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Lytix Biopharma completes two LTX-109 Phase I/IIa studies in MRSA, Gram+ skin infections

The Norwegian pharmaceutical company Lytix Biopharma today announces the successful completion of two Phase I/IIa studies with the topical antimicrobial drug Lytixar - one for nasal decolonisation of MRSA / MSSA bacteria and one for treatment of Gram+ skin infections.

26 May 2011

CDC reports 118 measles cases in 23 states, issues travel alert highlighting vaccination recommendations

CDC officials on Tuesday released a report stating that 118 measles cases in 23 states have been identified in the U.S. so far this year, more than double the average number of cases reported annually, the Associated Press/Seattle Times reports. While no one has died so far, 40 percent of cases required hospitalization, USA Today notes.

26 May 2011

Recent advances in vaccine development for malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS

Collectively, malaria, TB & HIV/AIDS cause more than five million deaths per year - nearly the entire population of the state of Washington - and represent one of the world's major public health challenges as we move into the second decade of the 21st century.

26 May 2011

Scarcity of resources calls for equitable distribution system for novel HCV treatment

For many patients with the hepatitis C virus, direct antiviral agents (DAA) offer a potential cure for the disease. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved two new DAAs, telaprevir and boceprevir, and with that clinicians must now decide who should be the first to receive this treatment.

25 May 2011

PolyMedix presents new pre-clinical data on antimicrobial compounds at two scientific meetings

PolyMedix, Inc., an emerging biotechnology company focused on developing new therapeutic drugs to treat life-threatening infectious diseases and acute cardiovascular disorders, announced today that new pre-clinical data for its novel, defensin-mimetic antimicrobial compounds was recently presented at two prestigious scientific meetings, including the American Society of Microbiology.

25 May 2011

PET scans can help determine patients' response to treatment for HIV-MDR tuberculosis

With the deficiencies in knowledge of tuberculosis-as well as in the practices, programs and strategies used to combat the disease and co-infection with human immunodeficiency virus-the spread of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis poses a major problem for the health care community.

25 May 2011

Doctors report hundreds of new cholera cases in Dominican Republic

A cholera outbreak in the Dominican Republic appears to be spreading, and health officials are reporting hundreds of new cases, the Associated Press/Washington Post reports.

25 May 2011

Global Fund freezes grants to China over suspected misuse of funds

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has frozen "payments of grants to China worth hundreds of millions of dollars over suspected misuse of the money and the government's reluctance to involve community groups in the projects," the Associated Press reports.

25 May 2011

U Should Know to launch new online sexually transmitted disease status-sharing service

U Should Know is a confidential, on-line STD Status-Sharing Service that allows college students and others to share results of their sexually transmitted disease testing with their partners.

25 May 2011

Ahead of U.N. General Assembly meeting next month, IPS examines global funding shortfall for HIV/AIDS treatment

Inter Press Service examines the global funding shortfall for antiretroviral treatment programs for people living with HIV/AIDS, noting that the U.N. General Assembly High Level Meeting on AIDS next month in New York "will shape the direction of the global response to HIV and AIDS for the next decade and beyond."

25 May 2011

Recent ACS podcast focuses on new rapid blood test that can detect MRSA infections

The latest episode in the American Chemical Society's award-winning podcast series, "Global Challenges/Chemistry Solutions," focuses on new blood test that can quickly tell whether patients are infected with an antibiotic-resistant bacterium that's become a global threat, significantly improving treatment.

25 May 2011

Diabetics have higher risk of contracting tuberculosis

People with diabetes have a three to five times higher risk of contracting tuberculosis (TB) than non-diabetics, according to researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

25 May 2011

MRSA, VRE traces found in bed bugs

Reports of bed bug infestations are on the rise worldwide. Recently, scientists in Canada studying five bed bugs found on patients at St. Paul's Hospital, found traces of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium, or VRE. However as of yet, no evidence indicating that bed bugs can transmit disease to humans has been found.

25 May 2011

Proteros, IP-K partner for structure-based drug discovery services in the field of infectious diseases

Proteros Biostructures GmbH announced today that it has entered into a service agreement with Institut Pasteur Korea (IP-K) under which Proteros will provide structure-based drug discovery services to IP-K.

25 May 2011

Vuvuzela unhealthy in more ways than one: Study

According to health experts, Vuvuzelas - the horns used by football fans celebrating last year's World Cup - not only cause noise pollution but may also spread diseases. According to a new study published in PLoS One journal it is seen that a short burst on the instrument creates a spittle shower similar to a sneeze, travelling at a four million droplets a second. Authors write that in crowded venues one person blowing a Vuvuzela could infect many others with airborne illness like the flu or TB.

24 May 2011

Whooping cough on the rise mandates continuation of vaccine drive

A sharp rise in the number of whooping cough (Pertussis) cases has prompted the New South Wales Government to extend a free vaccine program until at least the end of the year. The health authorities say it is extremely important for infants and older children to be vaccinated on time.

24 May 2011

Small pox virus destruction pushed back to 2014

The last existing vials of smallpox virus in the U.S. and Russia and due for destruction, have won at least another three years in existence. This is suggesting other countries concur with the U.S. about their value, one leading health official said. The experts and delegates at the annual meeting of the World Health Organization agreed on Tuesday to wait until 2014 to decide on a firm deadline for the final destruction of the lethal virus.

24 May 2011

Largest number of measles cases in the US since 1996: Report

According to the latest report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United States has had 118 measles cases so far this year, the most for this date since 1996, and close to 90% of them are linked to cases in other countries.

24 May 2011

HIV & hepatitis fears for soldiers at Middle East hospital due to protocol lapse

Australian soldiers and contractors might have been exposed to blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis or HIV after staff at Defense’s main hospital unit in the Middle East failed to sterilize surgical equipment properly.

24 May 2011

New study shows that closing schools, other measures limited H1N1 spread in Mexico

The H1N1 virus was new, and most of the cases occurred among young people. Health professionals and scientists weren’t sure at the onset what the world would encounter with the virus.

24 May 2011

Disease/Infection News

Lytix Biopharma completes two LTX-109 Phase I/IIa studies in MRSA, Gram+ skin infections

CDC reports 118 measles cases in 23 states, issues travel alert highlighting vaccination recommendations

Recent advances in vaccine development for malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS

Scarcity of resources calls for equitable distribution system for novel HCV treatment

PolyMedix presents new pre-clinical data on antimicrobial compounds at two scientific meetings

PET scans can help determine patients' response to treatment for HIV-MDR tuberculosis

Doctors report hundreds of new cholera cases in Dominican Republic

Global Fund freezes grants to China over suspected misuse of funds

U Should Know to launch new online sexually transmitted disease status-sharing service

Ahead of U.N. General Assembly meeting next month, IPS examines global funding shortfall for HIV/AIDS treatment

Recent ACS podcast focuses on new rapid blood test that can detect MRSA infections

Diabetics have higher risk of contracting tuberculosis

MRSA, VRE traces found in bed bugs

Proteros, IP-K partner for structure-based drug discovery services in the field of infectious diseases

Vuvuzela unhealthy in more ways than one: Study

Whooping cough on the rise mandates continuation of vaccine drive

Small pox virus destruction pushed back to 2014

Largest number of measles cases in the US since 1996: Report

HIV & hepatitis fears for soldiers at Middle East hospital due to protocol lapse

New study shows that closing schools, other measures limited H1N1 spread in Mexico

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