Research on antibiotics and the bacteria they target. Covers antibiotic resistance, gut pathogens, persistent strep throat, and water-source contamination.
Researchers found that early exposure to antibiotics can alter the gut microbiome, leading to increased fat mass and percent body fat in mice. The study suggests a potential link between antibiotic use in childhood and later development of obesity. Further research is needed to confirm this theory.
A study of over 10,000 children found a correlation between early antibiotic exposure and increased body mass percentile in childhood. Children exposed to antibiotics from birth to 5 months old were more likely to be overweight by 38 months of age.
A groundbreaking clinical trial is underway to test the safety and efficacy of fecal transplantation as a treatment for relapsing C. difficile infection. The study aims to demonstrate that fecal transplant is a viable, safe, and curative option for patients suffering from recurring C. difficle.
Researchers have identified a promising new treatment for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, which reduces the frequency of exacerbations and increases time to first exacerbation. The treatment, azithromycin, has shown benefits persisting for six months after completion, offering a new option for patients with this debilitating disease.
Cefazolin outperforms vancomycin in preventing hospitalizations and deaths from specific bloodstream infections, a study reveals. The antibiotic was found to be 48% more effective at preventing sepsis.
Scientists develop substances targeting bacteria virulence factors to prevent UTI development and emergence of resistant microbes. A low dose reduced bacteria in the bladder by almost 10,000 times.
Researchers demonstrate that bacteria can form antibiotic-resistant clumps in a short time, even in a flowing liquid such as the blood, leading to severe infections. These clumps persist even when two different types of antibiotics are added, suggesting that sticking together protects the floating bacteria from the drugs' effects.
Resistant tuberculosis is a serious threat to world health, with 'multiresistant' cases now making up 1 in 3 new TB cases. A new approach using vital staining with fluorescein diacetate detects resistant bacilli early, allowing for timely treatment and preventing further spread.
Physicians can improve antibiotic prescribing habits by paying attention to contextual clues, reducing flu season prescribing rates. The authors recommend equal evaluation of HbA1c levels for diabetes diagnosis in all racial groups, as black patients have higher levels at the same blood glucose levels.
Researchers at WashU Medicine found that administering antibiotics before cesarean section surgery cuts infection rates in half. The study, published in Obstetrics & Gynecology, followed over 8,000 women and found significant reductions in surgical site infections after policy change.
A training tool called DECISION+2 helps physicians involve patients in decision-making, reducing the need for antibiotics for acute respiratory infections. The study found that patients who used DECISION+2 were significantly less likely to report using antibiotics immediately after consultation.
A multidisciplinary team from VCU suggests a three-times-a-week dose of azithromycin may benefit patients with COPD by eliminating one-third of severe exacerbations each year. However, the approach carries potential risks such as hearing loss and antibiotic resistance.
Researchers have developed a new fluorescent labeling strategy that enables the examination of bacterial biofilm structure, leading to potential drug targets. The study has provided new insights into the development of complex structures and may pave the way for new approaches to fighting infectious disease.
Researchers developed a silk-based stabilizer that maintains potency of live vaccines and antibiotics even at high storage temperatures. This innovation has the potential to eliminate the need for refrigeration, saving billions in costs and increasing accessibility to third-world populations.
A new study reveals that seasonal changes in outpatient antibiotic use can significantly alter drug resistance patterns. The findings suggest that reducing inappropriate antibiotic use requires coordinated efforts between hospitals and the broader community to be most effective.
Scientists identify WNT signaling pathway as potential therapeutic target for obesity. Antibiotic treatment after Lyme disease shows fluorescent bacterial debris remains without causing infection. Oxidative stress contributes to parasite persistence in host tissues, opening new avenue for anti-Trypanosoma cruzi drugs.
Researchers found that antibiotic treatment reduced the number of live spirochetes in infected mice but left behind fluorescent bacterial debris. This debris triggered an inflammatory immune response and may contribute to arthritis-like symptoms in some patients.
Researchers have developed a new class of antimicrobials that target bacteria virulence factors, reducing the risk of antibiotic resistance. The most potent substance prevented UTIs from developing in mice for over eight hours and reduced bacterial growth by nearly 10,000 times.
A study found that patients with chronic rhinosinusitis have a depleted nasal microbiome and an overgrowth of Corynebacterium spp., which can induce pathophysiology consistent with sinusitis. Probiotics, such as Lactobacillus sakei, may inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria and prevent infection.
