Articles tagged with Antibiotics
A study by Florida Atlantic University researchers found a significant 'antibiotic culture' in US hospital ICUs, with up to 70% of patients receiving unnecessary antibiotics. The preference for antibiotics is driven by urgency, hierarchy, and uncertainty, leading to increased use despite antimicrobial stewardship guidelines.
A global study published in Cochrane Reviews found that consuming cranberry products reduces the risk of repeat symptomatic UTIs in women by more than a quarter. The review also showed benefits for children and people susceptible to UTIs following medical interventions, with minimal side effects reported.
Research highlights devastating impact of war injuries on civilians and soldiers, resulting in complex bone and soft-tissue infections. Doctors describe treating patients with highly complex musculoskeletal infections caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens.
Researchers at Linköping University developed a nanocellulose wound dressing that reveals early signs of infection through pH monitoring. This technology can lead to more efficient care and reduce unnecessary antibiotic use.
Researchers at Aalto University developed a drug that undercuts antibiotic resistance by blocking key toxins involved in the infection process. The treatment sequesters toxins and disrupts biofilms, making bacteria more vulnerable to antibiotics. Initial results show promising protection against bacterial infections.
A study from Lund University reveals how antibiotic-resistant bacteria acquire resistance through two molecular mechanisms. The researchers identified a novel protein that conveys resistance to specific antibiotics, and found that certain antibiotics induce the production of this factor, providing clues for designing new medicines.
Researchers identified protective drugs that shield two abundant gut bacterial species without compromising antibiotic effectiveness against disease-causing bacteria. The study found a novel combination of antibiotics with antidote drugs, such as dicumarol and tolfenamic acid, which protected the gut microbiome and maintained antibioti...
A Spanish study found that 40% of supermarket meat samples contained multidrug-resistant E. coli, including strains capable of causing severe infections in people. The study highlights the need for regular assessment and farm-level interventions to reduce the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in food-producing animals.
The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America recommends hospitals establish antimicrobial stewardship programs to prevent Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infections, which cause difficult-to-treat diarrhea, longer hospital stays, and higher costs. The updated guidance provides evidence-based strategies for identifying and...
A growing number of European countries have experienced diphtheria outbreaks primarily associated with recently arrived migrants. Key findings indicate that whole genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis reveal that the toxin-producing bacteria were acquired during migration rather than in their home country or Germany.
New research at ECCMID 2023 presents 19 gold complexes effective against at least one hard-to-treat bacterium, including MRSA and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The gold-based drugs use a multimodal mechanism to kill bacteria, preventing antimicrobial resistance from developing.
Researchers have developed a new ear tube design that combines liquid-infused materials with optimized geometry to improve treatment outcomes for patients with ear infections. The design enables better performance and reduces complications such as impaired hearing and scarring of the eardrum.
Researchers at Texas Biomedical Research Institute have identified a potential host-directed therapy targeting the immune system to bolster the body's ability to control TB infection. Blocking IDO enzyme helped nonhuman primates completely eliminate active TB infection, improving health metrics compared to antibiotics alone.
A new shape-shifting antibiotic has been developed by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory researchers, offering a potential cure for deadly infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria. The innovative design uses click chemistry to create a molecule with multiple possible configurations, avoiding the development of resistance.
The study found that antibiotics slow down biofilm growth and QS molecule production across both strains, with surface type having a significant effect on the non-mucoid strain. The patterned structure was associated with longer latencies before expression of QS molecules were at their peak.
A global study reveals a bi-directional relationship between antibiotic consumption and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) between humans and animals. The study finds that higher animal antibiotic use increases AMR in human pathogens, while higher human antibiotic use increases AMR in food-producing animals.
A 3-year-old girl was infected with M. marinum after being bitten by an iguana while on holiday in Costa Rica. The toddler developed a ganglion cyst and eventually responded to treatment with rifampin and clarithromycin.
A new study by Intermountain Healthcare and Stanford University found that overprescribing antibiotics for upper respiratory infections causes significant patient harm. Researchers analyzed 51 million patient encounters and found that one in 300 patients experienced severe side effects, such as diarrhea or candidiasis, after receiving ...
A new computational technique analyzes bacterial genetic sequences to monitor the spread of antibiotic resistance over time. The study found that resistance genes most likely to spread are those on conjugative plasmids and targeting specific antibiotics, with many coming from a single source.
Researchers have discovered new targets for developing antibiotics to combat sepsis, a leading cause of death worldwide. The study provides valuable insights into how different bacterial species respond to infection and could lead to more effective treatments.
A new study published at ECCMID 2023 found that antibiotics do not reduce the risk of dying in adults hospitalised with common viral respiratory infections like influenza. The research suggests a restrictive antibiotic strategy for these types of infections may be warranted to reduce unnecessary prescribing and combat antimicrobial res...
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have discovered a key role for autophagy in controlling intracellular infections like TB. By boosting this natural process, they hope to create new treatments that can combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
A new study published in The BMJ found that a decision tool for health professionals reduced unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions for frail older adults by 50%. The multifaceted training program, which included education and action planning, was effective in improving patient safety while reducing antibiotic use.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
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 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.
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 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.