The Infectious Diseases Society of America and American Thoracic Society recommend a 7-day or fewer antibiotic course for most hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) infections. Hospitals should create antibiograms to determine causative strains and ensure effective treatment.
Researchers at Osaka University identified a human immune receptor that detects pathogenic microorganism invasion, which recognizes cleaved antibodies and fights immune evasion mechanisms. This discovery contributes to the development of new treatments and prevention strategies against infectious diseases.
The updated guidelines highlight the importance of early diagnosis and treatment for invasive aspergillosis, a potentially deadly fungal infection. New therapies, including isavuconazole and posaconazole, have improved care, but aggressive diagnosis is still critical.
Researchers at UTHealth will investigate the zoonotic potential of CWD and environmental prion contamination. The team aims to develop efficient detection methods for prion diseases, which are fatal brain disorders with long incubation periods.
Researchers at Georgia State University found that certain viruses like influenza and coronaviruses can survive on children's toys for up to 24 hours, placing children at risk. The study suggests implementing strategies for decontamination, such as frequent cleaning with household bleach, to prevent the spread of disease.
Researchers have created summative world maps of mammal-to-human diseases, revealing understudied patterns and insights into zoonotic disease emergence. The maps show that hotspots of zoonotic diseases don't match hotspots of biodiversity closely, with more zoonotic hosts in the tropics but more zoonotic diseases in temperate regions.
A rapid and specific diagnostic assay can detect pathogens in blood within an hour, distinguishing between infectious and non-infectious causes of inflammation. The assay uses FcMBL, a genetically engineered pathogen-binding protein, to identify infection-causing pathogens with high sensitivity and broad specificity.
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences has launched a three-year, $9 million training program to educate approximately 35,000 first responders and hazardous waste workers on infectious disease safety. The program aims to minimize the spread of disease to others while protecting these workers from exposure.
Taxonomer analysis software rapidly identifies pathogens and profiles gene expression, revolutionizing infectious disease diagnosis. This technology can help reduce mortality rates of children in resource-limited settings by quickly detecting treatable infections.
A global early warning system for infectious diseases is proposed to use computer models to forecast disease risk and inform targeted responses. This system could shift the paradigm from reactive to pre-emptive management of risk, minimizing damages and improving global health security.
The Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics will lead a university-wide team studying the ethical, legal and social implications of applying genomics to infectious diseases. The grant establishes a Specialized CEER with over $4 million in funding to explore genomic ELSI issues in infectious disease.
A University of Oklahoma team has developed a new antibiotic formulation that combines traditional antibiotics with polymer BPEI to revive efficacy in obsolete drugs. This approach aims to improve patient outcomes and reduce economic burdens by treating MRSA infections.
Researchers genetically engineered a Zika virus infectious cDNA clone, enabling rapid vaccine development and exploration of the virus's evolution and transmission. The study unlocks insights into why the Zika virus causes severe diseases and epidemics.
Experts argue that good governance, long-term technology investment, and strong product management skills are essential to combat infectious outbreaks. The proposed global strategy aims to pool funds and coordinate efforts to develop effective countermeasures for these diseases.
The NIH has awarded six grants to study the molecular mechanisms behind combination vaccine adjuvants, which improve vaccine effectiveness and could lead to new treatments for diseases like HIV and tuberculosis. Researchers will explore how individual adjuvants work in combination and how synergies between them can be optimized.
Chronic diseases like hypertension and heart disease are rising in Africa due to infectious disease spread, healthcare worker shortage, and lack of investment. A multidisciplinary approach is needed to address the growing epidemic and promote health equity.
A team of UCI scientists led by Philip Felgner has received $8 million to develop a new vaccine for Q fever, a highly infectious agent considered a potential bioterrorism weapon. The vaccine aims to mitigate severe side effects of the current vaccine and is expected to be safer and more effective.
Georgetown infectious disease expert Daniel Lucey discusses the importance of global health leadership in responding to the Zika virus pandemic. He shares his experience working with clinicians and epidemiologists in Brazil and West Africa, highlighting the need for collaborative approaches to address emerging infectious diseases.
Researchers at the University of Calgary have discovered a novel mechanism to stop autoimmune diseases without compromising immunity. A new class of drugs harnesses this mechanism to treat various autoimmune diseases, offering a highly specific treatment approach.
