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C. diff puts up a winning fight against hospital disinfectants

The deadly and notoriously stubborn superbug, Clostridioides difficile (C. diff), is putting up a winning fight against hospital-grade disinfectants meant to kill it, according to results of a new study published in the Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy journal of the American Society for Microbiology.

6 Nov 2019

Tips to help strengthen your defenses this flu season

Flu season can take its toll on your health, but one way to fight the virus is to stop the spread of germs at home.

17 Oct 2019

Household bleach may be contributing to harmful indoor pollution

While the risks from ingesting chlorine bleach are clear, less obvious risks concerning airborne particles emanating from the bleach have been identified in a new study.

2 Oct 2019

Hand washing encouraged as hand sanitizer shown to be ineffective at killing the flu

A new study has found that hand sanitizer may not be as effective as previously thought at preventing the spread of influenza A, the common flu virus.

24 Sep 2019

Researchers compare effectiveness of water treatment processes for swimming pools

With summer in full swing, many people are cooling off in swimming pools. However, some of the substances that are made when chlorine in the water reacts with compounds in human sweat, urine or dirt aren't so refreshing.

26 Jun 2019

Testing how well wastewater disinfection methods affect antibiotic resistance genes

Each year at least 2 million Americans are infected with bacteria that cannot be treated with antibiotics, and at least 23,000 of these people die, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

9 Apr 2019

Rise of MRSA in hospitals linked to common disinfectant

A new study has found a possible link between the use of disinfectants in hospitals and the rise of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on patient wards.

13 Mar 2019

Detecting and mapping of chemicals inside a biological cell

How are chemicals distributed in a cell? Chinese scientists have developed a combined mass spectrometry and biological imaging device that enables direct, label-free detection, and high-resolution mapping of chemicals inside a biological cell.

7 Feb 2019

Microgel powder reduces infection and promotes healing

While making smart glue, a team of engineers discovered a handy byproduct: hydrogen peroxide. In microgel form, it reduces bacteria and virus ability to infect by at least 99 percent.

14 Nov 2018

Experts study antibiotic resistance in recycled water

Bacteria that become resistant to antibiotics lead to an estimated 23,000 deaths and 2 million illnesses per year in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control is launching an expansive effort to study various facets of the growing threat by funding researchers across the nation, including two prominent water experts at Virginia Tech.

7 Nov 2018

New outbreak of rare eye disease identified in contact lens wearers

A new outbreak of a rare but preventable eye infection that can cause blindness, has been identified in contact lens wearers in a new study led by UCL and Moorfields Eye Hospital researchers.

21 Sep 2018

New system harnesses power of bubbles to destroy dangerous biofilms

Stiff microbial films often coat medical devices, household items and infrastructure such as the inside of water supply pipes, and can lead to dangerous infections.

20 Sep 2018

Data from past epidemic could help improve response to future Ebola outbreaks

Data from the 2014 Ebola virus outbreak at two Sierra Leone facilities reveal daily usage rates for disinfectant and personal protective equipment, informing future outbreaks, according to a study published May 24, 2018 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Michaela Mallow of International Medical Corps in Los Angeles, CA, and colleagues.

25 May 2018

Waterborne disease outbreaks can be traced to plumbing systems in buildings

Traditional water treatment efforts have focused on water leaving the treatment plant, but a large number of recent waterborne disease outbreaks in the U.S. can be traced to plumbing systems in buildings.

9 Nov 2017

Nurses at risk of chronic lung disease COPD due to regular disinfectant use

According to a new study, nurses who are work disinfectants continually through their careers are more likely to develop a chronic lung disease called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

10 Sep 2017

Nurses' scrubs with antimicrobial properties ineffective at preventing bacterial contamination

Clothing worn by healthcare providers can become contaminated with bacteria, however having nurses wear scrubs with antimicrobial properties did not prevent this bacterial contamination from occurring, according to a study published online today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

30 Aug 2017

Antimicrobial agents in common household products inhibit cell energy, estrogenic functions

A new in-vitro study by University of California, Davis, researchers indicates that quaternary ammonium compounds, or "quats," used as antimicrobial agents in common household products inhibit mitochondria, the powerhouses of the cell, as well as estrogenic functions in cells.

22 Aug 2017