Research found no increase in infective endocarditis among dental patients following updated guidelines, which restrict antibiotic use to those at greatest risk of complications. The study's results are reassuring but suggest further research is needed to support the findings.
Researchers at the University of Alberta discovered a vulnerability in the glycoprotein production of Acinetobacter baumannii, reducing its virulence and ability to form biofilms. This finding could lead to the development of targeted antibiotics to combat the superbug.
A nationwide survey in China reveals one in 10 newly diagnosed TB patients are infected with drug-resistant strains, with over 5,000 cases annually. Experts emphasize the need for rapid testing to determine drug resistance and developing new combination therapies to combat multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.
Stuart B. Levy receives the 2012 Abbott-ASM Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades-long dedication to understanding antibiotic resistance. His work has elucidated key mechanisms and control of resistance in bacterial and mammalian cells, leading to new treatments and strategies.
A study found that 59% of male and 40% of female maximum-security prison inmates in New York misused topical antibiotics by applying them to dry skin and lips, and as hair grease. Inappropriate use of antibiotic ointments can exacerbate antimicrobial resistance issues.
Off-label antibiotic use in farm animals poses a significant risk of promoting antibiotic resistance in humans. Canada should phase out antibiotics used for non-medical purposes in livestock and support producers who improve animal living conditions.
New research finds that adding zinc to standard antibiotic therapy significantly reduces treatment failure risk in young children with suspected serious bacterial infections, such as pneumonia and meningitis. The study showed a 40% lower risk of treatment failure and a 43% reduced risk of death among children given zinc.
A new study definitively links Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) to bacterial overgrowth in the gut, finding that over 30% of patients with IBS also have small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Antibiotics are an effective treatment for IBS, according to previous clinical trials and this study
Proper treatment of diabetic foot infections can prevent lower extremity amputations, and about half of these amputations can be prevented. A multidisciplinary team, including infectious diseases specialists, podiatrists, surgeons, and orthopedists, is recommended for best care.
A recent study published in JAMA found that combining antibiotics did not improve clinical outcomes for patients with severe sepsis. The study included 298 patients who received either combination therapy or monotherapy, and found no significant difference in organ failure scores or mortality rates between the two groups.
A Vanderbilt University study found that azithromycin carries a significant increased risk of cardiovascular death, especially among those with high-risk factors. The researchers compared over 348,000 prescriptions of azithromycin to millions of similar records from patients not treated with antibiotics.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that the use of polymyxins and tigecycline, considered 'drugs of last resort', increased at US Veterans Affairs medical centers between 2005 and 2010. The findings suggest a growing epidemic of multidrug-resistant bacteria.
Researchers at Nanyang Technological University have developed a superbug killer coating that is 99% effective against bacteria and fungi. The coating uses a magnetic-like feature to attract and kill microorganisms, offering an alternative solution to combat antibiotic-resistant superbugs.
A review and meta-analysis of previous studies found that probiotic consumption is associated with a reduced risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. The study analyzed 82 randomized controlled trials involving 11,811 participants, finding a 42% lower risk of developing diarrhea with probiotic use.
A RAND Corporation study found that taking probiotics can significantly reduce the risk of developing diarrhea caused by antibiotics. The study, which pooled data from over 100 research studies, showed a 42% lower risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea with probiotic use.
Researchers found that male pseudoscorpions treated with tetracycline suffered reduced sperm viability and passed this toxic effect on their untreated sons. This transgenerational effect has significant implications for human health and food animal production.
Researchers have discovered that a garlic-derived compound is 100 times more effective at killing the Campylobacter bacterium than two popular antibiotics. This breakthrough could lead to new treatments for raw and processed meats, as well as food preparation surfaces.
Researchers at Queen's University are developing a synthetic stool mixture that could replace stool transplants as a treatment for C. difficile. This new approach aims to eliminate the risk of transmitting infectious diseases through fecal bacteria, improve patient acceptance, and provide a single-dose remedy.
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital have identified pathways of naturally occurring molecules in the human body that can boost the effectiveness of antibiotics. The study found that certain molecules called resolvins and protectins were key in resolving infections and reducing tissue damage.
McMaster University researchers found a remarkable prevalence of antibiotic resistance bacteria isolated from Lechuguilla Cave, one of the deepest and largest caves in the world. The discovery suggests that there are far more antibiotics in the environment that could be used to treat currently untreatable infections.
