A large-scale study found that patients who receive antibiotics before certain types of low-risk operations have the same risk for developing antibiotic-resistant infections as those who don't. The study analyzed data from over 22,000 patients and found no association between prophylactic antibiotic use and postoperative antibiotic res...
A study found that patients with recorded penicillin allergy were more likely to develop surgical site infections, but only if they received alternative antibiotics. The risk was 50% higher in these patients, highlighting the need for reevaluation of penicillin allergy testing guidelines.
The sale of unapproved antibiotics in India is increasing at the fastest rate, driven by fixed-dose formulations and contributing to rising antimicrobial resistance. Researchers urge the Indian government to take effective action to stop the sales and implement regulations.
A study found that antibiotics prescribed by dentists may contribute to Clostridium difficile infections, a serious and potentially deadly infection. The research highlights the importance of using antibiotics only when needed and notes that many unnecessary prescriptions are likely.
Sloan Siegrist, a UMass Amherst microbiologist, has received a five-year, $2.3 million NIH New Innovator Award to study Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) growth rates and develop new antibiotic therapies.
Researchers discovered a simple chemical mimic of host defense peptides can cure bacterial infections, either alone or in combination with traditional antibiotics. The study suggests new alternatives for treating life-threatening bacterial threats.
A new test developed at Caltech can identify antibiotic-resistant bacteria in as little as 30 minutes, allowing doctors to choose the most effective antibiotics. The test has been proven accurate with a 95% match rate, and researchers hope to expand its use to other types of infections.
New research reveals light-activated nanoparticles can re-potentiate existing antibiotics for certain clinical isolate infections. The nanoparticles release superoxide, making bacteria more susceptible to the original antibiotic and reducing effective resistance by a factor of 1,000.
Scientists have developed a method to detect antibiotic susceptibility for urinary tract infections in under 30 minutes. This breakthrough could enable patients to receive effective treatments during a single clinical visit.
Researchers from North Carolina State University have engineered designer biosensors that can detect antibiotic molecules of interest produced by microbes such as E. coli. The biosensors use a naturally occurring molecular switch to detect the presence of macrolide antibiotics, enabling the screening of millions of different strains qu...
Researchers at the University of Groningen have identified a novel mechanism that targets hibernating ribosomes, making bacteria resistant to antibiotics. The mechanism involves a single protein, HPF±ong, which can dimerize and inhibit protein synthesis.
Researchers analyze and describe a comprehensive strategy for preserving antibiotic effectiveness by reducing antibiotic use in farm animals, aiming to reduce consumption by up to 80 percent globally by 2030. The study suggests that limiting meat intake or imposing user fees on veterinary antibiotics could achieve significant reductions.
Researchers found that formula-fed or cesarean-delivered infants had altered bacterial colonization trajectories compared to vaginally-born and breastfed babies. This could have implications for their future health, particularly in the development of food allergies.
Research led by Washington University School of Medicine finds that prescribing antibiotics in addition to lancing and draining staph-infected areas reduces the risk of recurrent infections. Clindamycin was found to be more effective at eliminating staph colonization than other antibiotics.
Researchers at NIST create a rapid test that senses mechanical fluctuations of bacterial cells and detects response to antibiotics, potentially hastening effective medical treatment and limiting drug-resistant bacteria. The new technique can quickly determine whether an antibiotic combats a given infection.
A study published in Hospital Pediatrics found that many medical residents deviate from guidelines when prescribing antibiotics, highlighting the need for education and training. The research suggests that residents can be effective 'first line of defense' against antibiotic resistance if they follow best practices.
Research finds that antibiotic use on people or pets, and biocidal cleaning products like bleach, contribute to MRSA multidrug resistance in the home environment. The presence of domestic pets and unwanted pests is also associated with multidrug-resistant strains.
A study published in JAMA found that a postoperative 48-hour course of antibiotics significantly decreased the rate of surgical site infections within 30 days after delivery among obese women. The researchers used oral cephalexin and metronidazole, and found a 10.9% overall SSI rate compared to 15.4% in the placebo group.
A team of researchers led by Konstantin Usachev is developing new antibiotics to combat the deadly Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The project aims to identify specific targets for these drugs using 3D visualization and computational analysis.
Researchers found that 40% of nursing home patients had multiple multidrug-resistant organisms living on their bodies, increasing the risk of urinary tract infections. The study suggests a complex network of interactions among bacteria and antibiotics, highlighting the need for more targeted treatment approaches.
