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E-cigarettes suppress immune defenses, alter inflammation and boost bacterial virulence

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System report data suggesting that e-cigarettes are toxic to human airway cells, suppress immune defenses and alter inflammation, while at the same time boosting bacterial virulence.

27 Jan 2016

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae: an interview with Dr. Michael Dudley

Enterobacteriaceae refer to the family of bacteria such as E. coli and Klebsiella that are bacterial pathogens most frequently associated with hospital-acquired infections

25 Jan 2016

Adaptive, light-activated nanotherapy effective against drug-resistant bacteria

In the ever-escalating evolutionary battle with drug-resistant bacteria, humans may soon have a leg up thanks to adaptive, light-activated nanotherapy developed by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder.

19 Jan 2016

Food preservative delivers one-two punch to cancer, antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Nisin, a naturally occurring food preservative that grows on dairy products, delivers a one-two punch to two of medicine's most lethal maladies: cancer and deadly, antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

12 Jan 2016

Some antibiotics may make MRSA more harmful

Treating MRSA with certain first-line antibiotics can actually make MRSA skin infections worse, according to a study published in Cell Host & Microbe.

12 Nov 2015

New research uncovers antibiotic prescription trends across England

New research by Antibiotic Research UK, the world’s first charity created to develop new antibiotics in the fight against superbugs, and high-performance analytic database company EXASOL has discovered that while the number of antibiotic prescriptions is coming down across England, GP practices in the most deprived parts of the country are prescribing 20% more and, worryingly, antibiotic prescriptions are on the increase in these deprived areas.

12 Nov 2015

Certain antibiotic treatment for MRSA may potentially make patients sicker

A new study sheds light on how treatment of the "superbug" known as MRSA with certain antibiotics can potentially make patients sicker. The findings by Cedars-Sinai scientists, published today in the journal Cell Host & Microbe, could have implications for managing the bug, a virulent form of the common staph infection that can be difficult to control.

12 Nov 2015

Drug-resistant E. coli infections on the rise in community hospitals

Drug-resistant E. coli infections are on the rise in community hospitals, where more than half of U.S. patients receive their health care, according to a new study from Duke Medicine.

14 Oct 2015

Tamoxifen drug clears MRSA, reduces mortality

Researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences have found that the breast cancer drug tamoxifen gives white blood cells a boost, better enabling them to respond to, ensnare and kill bacteria in laboratory experiments. Tamoxifen treatment in mice also enhances clearance of the antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogen MRSA and reduces mortality.

13 Oct 2015

Cleaning patient rooms with combination of chemicals and UV light cuts transmission of superbugs

Healthcare facilities continue to battle drug-resistant organisms such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) that loiter on surfaces even after patient rooms have been cleaned and can cause new, sometimes-deadly infections.

8 Oct 2015

Research opens up potential new pathways to vaccine development against HA-MRSA

New research led by NYU Langone Medical Center has uncovered why a particular strain of Staphylococcus aureus -- known as HA-MRSA -- becomes more deadly than other variations. These new findings open up possible new pathways to vaccine development against this bacterium, which the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions says accounts for over 10,000 deaths annually, mostly among hospital patients.

10 Sep 2015

Hospitals can make patients sick, reveals Consumer Reports

Hospitals are thought to be sterile, safe environments where sick people get better, not sicker. But that's not always the case according to a new investigation by Consumer Reports into hospital-acquired infections.

29 Jul 2015

Synthetic sugar could be latest weapon against superbugs

A special type of synthetic sugar could be the latest weapon in the fight against superbugs. A team of scientists from The University of Queensland and Queensland biotechnology company Alchemia have discovered a potential new class of antibiotics inspired by sugar molecules produced by bacteria.

22 Jul 2015

Australian researchers launch global search to discover antibiotics against superbug bacteria

Australian researchers from The University of Queensland have launched a global search to discover antibiotics capable of combating superbug bacteria that are resistant to current antibiotics.

19 Jun 2015

Survey finds first evidence of MRSA in sausages, minced pork from supermarkets in the UK

A survey carried out earlier this year has found the first evidence of the 'superbug' bacteria Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in sausages and minced pork obtained from supermarkets in the UK. However, researchers stress that this does not pose a significant immediate risk to the public.

19 Jun 2015

Common antibiotic azithromycin effectively kills many multidrug-resistant bacteria

Contrary to current medical dogma, researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences report that the common antibiotic azithromycin kills many multidrug-resistant bacteria very effectively — when tested under conditions that closely resemble the human body and its natural antimicrobial factors.

11 Jun 2015

Consumer Reports announces commitment to help wipe out 'superbugs'

Consumer Reports, the world's largest and most trusted nonprofit consumer organization, today announced its commitment to help wipe out antibiotic-resistant bacteria or "superbugs." Infections related to the use of antibiotics sicken about 2.25 million Americans each year and kill 37,000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

2 Jun 2015

PDA extends support to Johnson & Johnson Kilmer Conference on sterility assurance and sterilization

The Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) proudly announces that it will be a supporting organization of the Johnson & Johnson Kilmer Conference on sterility assurance and sterilization in 2016.

29 May 2015

Common tapeworm drug effectively treats MRSA superbugs in lab

A new study provides evidence from lab experiments that a drug already used in people to fight tapeworms might also prove effective against strains of the superbug MRSA, which kills thousands of people a year in the United States.

24 Apr 2015

MRSA bacteria exposed to cigarette smoke become more resistant to antimicrobial peptides

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), an antibiotic-resistant superbug, can cause life-threatening skin, bloodstream and surgical site infections or pneumonia. Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine now report that cigarette smoke may make matters worse.

3 Apr 2015

Superbug News and Research

E-cigarettes suppress immune defenses, alter inflammation and boost bacterial virulence

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae: an interview with Dr. Michael Dudley

Adaptive, light-activated nanotherapy effective against drug-resistant bacteria

Food preservative delivers one-two punch to cancer, antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Some antibiotics may make MRSA more harmful

New research uncovers antibiotic prescription trends across England

Certain antibiotic treatment for MRSA may potentially make patients sicker

Drug-resistant E. coli infections on the rise in community hospitals

Tamoxifen drug clears MRSA, reduces mortality

Cleaning patient rooms with combination of chemicals and UV light cuts transmission of superbugs

Research opens up potential new pathways to vaccine development against HA-MRSA

Hospitals can make patients sick, reveals Consumer Reports

Synthetic sugar could be latest weapon against superbugs

Australian researchers launch global search to discover antibiotics against superbug bacteria

Survey finds first evidence of MRSA in sausages, minced pork from supermarkets in the UK

Common antibiotic azithromycin effectively kills many multidrug-resistant bacteria

Consumer Reports announces commitment to help wipe out 'superbugs'

PDA extends support to Johnson & Johnson Kilmer Conference on sterility assurance and sterilization

Common tapeworm drug effectively treats MRSA superbugs in lab

MRSA bacteria exposed to cigarette smoke become more resistant to antimicrobial peptides

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