A joint study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Arizona State University found fluoroquinolone antibiotics in 8 of 12 feather meal samples, despite a 2005 FDA ban. The study suggests continued use of banned antibiotics in poultry production, contributing to antibiotic resistance.
Patients taking oral fluoroquinolones had a higher risk of developing retinal detachment compared to non-users, with an average number of days from first prescription to event being 4.8 days. The absolute risk increase was small, with 2,500 patients needed to be harmed for every user
Researchers found that combining antibiotics with additional compounds made previously resistant bacteria more susceptible, increasing efficacy by up to six-fold. The study's lead author believes adjuvant therapy could revolutionize antibiotic use and reduce antimicrobial resistance.
A Wayne State University researcher is part of a nationwide effort to monitor antibiotic resistance while optimizing drug use. The project aims to improve antimicrobial stewardship and reduce the development of resistance.
A new clinical trial aims to determine whether intravenous antibiotics are more effective than traditional therapies in tackling Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a common germ causing destructive lung infections in CF patients. The study will assess the treatment's success over a year and potentially inform national guidelines.
A two-drug combination of meropenem and clavulanate has been shown to effectively treat forms of TB that are resistant to other antibiotics. The treatment offers new hope for dealing with drug-resistant TB, which is a major public health concern globally.
Researchers found that suppressing bacterial communities with antibiotics may actually help treatment-resistant bacteria flourish, leading to more infections. The study suggests new avenues for developing more effective treatments and improving patient outcomes.
Researchers are revisiting bacteriophages as antibacterial agents to combat growing antibiotic resistance. Effective against high bacterial loads, these viruses can target specific bacterial strains without infecting human cells.
Researchers discovered how bacteria modify an enzyme to recognize and disarm a potent antibiotic. The adaptation allows bacteria to protect themselves from toxins while still being susceptible to certain antibiotics, offering new insights into treatment strategies.
Infection prevention groups outline steps needed to preserve antibiotics by identifying and addressing resistance issues. The role of infection preventionists and healthcare epidemiologists is crucial in preventing the emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms, a major threat to human health.
A new molecule discovered at the University of Illinois has the potential to treat bovine mastitis and make food safer. Geobacillin, an analog of nisin, is more stable than its predecessor and shows promise as a treatment for both dairy industry and human disease.
UBC researchers found that certain antibiotics alter gut bacteria, increasing severity of asthma in mouse models. Early life is a critical period for establishing a healthy immune system, as the impact of antibiotics on asthma susceptibility disappears in adult mice.
A seven-year antimicrobial stewardship program at a hospital eliminated $3 million from its annual budget for antimicrobials within three years. The program reduced antibiotic spending per-patient day nearly in half without compromising quality of patient care.
Leading infectious diseases experts call for enhanced antimicrobial stewardship initiatives to preserve antibiotic effectiveness and combat emerging infections. The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, IDSA, and PIDS position paper outlines measures to improve antibiotic use and monitor resistance.
A German study found that antibiotic treatment with azithromycin significantly reduced the number of patients carrying E. coli bacteria and the duration of shedding in stool specimens. Long-term carriers were more common among untreated patients.
Scientists have identified two new possible antibiotics, fasamycin A and B, that work against deadly resistant microbes like MRSA. The metagenomics method allowed researchers to analyze substances made by soil bacteria's DNA in the lab, enabling the discovery of these potential life-saving medications.
A study found that a deadly staph 'superbug' has jumped from humans to food animals, becoming resistant to antibiotics due to routine use in farm animal production. The bacteria, MRSA CC398, thrives in crowded and unsanitary conditions.
A study found that a strain of MRSA bacteria acquired resistance to antibiotics on farms and can now infect humans. The researchers sequenced the genomes of 88 different S. aureus isolates and found that the MRSA strain ST398 likely evolved from an antibiotic-sensitive human strain.
A recent study led by TGen found that a strain of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) originated in humans before spreading to food animals and becoming resistant to antibiotics. The study used whole genome sequencing to trace the history of MRSA CC398, a strain often referred to as 'pig-MRSA'.
According to investigators at Washington University School of Medicine, antibiotics do not reduce symptoms in sinus infection patients, with most people getting better on their own. The study suggests treating symptoms and watchful waiting may be more effective than antibiotic treatment.
A study published in JAMA found that treatment with amoxicillin for acute uncomplicated rhinosinusitis did not result in a significant difference in symptoms compared to placebo. Patients who received antibiotics reported similar improvements in quality of life and symptom relief, contradicting the common practice of prescribing antibi...