Research on antibiotics and the bacteria they target. Covers antibiotic resistance, gut pathogens, persistent strep throat, and water-source contamination.
A study of over 2,800 hospital patients and their companion animals found that sharing multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) between pets and owners is possible. However, the rate of MDRO transmission from pets to humans was very low, suggesting that neither cat nor dog ownership is a major risk factor for hospital-acquired infections.
Researchers have found a new solution to combat resistant staphylococcus aureus infections, which can be difficult to treat. Endolysins, a newly developed enzyme, has been shown to kill both resistant and non-resistant staphylococcus aureus without the need for antibiotics.
Researchers found that fomepizole blocked energy production in bacteria and reduced bacterial burden in mice with pneumonia. The combination treatment prevented invasive disease development, suggesting a potential novel treatment for multidrug-resistant pneumococcal disease.
A new study published in Journal of Clinical Microbiology shows that using multiple PCR panels can identify more pathogens, notably diarrhea-causing E. coli and enteric viruses, and do so more rapidly than a conventional workup. This results in lower healthcare costs, reduced hospitalizations, and decreased antibiotic use.
A recent WHO review reveals a significant shortage of new antibiotics in the pipeline, with only 12 approved drugs introduced between 2017 and 2021. The majority of these drugs target non-critical pathogens, leaving critical ones like Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa underrepresented.
Researchers from China conducted a comprehensive review of dual therapy (DT) for H. pylori eradication, highlighting its high efficacy and patient compliance with minimal adverse events. High-dose DT administered over 14 days has emerged as the most effective treatment option.
Researchers at Rice University aim to create genetically encoded antibiotics that selectively kill pathogenic bacteria while sparing beneficial microbes. The goal is to develop targeted, tailored RNA antibiotics to combat antibiotic resistance and improve treatment outcomes.
The study reveals that more than 70% of patients developed urinary tract infections caused by endogenous E. coli strains from their own gut microbiota. The researchers also found that non-lactose-fermenting E. coli strains, less common in other countries, were present in the gut microbiota of some patients.
Scientists have developed a high-throughput genetic screening approach to identify viral proteins that target bacterial cell walls, leading to potential new antibiotics. The method uses a coded library of DNA fragments to investigate unknown genes in environmental samples, sidestepping the need for culturing bacteria.
Researchers found that long-term antibiotic use during adolescence disrupts the healthy gut microbiome, leading to changes in liver metabolism that promotes central fat accumulation. The study suggests that antibiotic treatment may have lasting detrimental effects on liver metabolism and promote adiposity.
A recent study highlights the perils of bacteria's secret antimicrobial resistance, which can be difficult to detect using traditional methods. Researchers are exploring new approaches, such as genetic analysis, to identify and prevent the spread of these resistant strains.
A study of 4.3 million patients found shorter primary care visits were associated with a higher likelihood of antibiotic overprescribing and co-prescribing opioids and benzodiazepines. Younger, publicly insured, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic Black patients had shorter visits, highlighting opportunities for operational improvements in visi...
Researchers discover that graphene oxide's surface oxygen content is crucial for its antibacterial activity, with different interaction modes leading to distinct effects. Understanding this relationship can help design safer materials and combat antimicrobial resistance.
Researchers develop a novel combination therapy using mitoxantrone and vancomycin to treat vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE) infections. The therapy stimulates the host immune system, accelerating wound healing and killing bacteria more effectively.
A Pitt lab discovery sheds light on how a specific mutation in the lsr2 gene helps bacteria resist phage infection. The team developed new tools to visualize phages attacking bacteria, revealing critical insights into the mechanisms of phage resistance.
A study published in AJIC found that EHR-focused interventions reduced unnecessary urine culture orders by 20.9% and 21.6% among patients with indwelling catheters. The interventions included changing the electronic medical record ordering screen to require an indication for the culture.
A Norwegian study found that patients who slept less than six hours or more than nine hours per night were more likely to report infections. Chronic sleep problems also increased the risk of needing antibiotics.
A study finds that the 'classic triad' of meningitis symptoms - fever, altered mental state, and neck stiffness - are rare in both children and adults. The research highlights the need to improve symptom questioning to reduce treatment delays and improve outcomes for patients with bacterial meningitis.
Researchers developed synthetic peptide nanonets that selectively entrap bacteria, rendering them vulnerable to antimicrobial components. The nanonets displayed both trapping and killing functionalities, demonstrating potential as an anti-infective strategy.
