Clostridium News and Research

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Dietary sugar may contribute to increasing frequency, severity of bacterial epidemics

The increasing frequency and severity of healthcare-associated outbreaks caused by bacterium Clostridium difficile have been linked to the widely used food additive trehalose.

3 Jan 2018

Medicare penalizes group of 751 hospitals for patient injuries

The federal government Thursday lowered a year's worth of Medicare payments to 751 hospitals to penalize them for having the highest rates of patient injuries.

21 Dec 2017

Capsule research could transform treatment for C. difficile infections

An Alberta-led clinical trial has shown Fecal Microbiota Transplant (FMT) is as effective in treating clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infections whether delivered by colonoscopy or by swallowing capsules.

28 Nov 2017

Study: Many patients change their behaviors after suffering repeated bouts of C. diff infections

After suffering repeated bouts of debilitating Clostridium difficile infections, many patients significantly change their behaviors, but some precautions may do little to prevent future infections, according to a first-of-its-kind study.

8 Nov 2017

Germ-killing robots use UV radiation to safeguard patients from health care-associated infections

Germ-killing robots are being enlisted to further safeguard Vanderbilt University Medical Center patients from health care-associated infections.

30 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

Scientists unravel mechanism that links gut bacteria to hypertension

One in three American adults suffers from high blood pressure, or hypertension. The disease can be passed down in families, and certain lifestyle factors such as smoking, high-sodium diets, and stress can increase the risk.

3 Oct 2017

Study identifies inadvertent consequences of sepsis care programs

Healthcare experts have long known the benefits of integrated sepsis care programs, yet less information has been published on potential unintended consequences of these programs.

3 Oct 2017

WHO report shows serious lack of new antibiotics to combat drug-resistant infections

A report, Antibacterial agents in clinical development - an analysis of the antibacterial clinical development pipeline, including tuberculosis, launched today by WHO shows a serious lack of new antibiotics under development to combat the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.

20 Sep 2017

New antibiotic development slowing - warns World Health Organization

According to a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) released yesterday, antibiotics development at present is not at par with the rising antimicrobial resistance worldwide and soon the demand may outgrow the supply. The WHO warns that this could mean that pathogens causing these infections could mean a great threat for humans in the coming years.

19 Sep 2017

Cortisol mediates communication between gut bacteria and brain metabolites, study suggests

Gut microbes have been in the news a lot lately. Recent studies show they can influence human health, behavior, and certain neurological disorders, such as autism.

21 Aug 2017

New water safety program streamlines processes to help healthcare providers reduce Legionella risk

Nalco Water, an Ecolab company, has introduced a comprehensive water safety program to help hospitals and long-term care facilities meet new requirements to reduce Legionella risk.

9 Aug 2017

Proton pump inhibitor use not linked to increased risk of Alzheimer's disease

The use of proton pump inhibitors does not increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease, shows a recent study from the University of Eastern Finland.

7 Aug 2017

Robot emits UV light to destroy infection-causing bugs in hard-to-clean places

Hospitals around the world are looking for new and innovative ways to battle deadly pathogens and kill multidrug resistant organisms that can cause hospital-acquired infections, or HAI.

4 Aug 2017

New study shows how gut microbes can prevent severe flu infections in mice

Microbes that live in the gut don't just digest food. They also have far-reaching effects on the immune system.

3 Aug 2017

Ultra-sensitive C. difficile toxin assay may be critical tool for improving diagnosis of infectious disease

Findings presented at the American Society for Microbiology's ASM Microbe conference show that the ultra-sensitive Clostridium difficile toxin A/B assay in development for use on the Sgx Clarity™ system offers excellent sensitivity and may be a critical tool for improving the diagnosis of this life-threatening infection.

29 Jul 2017

Healthcare providers rarely perform stethoscope hygiene between patient encounters

You can lead a doctor to disinfection, but how do you get them to clean…or wipe ….or swab a stethoscope?

18 Jul 2017

Scientists reveal key role of excess gut calcium in C. diff infections

It lurks in hospitals and nursing homes, surviving the cleaning crew's attempt to kill it by holing up in a tiny hard shell. It preys upon patients already weak from disease or advanced age.

13 Jul 2017

Children's and dogs' sandboxes can be source of C. difficile pathogens

Investigators have revealed that the Gram-positive, anaerobic bacterium Clostridium difficile is widely distributed in soil samples from children's and dogs' sandboxes located within the metropolitan area of Madrid.

10 Jul 2017

Study finds increasing incidence of multiple recurring C. difficile infections

Intestinal infection with the bacterium Clostridium difficile is the most frequent healthcare-linked infection in the United States. Each year it afflicts about half a million Americans, causes tens of thousands of deaths, and costs the nation's healthcare system an estimated $5 billion.

4 Jul 2017