Disease/Infection News

RSS

Lassa fever epidemic in Nigeria beginning to slow, but concern remains

After nearly 400 confirmed infections and 100 deaths, the spread of Lassa fever in Nigeria is beginning to slow but the epidemic is far from contained, the World Health Organization and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control have warned.

28 Mar 2018

Antibiotics overuse leading to exponential rise in 'super bugs' finds study

According to scientists from the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy (CDDEP), Princeton University, ETH Zurich and the University of Antwerp in Belgium, overuse of antibiotics has led to a situation that super bugs or bugs that are resistant to most antibiotics are on an exponential rise. These microbes are typically not responsive to the antibiotics that they were initially responsive to.

28 Mar 2018

New long-acting delivery system has potential to lessen side effects from NRTIs

An HIV diagnosis, while no longer constituting a death sentence, brings with it a lifetime, daily regimen of medication to help continually combat the virus.

27 Mar 2018

LSTM researchers show potential of novel antiparasitic drug to combat malaria

Researchers from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine have shown the large potential impact of a completely new type of antimalarial drug that kills mosquitoes, as opposed to existing drugs that target the parasite, to reduce the spread of malaria.

27 Mar 2018

Antibiotic use linked to higher risk of severe viral disease in mice

People infected with West Nile virus can show a wide range of disease. Some develop life-threatening brain infections. Others show no signs of infection at all. One reason for the different outcomes may lie in the community of microbes that populate their intestinal tracts.

27 Mar 2018

Adjuvant therapy may not improve survival for rare cancers

A recent study found that adjuvant therapy following surgical removal of a rare form of gastrointestinal tumor has no effect on survival rates for patients.

26 Mar 2018

Using machine learning to predict C. difficile infection risk

Researchers have developed a series of machine learning models that can predict a patient’s risk of infection by C. difficile, a gastrointestinal pathogen.

26 Mar 2018

Using VR to Go Back in Time for Those Living with Alzheimer's

Currently, there are an estimated 46 million people worldwide living with dementia. There is currently no cure, and no way to prevent the onset of dementia. The Wayback Project was created by a group of friends and former colleagues who wanted to create virtual reality films that allow patients to go 'back in time'.

26 Mar 2018

Researchers characterize S. aureus gene involved in virulence and antibiotic resistance

An Institut Pasteur-CNRS research team has characterized a Staphylococcus aureus gene involved in virulence, biofilm formation and resistance to certain antibiotics.

23 Mar 2018

Scientists create synthesized antibiotic capable of treating superbugs

A "game changing" new antibiotic which is capable of killing superbugs has been successfully synthesized and used to treat an infection for the first time -- and could lead to the first new class of antibiotic drug in 30 years.

23 Mar 2018

Experts highlight urgent need to prevent infections in patients undergoing hemodialysis

Patients with kidney failure who are treated with hemodialysis are at substantially increased risk of life-threatening infections.

23 Mar 2018

Genetic mutation that may protect people from malaria found to be more common

A genetic mutation that may protect people from malaria, but was thought to be rare, is surprisingly common, suggest the findings of a new study led by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute.

23 Mar 2018

Foil-based measuring chip rapidly detects Legionella

In an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease, finding the exact source as quickly as possible is essential to preventing further infections. To date, a standard analysis takes days. Researchers at the Technical University of Munich have now developed a rapid test that achieves the same result in about 35 minutes.

23 Mar 2018

Novel vaccine technologies can help better prepare for future infectious disease threats

Novel vaccine technologies are critical to improving the public health response to infectious disease threats that continually emerge and re-emerge, according to scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health.

22 Mar 2018

Study reveals genes that cause extreme nausea and vomiting in pregnancy

Researchers have identified two genes that are associated with severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, a condition known of as hyperemesis gravidarum.

22 Mar 2018

New ocular inserts allow patient's cornea to absorb more antibiotics

The anatomic and physiologic structure of the eyes constitutes by itself an important barrier when administering medicine. The amount of medicine that passes through the cornea by applying creams or drops is very limited and it is necessary to develop alternative, more effective ways of administering them ocularly.

22 Mar 2018