A study of 1.5 million children found that those with asthma were 1.6 times more likely to be prescribed antibiotics than those without asthma. This could be due to mistaken asthma symptoms for a bacterial infection or preventative use, despite guidelines against it.
A multi-center study found significant racial and ethnic differences in antibiotic prescribing for viral acute respiratory tract infections in pediatric Emergency Departments. Non-Latino white children were nearly twice as likely to receive antibiotics, while Latino and black children received lower rates of unnecessary prescriptions.
A new superbug strain, ST11 CR-HvKP, has been discovered in a Hong Kong hospital outbreak, characterized by hyper-resistance and hypervirulence. The strain can cause untreatable and fatal infections in relatively healthy individuals, highlighting the need for improved infection prevention and control policies.
Researchers propose a novel antibacterial combination to combat drug-resistant tuberculosis, with potent sterilizing activity against highly resistant strains. The study suggests that pairing ceftazidime and avibactam could be an effective treatment option for patients with extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis.
Research in mice shows that gut bacteria play a crucial role in modulating the effects of a powerful protective gene against type 1 diabetes. The findings highlight the importance of early environmental exposures to a variety of germs in proper immune system development.
A study published in JAMA found that oral steroid prednisolone did not reduce symptom duration or severity in nonasthmatic adults with acute lower respiratory tract infections. The study randomly assigned 401 adults to receive either prednisolone or a placebo for five days, but no significant treatment effects were observed.
Researchers have identified a rare genetic mutation in Ureaplasma parvum that renders it resistant to levofloxacin, a commonly used antibiotic for treating urinary tract infections. This mutation limits treatment options for women with UTIs caused by this pathogen.
Researchers at the University at Buffalo have discovered a novel combination of aztreonam, amikacin, and polymyxin B that is capable of eradicating the deadly E. coli bacterium carrying mcr-1 and ndm-5 genes. The triple combination was found to eliminate the bacteria within 24 hours and prevent regrowth.
New research finds that antibiotic use reduces the diversity of microbes in the gut, making it harder for the immune system to fight off infections. This disruption can compromise the intestinal barrier and leave the gut vulnerable to severe infection.
The study reveals that bacterial defense mechanisms are highly organized in response to nutrient stress, but become disorganized when faced with antibiotics. The researchers used experimental and computational methods to understand the workings of the bacterial defense system.
Researchers have improved the properties of an AMP from a spider, making it more effective against bacteria and cancer cells. The modified peptide was found to be 10 times better at killing most bacteria than the previous cyclic form, while also selectively targeting certain types of cancer cells.
Researchers at Uppsala University have developed a new method for rapidly determining bacterial resistance patterns in urinary tract infections, reducing the time from days to minutes.
A study found that bacteria's past adaptation to antibiotics influences their evolutionary dynamics of multi-drug resistance. The researchers used Pseudomonas aeruginosa and sequenced the bacteria's genomes to understand the genetic basis for resistance.
Researchers have discovered a new antibiotic, closthioamide, effective against 146 of 149 gonorrhea samples tested in the lab. The antibiotic showed promise against resistant strains and could be a crucial step in fighting drug-resistant infections.
A new study published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene found that rapid diagnostic tests for malaria are reducing the need for antimalarial medications but may also lead to an increase in antibiotic prescriptions. The research analyzed over 500,000 patient visits across malaria-endemic regions and revealed that ...
Researchers at Iowa State University have identified two key mechanisms by which bacteria can resist antibiotics: efflux pumps that extrude drugs from cells, and reinforced cell walls that make it difficult for antibiotics to penetrate. These discoveries could lead to the development of new treatments that target these structures.
The article highlights the urgent need for specialist health workers to promote appropriate antibiotic use, improve diagnosis and treatment of infections, and prevent drug-resistant bacteria. The proposed multidisciplinary teams should be made up of infectious diseases specialists, clinical microbiologists, nurses, and pharmacists.
A University of Bristol team has developed a new portable device to help doctors select the right antibiotic for a patient's infection. The rapid diagnostic test can determine which antibiotic is most effective within 20 minutes, reducing unnecessary use and potential complications.
Researchers at Colorado State University have developed a new biomaterial that effectively prevents the formation of biofilms by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a virulent superbug. This breakthrough could lead to the creation of antibacterial surfaces for wound dressings and other medical applications.