The Atlas io system uses DNA probes with bespoke electrochemical tags to detect infectious diseases in less than 30 minutes. This technology has significant benefits over existing diagnostic tests, allowing for faster results and potentially reducing the spread of sexually transmitted infections.
Researchers have deciphered the genome of the blacklegged tick, revealing secrets to its success as a disease vector. The study identifies genes and protein families that shed light on why ticks excel at spreading pathogens, providing potential targets for new interventions.
A study found that lower respiratory tract infections, such as pneumonia, account for 26 percent of all ER visits for infectious diseases and 15 percent of deaths during hospitalizations. Influenza vaccination is underutilized among older adults, with about one-third not receiving the vaccine.
Dr. Sing Sing Way, a pediatrician specializing in infectious diseases, has made significant contributions to understanding pregnancy complications and infection susceptibility in newborns. His research has the potential to develop vaccines that protect against pregnancy complications.
Researchers at Colorado State University found that plague in prairie dogs can provide key insights into the study of rare infectious diseases like Ebola. The disease's spread is influenced by ecological factors, including temperature and population dynamics.
Researchers review studies on PrEP and aspirin, finding similar low rates of serious side effects. PrEP works well to prevent HIV when taken daily, supporting efforts to make it available over-the-counter.
A study develops new methods to detect the onset of critical transitions in infectious disease epidemics, such as malaria. The method identifies the critical slowing-down period in human cases, suggesting that eradicating the disease could be anticipated even without a full understanding of the underlying mechanisms.
The study found that over 3.1 million elderly adults visited emergency departments in the US due to infectious diseases, accounting for 13.5% of all visits. The most common diagnoses were lower respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, and septicemia.
The increased international trade and travel have led to the spread of infectious diseases, including zoonoses like SARS and MERS. The economic cost of these outbreaks can be significant, with the 2001 UK hoof and mouth disease outbreak costing over $10 billion.
Candidiasis is a life-threatening fungal infection requiring early treatment. New guidelines update recommendations for its diagnosis and treatment, highlighting the importance of consulting an infectious diseases (ID) specialist to ensure a good outcome.
The study reveals how malaria parasites infect liver cells, a critical step in their lifecycle. The discovery provides new insights into the molecular details of malaria infection and has significant implications for developing new drugs and vaccines.
Kansas State University researchers are exploring the role of long-distance dispersal in spreading vector-borne infectious diseases. They will evaluate control methods such as limiting animal movements and reducing vector populations to develop rules of thumb for controlling outbreaks.
The University of Pittsburgh Center for Vaccine Research has received a $7.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to accelerate development of drugs and vaccines against alphaviruses, deadly viruses transmitted by mosquitoes. The team aims to develop therapies and protection against these diseases.
Experts identify self-disseminating vaccines as a potential solution to control emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) at their animal source. The vaccines use virus-based vectors to deliver vaccinations across populations, making it easier to inoculate animals and prevent disease transmission.
Saint Louis University's Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Unit will study the safety and effectiveness of vaccines using omics technologies, including transcriptomics, proteomics, lipidomics, and metabolomics. The research aims to understand the immune system's response to infectious diseases.
A 24-year study found that chronic diseases disproportionately affect Bangladesh's poor, with mortality rates increasing dramatically among the lowest-income households. The shift underscores how chronic diseases have become 'diseases of poverty', dragging more people into poverty.
Health economists from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine argue that universal access to medicines is critical in controlling neglected diseases, major infections, and chronic diseases. The PURE study reveals that secondary prevention is unavailable and unaffordable in many communities worldwide, highlighting the need for polici...
Invasive Salmonella infections are a major cause of child illness and deaths in sub-Saharan Africa, with 3.4 million illnesses and 681,000 deaths worldwide in 2010, according to new research.
The University of Illinois at Chicago has been chosen as one of six research centers in the US to combat emerging infectious diseases. Researchers will study how healthcare workers can care for patients without putting themselves at risk, addressing concerns about Ebola and other diseases.
A recent study by Virginia Tech researchers found that nearly half of endangered social carnivores were threatened by disease, compared to 3% of solitary carnivores. The team will investigate the interaction between sociality and infectious disease in highly social species, such as the banded mongoose.
Researchers at NIAID can detect infectious prion protein in mouse brains within a week of inoculation, surpassing prior detection times of six weeks. The study found that the protein was generated outside blood vessels in a specific brain region where drug treatment could be targeted.
