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Visceral leishmaniasis on the rise in Brazil, study finds

The incidence of visceral leishmaniasis increased by 52.9% in Brazil between 1990 and 2016, while the disability-adjusted life years increased by 83.6%. Regional variations were observed, with rates rising in the Northeast and Southeast but decreasing in the Northern states.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateSep 6, 2018

Japanese encephalitis also affects urban areas

A study by CIRAD researchers found that Japanese encephalitis circulates as intensely in Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital, as it does in rural areas. Vaccinating children remains the best way to protect humans, while vaccinating sows and controlling mosquitoes can reduce virus circulation.

SourceCirad·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateAug 23, 2018

New research reveals how the body clock controls inflammation

Researchers at RCSI and Trinity College Dublin have discovered how the body clock regulates inflammatory response in macrophages, a key immune cell. This study may lead to targeted treatments at specific times of the day to alleviate excess inflammation in conditions like asthma, arthritis, and cardiovascular disease.

SourceRCSI·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 20, 2018

Real-time foot-and-mouth strategy to better fight disease

Researchers at the University of Warwick have developed a new real-time strategy for controlling foot-and-mouth disease, finding that local targeted methods are the most effective in halting disease spread. The approach prioritizes surveillance and vaccination to quickly control outbreaks, even with minimal information.

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateJul 31, 2018

How many people die from tuberculosis every year?

A study by ISGlobal reveals significant discrepancies in global tuberculosis death estimates between the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), primarily due to differences in methodology and data sources. The researchers identify a dozen countries with notable variations, emphasizin...

SourceBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)·JournalInternational Journal of Epidemiology·DateJul 16, 2018

Healthy diet reduces asthma symptoms

A new study published in the European Respiratory Journal found that healthy diets with high consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grain cereals are characterised by better asthma outcomes. Men who ate healthier diets had a 30% lower chance of experiencing asthma symptoms.

SourceEuropean Respiratory Society·JournalEuropean Respiratory Journal·DateJul 11, 2018

Towards winning the war on feral wild rabbits

Two biological control agents, myxoma and rabbit haemorrhagic disease viruses, have been found to work together to control feral rabbit populations in Australia. The study used data from the largest wild rabbit study in the world to show that both viruses are effective when acting together.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalJournal of Animal Ecology·DateJul 10, 2018

New studies illustrate need for rigorous review of infection preventionist staffing models across healthcare systems

Two new studies highlight the critical need for evaluating and updating standards for infection preventionist (IP) staffing levels, citing severe gaps in staffing and outdated coverage benchmarks. The studies found that actual IP labor needs are 31-66% higher than current benchmarks, indicating a greater need for IP oversight.

SourceElsevier·JournalAmerican Journal of Infection Control·DateJun 26, 2018

Cholera spread tracked at household level

A large-scale genomic study found that nearly 80% of cholera transmission in Dhaka occurred between people sharing a household. Preventing this spread could significantly reduce outbreaks and save lives. Local interventions such as sanitation and hygiene improvements can help break the chain of transmission.

SourceWellcome Trust Sanger Institute·JournalNature Genetics·DateJun 25, 2018

California Aedes mosquitoes capable of spreading Zika

Researchers have found that invasive Aedes mosquitoes in California are capable of transmitting the Zika virus, a significant global health threat. The study involved infecting various mosquito species with three different strains of ZIKV and found that up to 90% of infected Aedes mosquitoes transmitted the virus.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateJun 21, 2018

New studies demonstrate infection control strategies for measles and mumps outbreaks

Recent outbreaks of measles and mumps have demonstrated the importance of integrated infection prevention response. Studies show that standard patient and visitor messaging, active surveillance, and timely initiation of precautions can effectively control outbreaks. Vaccination rates were also critical in stemming the outbreak, with a ...

SourceAssociation for Professionals in Infection Control·JournalAmerican Journal of Infection Control·DateJun 13, 2018

The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology: Job strain linked to increased risk of premature death for men with cardiometabolic disease

An observational study tracking over 100000 men and women found that job strain is associated with a higher risk of premature death in men with coronary heart disease, stroke, or diabetes. Despite achieving treatment targets, men experiencing job strain had a 68% greater risk of death compared to those with no job strain.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology·DateJun 5, 2018

Automated system better identifies patients at risk for ventilator-associated pneumonia

A new automated system has been developed to identify patients at risk for ventilator-associated pneumonia, outperforming traditional manual surveillance methods. The system uses an algorithm to analyze electronic health records and was found to be 100% accurate in detecting ventilator-associated events.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalInfection Control and Hospital Epidemiology·DateMay 17, 2018

Beyond killing tuberculosis

Researchers at McGill University Health Centre discovered that having excessive T cells can cause harm and imbalance disease tolerance, leading to tissue damage. The study found that a protein called cyclophilin D acts as a key checkpoint for T cell activation, controlling the body's ability to tolerate Mtb infection.

SourceMcGill University Health Centre·JournalScience Immunology·DateMay 11, 2018

Pioneering paper shows infection control and prevention in clinics is in everyone's hands

A pioneering paper provides a practical guide for infection control in clinics, emphasizing the importance of hand hygiene, injection safety, cleaning, sterilization, and high-level disinfection. The guide promotes a proactive approach to infection prevention and control, empowering patients to hold healthcare providers accountable.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at Houston·JournalOpen Forum Infectious Diseases·DateMay 2, 2018

Helmholtz researchers get to grips with a herpesvirus

Scientists at Helmholtz Zentrum München have identified 16 virus structures that can be attacked by killer T cells, which could lead to new therapies for immunocompromised individuals and patients with autoimmune diseases. The researchers discovered these targets using an algorithm and verified them in a large group of patients.

Sustained bacterial outbreak in mosquitoes limits spread of life-threatening diseases

Researchers use ordinary differential equation-based model to calculate effective method of introducing Wolbachia to wild mosquitoes, reducing spread of life-threatening diseases. The two-sex model accounts for aquatic life stage, heterosexual transmission, and multiple pregnant states, capturing entire transmission cycle.

SourceSociety for Industrial and Applied Mathematics·JournalSIAM Journal on Applied Mathematics·DateMar 20, 2018

New guidelines on preventing and treating 'equine strep throat'

The new guidelines provide updated clinical recommendations for treating strangles in horses, including a shift away from bacterial culture as the gold standard and new methods for determining disease-free status. The consensus statement also outlines best practices for quarantine, examination, and biosecurity protocols to prevent dise...

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalJournal of Veterinary Internal Medicine·DateMar 13, 2018