Researchers developed a tool using genetic markers to distinguish between viral and bacterial infections, aiming to reduce antibiotic misuse. The test accurately classified patients with bacterial infections 80-90% of the time, helping physicians avoid unnecessary antibiotics.
The implementation of antibiotic stewardship guidelines in a NICU significantly reduced late-onset sepsis evaluations by 2.65 per year and per provider, with physicians following guidelines for 98.75% of treatments performed.
Experts argue that stopping antibiotics sooner is a safe and effective way to reduce antibiotic overuse, contradicting the long-held 'complete the course' message.
Researchers warn of harm to beneficial microbes and ecosystems from antibiotic runoff into natural systems, calling for improved wastewater treatment and responsible use. The review article explores commonly used antibiotics' impact on microbes essential to a healthy environment.
A new study from India reveals high levels of antibiotic-resistant pathogens in chickens raised for both meat and eggs on farms in Punjab state. The study found that nearly 60% of E. coli isolates contained enzymes conferring drug resistance to key medications, raising concerns about the consequences to human health.
A study analyzing 139,938 births in Quebec found links between clindamycin, doxycycline, and quinolones with organ-specific malformations. Physicians should consider alternative antibiotics for pregnant patients
Researchers found MRSA's resistance gene in S. aureus isolates dating back to the mid-1940s, 14 years before methicillin's introduction. The study highlights the importance of surveillance and genome sequencing to combat antibiotic resistance.
Monash University researchers have identified a key part of the process by which a common clinical antibiotic is formed, paving the way for novel compounds to tackle bacterial resistance. By understanding this process, scientists can manipulate it to create modified compounds that could help combat superbugs.
A recent study published in the British Journal of Surgery found that topical antibiotics are moderately effective but not justified due to limited information on adverse effects. The research highlights the need to fight antibiotic resistance and encourages a more cautious approach to their use.
A study in mice found that antibiotics taken late in pregnancy and during nursing can alter the gut microbiome and increase the risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in offspring. The antibiotic treatment also caused lasting changes in the mothers' gut microbiomes, which were passed on to their offspring.
Researchers found a high prevalence of resistant bacteria strains in Kenyan individuals, with agriculture and prophylactic use of antibiotics contributing to the issue. The study suggests the need for effective public health policies and improved infection control measures.
A new clinical decision rule uses point scores and C-reactive protein to diagnose acute rhinosinusitis with good accuracy. The rule successfully identifies patients at low risk for bacterial infection, leading to more conservative use of antibiotics.
Researchers developed silver-silica nanoparticles with an ampicillin coating that target antibiotic-resistant bacteria while being inert to human cells. The nanoantibiotic showed efficacy against both resistant and non-resistant strains of E. coli, offering a promising strategy for combating drug-resistant infections.
Gonorrhea is a growing global health crisis with over 60% of countries reporting resistance to last-resort treatments. Gardp and Entasis partner on zoliflodacin, a novel first-in-class oral antibiotic with potent activity against drug-resistant strains.
A UK-based consortium will develop a platform for producing new antibiotics using bacteriocins, potent toxins produced by bacteria. The aim is to generate derivatives with drug-like properties while preserving their original potent bacteria-killing abilities.
A Penn study found a 189% increase in multiple recurring Clostridium difficile infections from 2001 to 2012, highlighting the growing need for effective treatments. Fecal microbiota transplantation shows promise but requires further evaluation for long-term safety.
A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that antibiotics are effective in treating small skin abscesses when combined with drainage. The study showed higher cure rates for adults and children using clindamycin or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, compared to drainage alone.
Researchers at the University of Lincoln have produced highly potent and simplified forms of teixobactin, which defeats multi-drug resistant infections like MRSA. The breakthrough comes after pinpointing exactly which amino acid makes teixobactin successful at killing off harmful bacteria.
A new study by Michigan Medicine finds that 60% of patients with acute conjunctivitis are prescribed antibiotic eye drops despite antibiotics rarely being necessary. The study also highlights the socioeconomic factors driving this trend and the potential negative consequences of overprescription.
A new method, MDK99, measures bacterial tolerance to antibiotics, allowing for more effective treatment and reduced risk of resistance. This metric helps classify bacteria as tolerant, resistant, or persistent, guiding treatment decisions.
Researchers have developed a rapid screening method to identify beneficial pairs of existing FDA-approved drugs to combat multi-drug resistant bacterial infections. The approach identified 14 drugs that could be paired synergistically, with the most promising pairing combining azidothymidine and floxuridine.