Respiratory Tract Infections News and Research

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New prescribing protocol could reduce potential misuse of antibiotics

Researchers have developed a new strategy for prescribing antibiotics that could reduce patient harm and help combat the rise in antibiotic resistance.

10 Sep 2013

Early respiratory infections linked to Type 1 diabetes

Researchers from Germany have found that respiratory infections in early life are linked to islet autoimmunity, implicating them as a potential risk factor in the development of Type 1 diabetes.

9 Sep 2013

Respiratory infection antibiotic guidance often ignored

Researchers from the USA say that more must be done to improve adherence to guidelines for antibiotic prescriptions for upper respiratory tract infections, sinusitis, and pharyngitis.

2 Sep 2013

Multiple sclerosis patients see "rapid expansion" of effective new treatment options

After decades of research, multiple sclerosis patients are seeing a "rapid expansion" of effective new treatment options, according to a review article in the journal Neurologic Clinics.

14 Aug 2013

Research roundup: Making sense (or not) of health insurance; what a full Medicaid expansion could look like; recession and coverage

Each week, KHN reporter Alvin Tran compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.

3 Aug 2013

Antibiotic prescribing rates can be reduced using internet-based training for clinicians

Antibiotic prescribing rates for acute respiratory tract infections could be significantly lowered using internet-based training for clinicians, new research has shown.

31 Jul 2013

NPS MedicineWise: Ask your doctor the right questions about medicines, medical tests

During Family Doctor Week (15-21 July 2013), NPS MedicineWise is highlighting the importance of asking your doctor the right questions about your medicines and medical tests.

17 Jul 2013

Researcher receives $1.58M NIDCR grant to advance research on link between oral bacteria and fetal death

A new four-year, $1.58 million grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, will allow a Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine researcher to advance her work linking oral bacteria to fetal death.

9 Jul 2013

Ibrutinib shows remarkable promise for treatment of mantle cell lymphoma

In a major international study led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, the targeted therapy ibrutinib continues to show remarkable promise for the treatment of relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

20 Jun 2013

Study: Intervention improves adherence to prescribing guidelines for pediatric bacterial ARTIs

An intervention consisting of clinician education coupled with personalized audit and feedback about antibiotic prescribing improved adherence to prescribing guidelines for common pediatric bacterial acute respiratory tract infections, although the intervention did not affect antibiotic prescribing for viral infections, according to a study in the June 12 issue of JAMA.

14 Jun 2013

Smoke exposure puts infants with respiratory infections at risk for longer hospital stays

More evidence has surfaced that supports the war on smoking, especially if smokers have an infant in their household. A study published today in the June issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), found that infants with a family history of allergic disease with lower respiratory tract infections, who are exposed to secondhand smoke are at risk for longer hospital stays.

5 Jun 2013

UCLA researchers show that bacteria ingested in food can affect brain function

UCLA researchers now have the first evidence that bacteria ingested in food can affect brain function in humans. In an early proof-of-concept study of healthy women, they found that women who regularly consumed beneficial bacteria known as probiotics through yogurt showed altered brain function, both while in a resting state and in response to an emotion-recognition task.

29 May 2013

UK’s health performance: an interview with Prof. Murray, University of Washington

Rates of premature mortality in the UK have been falling steadily, but the pace of decline is not as fast as in many other high-income countries, such as Australia. In that sense, the UK lags behind.

29 Apr 2013

New treatment options for influenza

The flu is caused by an infection with the influenza virus, which mainly attacks the upper respiratory tract - the nose, throat and bronchi and rarely also the lungs. According to the World Health Organization, around five to 15 percent of the population are affected by upper respiratory tract infections during seasonal flu outbreaks, and between 250 000-500 000 people die of the illness every year.

29 Apr 2013

Research shows respiratory syncytial virus can be transferred during pregnancy to unborn baby

The most common cause of lower respiratory tract infections in infants and young children, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), can be transferred during pregnancy to an unborn baby, according to Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital research published online this week in the journal PLOS ONE.

19 Apr 2013

Scientists demonstrate feasibility of using already-approved drugs against pathogens

In the most extensive screen of its kind, Texas Biomed scientists in San Antonio have demonstrated the feasibility of repurposing already-approved drugs for use against highly pathogenic bacteria and viruses.

11 Apr 2013

Study shows benefit of azithromycin in patients with non-CF bronchiectasis

Among patients with the lung disorder non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, treatment with the antibiotic azithromycin resulted in improvement in symptoms but also increased the risk of antibiotic resistance, according to a study appearing in the March 27 issue of JAMA.

27 Mar 2013

Japan's MHLW approves XELJANZ for treatment of adults with rheumatoid arthritis

Pfizer Inc. announced today that the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has approved XELJANZ (tofacitinib citrate) for the treatment of adults with rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response to existing therapies.

25 Mar 2013

Research findings could lead to new treatments for lung disorders in premature babies

Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have made major discoveries that could lead to new treatments for lung disorders in premature babies. In a mouse study, the team located key molecules that switch on stress pathways in preterm lung disorders, and also found that when parts of these pathways were blocked with a pain drug, lung damage was prevented or reversed.

21 Mar 2013

Link between outdoor heat and hospitalization for respiratory disease in the elderly

Outdoor heat is associated with a significantly increased risk of emergency hospitalization for respiratory disorders in the elderly, according to a large epidemiological study of more than 12.5 million Medicare beneficiaries.

8 Mar 2013