A new study found that silver-impregnated PVC foil significantly reduces levels of contamination on high-touch surfaces in hospitals. Clinically important bacteria, including Enterococci, were less likely to be present on foil-covered surfaces.
Researchers found that electric toilet water-jet nozzles can harbor multidrug-resistant bacteria, which can be transmitted to patients with weakened immune systems. The study highlights the need for modified hand hygiene practices and toilet disinfection protocols in hospitals to prevent superbug transmission.
A study found that COVID-19 outbreaks in French nursing homes were primarily caused by infected staff, rather than environmental factors or resident characteristics. The results suggest that even with strict hygiene measures in place, staff infections can still lead to outbreaks among residents.
A global study found that urban greenspaces, including parks and gardens, harbor important microbial communities critical for sustaining productive ecosystem services. These microbes also promote effective immunoregulation functions and reduce allergies in humans. However, green spaces can also host fungal parasites and plant pathogens.
New research suggests that closely monitoring low-risk prostate cancer can be as effective as active treatment in reducing mortality rates and preserving sexual function. This approach allows men to live with the disease for ten years or more without treatment, while still being unlikely to die from it.
A new study found that fully vaccinated care home residents are still at risk of COVID-19, with the vaccine being less effective in older adults. The study showed that unvaccinated residents were three times more likely to develop the infection than those who had received two doses of the vaccine.
The flu vaccine has been found to protect against severe effects of COVID-19, including ICU admissions, sepsis, and strokes. Patients vaccinated against flu were less likely to visit emergency departments and be admitted to ICUs.
The review highlights the use of pressure as a versatile method to explore new materials and gain insight into high-temperature superconductor mechanisms. Iron-based superconductors exhibit a relatively high transition temperature, with research efforts focusing on raising this temperature through pressure-induced effects.
A vaccine to protect against hepatitis C could be developed and rolled out within five years, according to Professor Sir Michael Houghton. The development of a vaccine is crucial for reducing new infections and mortality rates by 90% and 65%, respectively, by 2030.
A recent study by NTU Singapore found that the type of COVID-19 misinformation corrected by mainstream news media evolved from fabricated claims to reconfigured information over the pandemic. The study highlights the importance of media in debunking myths as part of the nation's efforts to manage the outbreak.