorithm tied to PICU admissions

A standardized approach to blood cultures in the pediatric ICU successfully reduced collections from central venous catheters, investigators at a single center reported, with no subsequent uptick in adverse events.... 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

Plazomicin Succeeds in Phase 3 cUTI and CRE Trial

Plazomicin an antibiotic being developed to fight multidrug-resistant bacterial infections, has met the primary objective of noninferiority compared with meropenem in a phase 3 registration trial among patients with complicated... read more

Severe Adult ARDS Prediction Models

Outcomes and survival prediction models for severe adult acute respiratory distress syndrome treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Although the use of ECMO for severe refractory ARDS has markedly increased since... read more

Therapy Implications for Immunomodulation After Ischemic Stroke

Despite significant advances towards a better understanding of the pathophysiology of ischemic stroke-induced immunosuppression and SAP in recent years, many unanswered questions remain. The true incidence and outcomes of... read more

The role of POC Diagnostics in Combatting Antibiotic Resistance

During the winter months, patients frequently present with respiratory symptoms like coughing, sneezing and fever that could be caused by one of several bacterial and viral infections including influenza, respiratory syncytial... read more

Wires and Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters

An increasing number of patients are being admitted to critical care units with multiple chronic medical conditions. In some of these patients, intravenous access is a challenge. With a concern for indwelling catheter infections,... read more

Antibiotic therapy advances in the critically ill

Key issues related to antibiotic management in the critically ill, including problems associated with timing, duration, and dosing of antibiotics. The authors highlighted the importance of early diagnosis of infection and... read more

Researchers develop novel wound-healing technology

A WSU research team has successfully used a mild electric current to take on and beat drug-resistant bacterial infections, a technology that may eventually be used to treat chronic wound infections.... read more

Pulmaquin Looks Promising for Treating Lung Infections in Non-CF Bronchiectasis Patients

Aradigm has announced top-line results from two Phase 3 clinical trials of Pulmaquin (inhaled ciprofloxacin) for the treatment of patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (non-CF BE) who have chronic lung infections... read more

Adherence to guidelines reduces catheter-associated UTIs

Adherence to CDC guidelines for the placement, maintenance and removal of catheters and American College of Critical Care Medicine and Infectious Disease Society of America guidelines for evaluating fever in a critically... read more

Scientists create first viable mathematical model of a key anti-Salmonella defense system

Scientists have created the first validated mathematical model of an important cellular defense mechanism against the bacterium Salmonella, according to a new study in PLOS Computational Biology.... read more

How to prevent spread of the skin infection impetigo

Impetigo is a contagious skin infection that's preventable and can be treated with antibiotics, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says. Impetigo can strike anytime but is more common during warm weather months. More... read more

Puerto Rico reports nearly 500 new Zika cases amid epidemic

Puerto Rico's health secretary says nearly 500 new cases of Zika have been reported in the U.S. territory in the past week. 34,562 cases of the mosquito-borne virus have now been registered.... read more

New method for predicting congenital congenital cytomegalovirus infection during the prenatal period

Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection can cause serious complications such as hearing difficulties and mental delay in affected infants. A research team has discovered a new method for predicting congenital CMV infection... read more

Acute Flaccid Myelitis Outbreak in Washington

There has been a recent spike of cases reported in five counties in Washington State, in which eight children have been hospitalized for Acute Flaccid Myelitis.... read more