Respiratory Tract Infections News and Research

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Trial shows moderate reduction in respiratory symptoms with surgical face masks

Wearing a surgical face mask in public spaces reduces the risk of self-reported respiratory symptoms, finds a trial of adults in Norway published by The BMJ today.

25 Jul 2024

Do probiotics really benefit healthy people?

Recent research in Advances In Nutrition reviews the benefits of probiotics for healthy individuals, highlighting evidence gaps and the need for further study to support preventive recommendations.

14 Jul 2024

Over-the-counter nasal sprays cut respiratory infections by 20%, study finds

Widely available over-the counter nasal sprays could keep upper respiratory tract infections - like colds, chest infections, flu, sore throat, and sinus infections - at bay, and prevent full-blown symptoms from developing, one of the largest trials to date to test their effectiveness finds.

12 Jul 2024

UQ study offers insights into how Haemophilus influenzae manipulates the immune system

Researchers from The University of Queensland have identified how a common bacterium is able to manipulate the human immune system during respiratory infections and cause persistent illness.

12 Jul 2024

New recommendations on vitamin D intake for children, pregnant people, adults over 75 and those with high-risk prediabetes

In the present study, researchers developed guidelines for vitamin D supplementation to prevent disease.

14 Jun 2024

New AI camera technology could offer a future tool for quickly assessing the severity of infections

It might soon be possible to measure a patient’s pulse, breathing, and blood pressure simply by scanning their face.

5 Jun 2024

Repurposed nasal antibiotic neomycin shows promise in preventing and treating respiratory viral infections

Intranasal administration of neomycin sulfate in murine models shows promise as a prophylactic and therapeutic agent against respiratory viruses like influenza A and SARS-CoV-2 by inducing interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) expression, independent of microbiota and interferon activation.

24 Apr 2024

Antibiotics ineffective for cough treatment in lower respiratory tract infections

Use of antibiotics provided no measurable impact on the severity or duration of coughs even if a bacterial infection was present, finds a large, prospective study of people who sought treatment in U.S. primary or urgent care settings for lower-respiratory tract infections.

15 Apr 2024

Breast milk's secret weapon against RSV revealed in new study

Researchers explored how human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) protect infants from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), suggesting that these components in breast milk may prevent or reduce the severity of RSV infections through multiple mechanisms including gut microbiome modulation and direct antiviral actions.

15 Apr 2024

Collaborative analysis of disease and death drivers in Gaza conflict

The analysis was conducted to help better address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza both during and after the war.

23 Feb 2024

Antiseptic mouthwash reduces periodontitis bacteria in diabetes patients

More than bad breath, there is growing evidence that ongoing inflammation in the mouth, like with gum disease, is associated with serious diseases such as Alzheimer's disease or type 2 diabetes.

14 Feb 2024

Drug repurposing study finds lonafarnib effective against RSV

A study in Nature Communications identifies lonafarnib from the ReFRAME drug-repurposing library as a potent inhibitor of the RSV fusion protein, showing promise in reducing RSV infection in vitro and in vivo.

11 Feb 2024

Treatment modalities shape infection profiles in advanced lung cancer patients

Pulmonary malignancy is one of the most frequent and fatal cancers in older patients. Studies have shown that lung cancer patients have a high incidence of lower respiratory tract infections.

6 Feb 2024

Hydroxyurea treatment can greatly benefit children with sickle cell anemia, study reveals

Clinical research led by Indiana University School of Medicine investigators and their collaborators in Uganda has revealed that hydroxyurea significantly reduces infections in children with sickle cell anemia.

29 Jan 2024

Netherlands sees unexpected surge in Mycoplasma pneumoniae cases, younger population more affected

A study in the Netherlands reports a significant rise in Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections since October 2023, with a notable decrease in the median age of patients compared to the last epidemic.

28 Jan 2024

New dry powder aerosol COVID-19 vaccine shows promise against multiple virus strains

Study introduces a novel dry powder aerosol COVID-19 vaccine, showing its effectiveness in inducing strong immune responses and offering protection against various SARS-CoV-2 strains, including Omicron.

15 Dec 2023

Study exposes tobacco smoke's alarming impact on breast milk, elevating toxic elements

Study reveals that both active and passive tobacco smoke exposure during pregnancy or lactation significantly increases the levels of toxic micro-elements like mercury, cadmium, lead, and arsenic in breast milk, posing serious health risks to infants.

27 Nov 2023

Antibiotic consumption in Europe rebounds to pre-pandemic levels

This year's European Antibiotic Awareness Day (EAAD) focuses on the targets outlined in the 2023 Council Recommendation to step up efforts in the European Union (EU) against antimicrobial resistance in a One Health approach.

17 Nov 2023

Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance Together: A Conversation with Dr. Beverley Isherwood

An interview with Dr Beverley Isherwood.

16 Nov 2023

MHRA grants conditional marketing authorization for AbbVie's Tepkinly to treat aggressive blood cancer

AbbVie today announced that the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has granted conditional Marketing Authorisation for Tepkinly® (epcoritamab) as a monotherapy for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), after two or more systemic therapies.

28 Oct 2023