Researchers at Aarhus University have found an enzyme, C-P lyase, in E. coli bacteria that can degrade highly stable chemicals, including pesticides like RoundUp. The enzyme uses energy from ATP to open and close a 'nutcracker' mechanism that traps and breaks down troublesome chemicals.
A study by researchers at TUM found that gut bacteria play a crucial role in liver regeneration. The microbiome produces short-chain fatty acids, which are essential for liver cell growth and division. In mice treated with antibiotics, liver regeneration was delayed or not possible, but a
Applying evolutionary principles to medicine inspires new ways of preventing and treating disease, including overcoming chemotherapy resistance and antibiotic resistance. Evolutionary-inspired strategies like 'anti-evolution' drugs and extinction therapy can tackle these global health threats.
A new AI-based classification system, AMP-BERT, was developed to identify candidate antimicrobial peptides. The model uses a deep neural network-based architecture and can extract structural and functional information from peptide sequences.
A new study finds that a California policy restricting antibiotic use in animals raised for food is associated with a reduction in one type of antibiotic-resistant infection in people. The study suggests that regulations limiting antibiotics in livestock can significantly impact human health.
A groundbreaking study found that a new TB treatment strategy can shorten treatment duration while maintaining effectiveness. The TRUNCATE-TB trial showed that an initial 8-week treatment period followed by retreatment for those not cured was as effective as the standard 6-month treatment but halved the average total time on treatment.
Researchers found that doxycycline postexposure prophylaxis did not prevent chlamydia or gonorrhea among cisgender women in a clinical trial. The lack of efficacy was attributed to differences in anatomy and antibiotic resistance.
The study suggests that human exchanges, such as trade and travel, and exchanges between ecosystems drive the spread of aminoglycoside resistance. Aminoglycoside genes were detected in over 160,000 bacteria genomes across all continents, with most found in clinical, human, and farm samples.
Scientists at University of Warwick and Politecnico di Milano developed a tool to regulate bacterial electric signals with light, opening new avenues for understanding antimicrobial resistance. This technology could help explain how some bacteria survive antibiotic exposure.
Researchers have characterised the mutually beneficial relationship between Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii, two pathogens responsible for severe infections. This relationship enables Klebsiella to survive in higher antibiotic concentrations, making it more deadly and resistant to treatment.
Decades of wars and conflict in Iraq have led to a catastrophic rise in antibiotic resistance due to destroyed healthcare infrastructure, medicine shortages, and high levels of heavy metal contamination. Research is urgently needed to understand the link between armed conflict and AMR to prevent millions of needless deaths.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 52 studies found that antimicrobial stewardship programs effectively reduced antibiotic consumption in hospitals and non-hospital settings. Further research is needed to develop strategies for reducing antibiotic use in low- and middle-income countries.
Researchers have developed a new diagnostic test called p-LFAs that can detect and quantify protein concentrations to identify bacterial and viral infections. The test is 1,000 times more sensitive than conventional tests, returning results in just 20 minutes.
A single dose of azithromycin has been shown to decrease sepsis and death by half in women in labor, making it an important tool for keeping mothers safe before, during, and after delivery. The antibiotic was found to be beneficial for vaginal childbirth as well, reducing mortality rates and the risk of developing sepsis.
A single oral dose of azithromycin can reduce postpartum sepsis and death among women who deliver vaginally by one-third, according to a large clinical trial. The study enrolled over 29,000 women in seven low- and middle-income countries and found that only 1.6% developed sepsis or died within six weeks after delivery.
A new study found that a single dose of azithromycin given during labor significantly reduced the risk of maternal death or sepsis in women in low- and middle-income countries. The antibiotic was administered to over 29,000 participants in eight sites across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Bacteria can survive antibiotics without acquiring new genes or mutating existing ones by maintaining high electrochemical energies. These high-energy cells exhibit a wide range of energy levels despite being in a state of arrested growth, enabling them to adapt and spread rapidly.
Researchers developed a 'scanning and direct derivatization' method to target polymyxin, an antibiotic of last resort, for treating diseases resistant to conventional drugs. The method generated hundreds of peptide derivatives with varying effects, accelerating drug development.
Scientists have discovered a new antibiotic, lunaemycin, extracted from moonmilk deposits with properties active against Gram-positive bacteria resistant to antibiotics. The study reveals the vast potential of moonmilk as a source of bioactive molecules.
A study by Dartmouth College researchers found that bacteria can form protective clusters with rival species, making it harder to kill harmful bacteria. This discovery highlights the importance of studying multispecies biofilm structures and may impact the development of bacteriophages and predatory bacteria as antimicrobial alternatives.
