Staphylococcus aureus News and Research

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Staphylococcus aureus is a spherical bacterium (coccus) which on microscopic examination appears in pairs, short chains, or bunched, grape-like clusters. These organisms are Gram-positive. Some strains are capable of producing a highly heat-stable protein toxin that causes illness in humans.

Study shows health care-associated invasive MRSA infections decrease among patients

An analysis of data from 2005 through 2008 of nine metropolitan areas in the U.S. indicates that health care-associated invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections decreased among patients with infections that began in the community or in the hospital, according to a study in the August 11 issue of JAMA.

11 Aug 2010

Calif. considers reduction in funding for home care aides; Ill. union workers strike over health issues at uranium conversion plant

California, facing a $19.1 billion budget gap, is considering a reduction in funding that pays for home care aides for the disabled. It already cut funds last year. … Last month, the nation celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act … Now, though, gains made under the ADA are running into recession-battered state budgets.

10 Aug 2010

ViroPharma announces data on safety, efficacy of Cinryze to treat acute angioedema attacks

ViroPharma Incorporated today announced that data from Phase 3 studies of Cinryze (C1 esterase inhibitor [human]) have been published in the August 5, 2010 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. The paper entitled Nanofiltered C1 Inhibitor Concentrate for Treatment of Hereditary Angioedema by Dr. Bruce L. Zuraw et al. describes the safety and efficacy of Cinryze in treating and preventing attacks of hereditary angioedema. Cinryze is the first and only FDA-approved C1 esterase inhibitor therapy indicated for routine prophylaxis against angioedema attacks in adolescent and adult patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE), a rare, debilitating and potentially fatal disease; it is not approved by the FDA to treat acute angioedema attacks.

6 Aug 2010

Fidaxomicin, CDA1/CDB1 effective for treating CDI : Report

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that, in first- and second-line treatment of Clostridium difficile infection, nearly 70 percent of surveyed infectious disease specialists and internists will use Optimer's fidaxomicin and nearly half will use Medarex/Merck's CDA1 and CDB1, one year after the launch of these agents. The lower recurrent/relapse rate associated with fidaxomicin and CDA1/CDB1 is the most influential attribute surveyed clinicians cite in their decisions to prescribe these emerging agents for CDI.

6 Aug 2010

Allergan second-quarter diluted EPS increases to $0.78

Allergan, Inc. today announced operating results for the quarter ended June 30, 2010. Allergan also announced that its Board of Directors has declared a second quarter dividend of $0.05 per share, payable on September 7, 2010 to stockholders of record on August 17, 2010.

3 Aug 2010

Australian scientists uncover the secrets behind one of nature’s most extraordinary biological machines

Scientists from the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute (VCCRI), Sydney, have discovered the secrets behind the tiny motors in bacteria that allow them to swim rapidly towards nutrients and away from toxins, which is crucial to the spread of bacterial infection. These motors can rotate at up to 100,000 revolutions per minute, yet can switch directions in milliseconds.

1 Aug 2010

Mobile phones dirtier than we thought: Study

According to research for a UK consumer group mobile phones can harbor 18 times more living bacteria than a lavatory seat. For the study a hygiene expert swabbed and analysed 30 handsets and found seven had high levels of environmental bacteria.

28 Jul 2010

ViroPharma second-quarter net sales increase 33% to $109.0 million

ViroPharma Incorporated reported today its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010.

28 Jul 2010

Roche to present diagnostics testing solutions at 2010 Clinical Lab Expo

Roche is featuring a diverse portfolio of diagnostics testing solutions for healthcare professionals in booth #2808 at the AACC/CSCC 2010 Clinical Lab Expo here, July 27-29 – and it's giving them a unique way to see firsthand where their own "dream lab" might take them.

From Roche Sequencing and Life Science 28 Jul 2010

Advanced Life Sciences enters agreement with UBC to develop antimicrobial peptides

Advanced Life Sciences Holdings, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of novel drugs in the therapeutic areas of infection, oncology and respiratory diseases, today announced that the Company has entered into a sponsored research and option agreement with The University of British Columbia (UBC) to develop several antimicrobial peptides.

27 Jul 2010

National Jewish Health receives $31M NIH contract to study skin infections associated with atopic dermatitis

The National Institute of Allergy and Infections Disease has awarded a five-year $31 million contract to National Jewish Health, which is leading a consortium of academic medical centers seeking to better understand skin infections associated with atopic dermatitis. The researchers will focus on antibiotic-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections and widespread viral infections of the skin, both of which are more prevalent among atopic dermatitis patients.

23 Jul 2010

NovaBay reports positive results from NVC-422 Phase 2a proof-of-concept clinical trial for impetigo

NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that its lead product candidate was safe and efficacious against the highly contagious skin infection impetigo in a Phase 2a proof-of-concept clinical trial. This dose-ranging study showed that the drug cleared impetigo infections, including those in the trial caused by a drug-resistant strain of bacteria called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA. Impetigo afflicts approximately 1 million people, primarily infants and children, in the United States annually.

21 Jul 2010

Phase 2 CUBICIN study for prosthetic joint infections meets primary endpoint

Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading acute care therapeutics company, today announced that its Phase 2 safety study of CUBICIN (daptomycin for injection) in the treatment of prosthetic joint infections caused by certain Gram positive pathogens met its study objectives. This study was a first-of-its-kind randomized controlled Phase 2 trial studying anti-infective therapy in the setting of 2-stage surgery for the replacement of infected prosthetic hip or knee joints.

19 Jul 2010

Insight into inner functional mechanisms of new bacterial infection target

In any battle, sizing up one's opponent is a critical first step. For researchers fighting a bacterial infection, that means assessing every nook and cranny of the malicious microorganism and identifying which ones to attack.

14 Jul 2010

Universal surveillance for MRSA decreased HAIs related to devices: Study

Pitt County Memorial Hospital today announced results of a study demonstrating that universal surveillance for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus decreased health care-associated infections related to devices. Infection rates decreased 68 percent for ventilator-associated pneumonias; 51 percent for central line-associated bacteremias; and 49 percent for catheter-associated urinary tract infections.

14 Jul 2010

Palex to distribute MDI's Detect-Ready MRSA assay in Spain

Molecular Detection Inc. (MDI), a company developing Detect-Ready™ assays designed to increase the speed and accuracy of infectious disease diagnosis, and Palex Medical S.A., one of Spain's leading distributors of medical device and diagnostic products to hospitals, today announced that they have entered into an exclusive distribution agreement for MDI's Detect-Ready™ MRSA assay in Spain.

13 Jul 2010

Study recommends hospital to install antibacterial keyboards in triage, registration areas

A recent study conducted at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit revealed that the computer keyboards with the highest level of germs were found in the triage and registration areas of the hospital's emergency department. These high-traffic areas create a source of some of the deadliest viruses - such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus -- reinforcing demand for products developed by UNOTRON, creator of hermetically sealed, dishwasher-safe, medical-grade washable computer keyboards, scroll wheel mice, and smartcard readers.

13 Jul 2010

Department of Agriculture asks consumers to discard Milky Way Farm's hard cheddar cheese

The Department of Agriculture today advised consumers who purchased aged hard cheddar cheese made with raw milk from Milky Way Farm in Troy, Bradford County, to discard the product immediately because of potential bacterial contamination. The Bureau of Food Safety has identified 20 pounds of raw milk cheddar cheese that entered the consumer market.

9 Jul 2010

Roche Molecular Systems receives FDA clearance for new LightCycler MRSA Advanced Test

Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) cleared its new LightCycler® MRSA Advanced Test for the detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) for clinical use in the United States.