Researchers demonstrate how community ecology can provide new analytical tools for understanding diseases and their impacts on multiple hosts and vectors. The approach highlights the need for a broad contextual understanding of diseases and identifies strategies such as managing symbiotic microbial communities and preserving biodiversity.
A study analyzing 10 childhood-onset autoimmune diseases found 22 genome-wide signals shared by two or more diseases, suggesting potential new targets for therapy. The research identified genes with biological relevance to specific diseases, offering opportunities for targeted treatment and repurposing existing drugs.
Researchers developed an EBV vaccine using nanoparticles that induce potent neutralizing antibodies in mice and nonhuman primates. This approach is promising for developing an effective EBV vaccine for humans.
A newly identified and highly infectious tadpole disease has been discovered in diverse frog populations across the globe. The study reveals a previously unidentified microbial group that infects tadpole livers, contributing to the decline of amphibian populations.
Scientists at the University of Southampton will analyze research investments into infectious disease research, particularly pneumonia and maternal and neonatal infections. The study aims to provide policymakers with a comprehensive picture of where there's been a lack of funding relative to the impact of the disease.
Researchers found that just ten diseases account for around 50% of all published knowledge on diseases at the wildlife-livestock interface. The study emphasizes the need for sustained investments in research to evaluate risks and improve responses to disease epidemics in animals and humans.
Researchers have developed a highly sensitive test to detect infectious diseases like hepatitis C and superbugs. The new method can pick up tiny traces of metabolites, proteins or DNA fragments, making it 10,000 times more sensitive than other detection systems.
A team of researchers from the University of Southampton has been awarded a British Council Newton Fund grant to support groundbreaking research on infectious diseases in Malaysia. The project aims to develop vaccines and improve public health capacity, with potential benefits for the country's Ministry of Health.
Researchers at UGA developed a way to predict which rodent species are most likely to be sources of new disease outbreaks in humans. By analyzing over 2,000 rodent species and their associated pathogens, they identified potential future hot spots for infectious diseases.
A new study uses machine learning to pinpoint rodent species effective disease reservoirs and identify geographic hotspots vulnerable to emerging diseases. The research provides a basis for targeted surveillance efforts, highlighting the importance of collaboration with experts on the ground.
Researchers at UTHealth discovered that grass plants can bind, uptake and transport infectious prions, which can act as carriers of the disease. The study suggests that plants may play an important role in environmental prion contamination and horizontal transmission of diseases like CWD.
A new study reveals that measles vaccination prevents not only measles but also other infectious diseases by damaging the immune system's memory. This finding explains why mass measles vaccinations have driven down mortality rates from other diseases in high-income countries.
Sepsis, a life-threatening condition causing widespread inflammation and organ failure, is poorly understood despite being one of the best-known medical disorders. The Lancet Infectious Diseases Commission recommends prioritizing biomarkers, education, and public awareness to improve diagnosis and treatment.
Researchers at Michigan Medicine are creating mini-guts in a dish using human stem cells to study the complex interaction between microbes, cells, and disease-causing bacteria. The 'guts in a dish' model aims to aid research on a wide range of diseases, including gastrointestinal disorders and emerging infections.
Researchers have identified a new class of dopamine receptor antagonists that selectively target mosquito cells, offering a safer alternative to current insecticides. These chemicals are structurally distinct and target different biochemical paths in mosquitoes, reducing the risk of human exposure.
The International Journal of Infectious Diseases publishes a special issue to mark World TB Day, highlighting recent successes and future challenges in eliminating TB. The issue presents new vaccine candidates, diagnostic techniques, and treatment options for drug-resistant strains.
A systematic review of 59 studies found that interventions in prisons led to improved health outcomes for prisoners and the general population. The research highlights the importance of providing treatment and access to primary care after release, resulting in reduced substance abuse, mental health problems, and infectious diseases.
The Johns Hopkins Medicine has developed four web-based training modules on Ebola preparedness for emergency department personnel. These modules provide tools and resources to identify, triage, and manage patients at risk of Ebola, as well as planning processes and communication techniques.
A recent NIH study found that Ebola virus can remain infectious in a body for at least seven days after death, with viral RNA detectable for up to 10 weeks. The research highlights the importance of safe handling practices and suggests oral swabbing as a reliable alternative for obtaining diagnostic samples.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has awarded contracts to three organizations to conduct early-stage human clinical trials for investigational infectious disease treatments. The trials will test the safety of novel drugs against a range of emerging and re-emerging pathogens, including viruses and bacteria.