A new microbiome therapeutic, SER-109, has been shown to improve the quality of life of patients with Clostridium difficile (C. diff) infections by reducing symptoms and restoring colonization resistance. The treatment was found to be associated with significant improvements in health-related quality of life scores as early as Week 1.
Researchers found that carriers of a specific hidden bacteria have a 14% chance of developing an antibiotic-resistant infection within 30 days of hospitalization. The study highlights the significant risk of infections from multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, particularly in patients undergoing 'dirty' surgery.
Researchers successfully treated a young man with recurrent non-gonococcal urethritis caused by Mycoplasma genitalium using chloramphenicol. The patient showed improvement after 14 days of treatment, despite initial failure with first and second-line antibiotics.
Research suggests that a new combination of drugs is needed to find an effective treatment for TB meningitis due to multidrug-resistant strains. The FDA-approved BPaL regimen is not effective in treating TB meningitis because bedaquiline and linezolid cannot penetrate the blood-brain barrier.
A new antibacterial spray and coating can kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria, reducing the risk of infection in wounds and medical devices. The innovative material has been shown to be effective against MRSA and other resistant bacteria, offering a promising solution to combat antibiotic resistance.
Scientists at Umea University found a new transporter controlling bacterial cell wall integrity and resistance to antibiotics. The discovery sheds light on muropeptide recycling and its role in bacteria's ability to thrive.
A potent plant toxin called albicidin has emerged as a strong new antibiotic candidate, effective in small concentrations and highly potent against pathogenic bacteria. Its unique mechanism targets the bacterial enzyme DNA gyrase, which is essential for cell function.
Researchers modified an algorithm to detect urinary tract infections (UTIs) in primary care settings, removing microscopy features that weren't available. The new algorithm performed well and suggests withholding antibiotics from low-risk patients to reduce antibiotic overuse.
Researchers at Aston University have created the world's first computer reconstruction of a virus, including its complete native genome. This breakthrough could lead to the development of targeted treatments to kill bacteria that are dangerous to humans, reducing the threat of antibiotic resistance.
A study led by Robert Dickson found that the gut microbiome plays a crucial role in regulating body temperature, both in health and during sepsis. The researchers discovered that certain bacteria from the Firmicutes phylum were strongly associated with increased fever response.
Researchers at the University of Cologne discovered that bacterial membrane potential changes during biofilm formation, correlating with increased antibiotic tolerance. The study found characteristic patterns of polarization that evolve in space and time, which are linked to a change in oxygen availability.
Laboratory experiments show rapid antibiotic switches can prevent resistance, with collateral-sensitive drug pairs suitable for therapy. However, environmental conditions in patients differ from labs, and natural degradation affects treatment.
A new study published in Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health found that proper hand hygiene in clinical work can reduce the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The researchers developed a mathematical model to predict how good or poor hygiene affects resistance evolution, and tested it against data from 691 long-term care facil...
A Phase 2 clinical trial found that a probiotic reduced S. aureus colonization by 96.8% in the stool and 65.4% in the nose. The probiotic Bacillus subtilis was administered orally, surviving passage through the stomach, and did not harm gut microbiota.
Researchers at University of Galway outline a potential new treatment option for MRSA infections using purine nucleosides. The study shows that these sugar versions of DNA building blocks can interfere with bacterial signaling systems, making bacteria more susceptible to penicillin-type antibiotics.
Researchers developed an injectable hydrogel that inhibits common bacteria and promotes tissue regrowth, treating infections around prosthetics. The gel has a porous structure, excellent injectability, and rapid self-healing properties.
Research from Karolinska Institutet found high levels of antibiotic residues in waterways, including wastewater and drinking water, in regions such as China and India. The study suggests these residues contribute to antibiotic resistance, a global threat to human health.
A study of 187 cancer patients found that delaying antibiotic treatment past 60 minutes didn't affect their 6-month survival rate. However, factors such as symptom severity and time to hospital admission were associated with increased risk of death.
Researchers discovered that enterococci, a type of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, can make C. difficile more potent and dangerous by producing amino acids. This understanding could help doctors identify patients at risk and develop new treatments for the deadly infection.
A UMass Amherst microbiologist is working to develop new treatments for tuberculosis by targeting the bacteria's surface structure. The goal is to create a drug that can disrupt the cell envelope, making the bacteria vulnerable to attack.
Researchers at Hokkaido University have developed a new class of antibacterial compounds targeting MraY, effective against MRSA and VRE. The findings provide a promising lead for the development of more effective antibiotics against multidrug-resistant bacteria.