Antibiotic Resistance News and Research

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Researchers develop new method that can curb spread of superbugs

Researchers from ITMO University and Center of Physical and Chemical Medicine developed an algorithm capable of tracking the spread of antibiotic resistance genes in gut microbiota DNA and revealed additional evidence of resistance genes transfer between different bacterial species.

10 Nov 2017

Researchers catch killer cells red-handed in the act of microbial murder

Immune cells called "killer cells" target bacteria invading the body's cells, but how do they do this so effectively? Bacteria can quickly evolve resistance against antibiotics, yet it seems they have not so readily been able to evade killer cells. This has caused researchers to become interested in finding out the exact mechanism that killer cells use to destroy bacterial invaders.

9 Nov 2017

Scientists develop antibacterial ‘sugar-glass’ coating that uses viruses to destroy bacteria

With antibiotic resistance on the rise, bacterial contamination of food is becoming more problematic. Now in a study appearing in ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering, scientists report that they have developed an antibacterial "sugar-glass" coating in which viruses that destroy bacteria are embedded and are kept stable for up to three months.

8 Nov 2017

Antibiotic use in healthy farm animals needs to stop: World Health Organization

According to new advisory guidelines from the United Nations health agency WHO yesterday (7th November 2017), the farmers and the food industry need to stop the use of antibiotics among healthy farm animals routinely. At present many farmers use these antibiotics on healthy animals to make sure that they grow better and diseases are prevented in them.

7 Nov 2017

Special electric dressing can combat antibiotic resistance, biofilm infection

Researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center have shown - for the first time - that special bandages using weak electric fields to disrupt bacterial biofilm infection can prevent infections, combat antibiotic resistance and enable healing in infected burn wounds.

6 Nov 2017

Uncovering Bacterial Cell Wall Secrets To Combat Antibiotic Resistance

Cell walls -- the jacket-like structures that surround all known bacteria -- may turn out to be bacteria's undoing, holding the key to developing new drugs that target it for destruction.

6 Nov 2017

CSIC researchers make breakthrough in battle against superbugs

A team led by researchers from the Spanish National Research Council has made an important breakthrough in the battle against superbugs and their resistance to multiple drugs.

2 Nov 2017

Combination therapy with azithromycin found to be unnecessary in most children with pneumonia

A combination of two antibiotics is often prescribed to treat community-acquired pneumonia in children but a JAMA Pediatrics study is now showing that using just one of the two has the same benefit to patients in most cases.

2 Nov 2017

Most drug-resistant staph infections occur in the community, study finds

The proportion of ‘staph’ infections resistant to antibiotics has increased in Australia since 2000 with most cases now occurring in the community rather than in hospitals, a new study led by The Australian National University has found.

31 Oct 2017

Study into killer T-cell activity could provide roadmap for tackling antibiotic resistance

In a study that could provide a roadmap for combatting the rising threat of drug-resistant pathogens, researchers have discovered the specific mechanism the body's T cells use to kill bacteria.

27 Oct 2017

New enzyme may one day enable genome surgery that erases harmful mutations

DNA editing just got a sharp, new pencil. Researchers have built an enzyme that can perform a previously impossible DNA swap, directly changing the DNA base pair from an A•T to a G•C.

26 Oct 2017

Triclosan may stick to toothbrushes, creating hidden route of exposure

In September, a ban on triclosan in over-the-counter antiseptic soaps, gels and wipes went into effect in the U.S. But the antibacterial ingredient is still allowed in toothpastes for its reported ability to reduce gum inflammation, plaque and cavities.

25 Oct 2017

Rutgers researchers to explore ways for tackling emerging fungal infections

In recent years, hospitals nationwide have been reporting an increase in life-threatening illnesses resulting from a deadly fungal infection caused by the yeast Candida auris that can enter the bloodstream. This yeast is difficult to identify and often does not respond to commonly used antifungal drugs, leading to high mortality.

23 Oct 2017

Endogenous infection marker can help guide antibiotic use

The endogenous infection marker procalcitonin can help to guide the use of antibiotics when treating infections. The course of antibiotic therapy is shortened, and its side effects and mortality rate also decrease, as researchers from the University of Basel and other colleagues report in the journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

16 Oct 2017

Researchers identify several previously unknown antibiotic resistance genes

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology and the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, have found several previously unknown genes that make bacteria resistant to last-resort antibiotics.

16 Oct 2017

Study examines effects of removing behavioral interventions on inappropriate antibiotic prescribing

In the 12 months after removing behavioral interventions, inappropriate antibiotic prescribing for acute respiratory infections increased relative to control practices, according to a study published by JAMA.

11 Oct 2017

Antibiotics before surgery do not increase risk for postoperative antibiotic-resistant infections

Surgical patients who receive antibiotics before certain types of low-risk operations are not at an increased risk for antibiotic-resistant infections immediately after their procedures, according to results from a large-scale study conducted by researchers from Columbia University Medical Center, New York City.

10 Oct 2017

Antibiotics prescribed by dentists may contribute to serious C. diff infections

Antibiotics prescribed by dentists may contribute to the growing problem of Clostridium difficile (C. diff), a serious and potentially deadly infection that causes severe diarrhea, suggests research presented at IDWeek 2017. And many of those antibiotics are likely unnecessary, researchers note.

6 Oct 2017

Drinking plenty of water may reduce risk of UTIs in women prone to infection

Drinking an additional three pints of water a day may keep the urinary tract infection (UTI) away - at least for women who are prone - suggests a study being presented at IDWeek 2017.

6 Oct 2017

Light-activated nanoparticles can provide crucial boost in effectiveness for antibiotics

Light-activated nanoparticles, also known as quantum dots, can provide a crucial boost in effectiveness for antibiotic treatments used to combat drug-resistant superbugs such as E. coli and Salmonella, new University of Colorado Boulder research shows.

4 Oct 2017