http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. Antibiotic resistance has been recognised in recent years as a major healthcare problem, however, a paper in The Lancet Infectious Diseases reviewing the issue on a global scale, concludes that, not enough attention is given to the critical role that the natural environment plays in the cycling of antibiotics and the associated development of resistance by bacteria. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-03-recognising-role-environment-global-antibiotic.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Tue, 12 Mar 2013 08:50:02 EST news282296269 (HealthDay)—The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued new guidelines for identifying and treating a common childhood ailment that can cause a lot of misery—the ear infection. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-02-pediatrics-group-issues-ear-infection.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Mon, 25 Feb 2013 11:30:01 EST news281013422 Malaysian researchers have revealed the presence of multidrug-resistant strains of Listeria monocytogenes in frozen burger patties taken from supermarkets and other retail shops in Malaysia. The research was published in Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-01-emerging-antibiotic-resistance-listeria.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Thu, 24 Jan 2013 07:17:50 EST news278234260 Pneumonia cannot be accurately diagnosed solely on a doctor's analysis of symptoms and patient history, according to new findings. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-01-gp-judgement-accurately-cases-pneumonia.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Wed, 23 Jan 2013 19:00:01 EST news278184257 (HealthDay)—Decision support strategies can help reduce the over-prescription of antibiotics for acute bronchitis in primary care settings, according to a study published online Jan. 14 in JAMA Internal Medicine. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-01-decision-antibiotic-usage-bronchitis.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Tue, 15 Jan 2013 13:20:01 EST news277477721 People with cystic fibrosis (CF) will be able to access the latest research findings about their condition, volunteer for clinical trials and influence the direction of future scientific studies through a new website being launched later this week.  http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-01-website-cystic-fibrosis-patients.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Tue, 08 Jan 2013 06:11:13 EST news276847866 The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), and the American Dental Association (ADA) found that there is insufficient evidence to recommend the routine use of antibiotics for patients with orthopaedic implants to prevent infections prior to having dental procedures because there is no direct evidence that routine dental procedures cause prosthetic joint infections. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-12-evidence-insufficient-routine-antibiotics-joint.html Other Tue, 18 Dec 2012 13:23:07 EST news275059377 Marking the fourth annual World Pneumonia Day, November 12th, world leaders and the Global Coalition Against Child Pneumonia are calling for major efforts in the fight against childhood pneumonia, which remains the number one killer of children under age five. Pneumonia claimed 1.3 million lives in 2011 alone, and was responsible for nearly one in five global child deaths. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-pneumonia-killer-children-decline-global.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Mon, 12 Nov 2012 09:57:11 EST news271936622 Eight weeks after antibiotic treatment of infants, the diversity of gastrointestinal flora remained diminished, although the number of individual bacteria was back to normal, according to a paper in the November 2012 issue of the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. Additionally, the potentially disease-causing Proteobacteria were now the dominant population in the treated infants. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-antibiotics-disrupt-gut-flora-infants.html Medications Fri, 09 Nov 2012 07:33:53 EST news271668821 (Medical Xpress)—Many antibiotics can lose their ability to kill bacteria – Duke University bioengineers believe they can explain one of the reasons why. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-mechanism-antibiotic-tolerance.html Medical research Fri, 19 Oct 2012 07:27:45 EST news269850459 With their excellent sensitivity and specificity, the use of these extremely efficient tests on a world-wide scale would allow us to adapt antibiotic treatments to the individual's needs and to be more successful in controlling antibiotic resistance, particularly in hospitals. These works were published in September in two international reviews: Emerging Infectious diseases and The Journal of Clinical Microbiology. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-rapid-diagnosis-resistance-antibiotics.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Fri, 12 Oct 2012 11:05:17 EST news269258707 Antibiotic treatment with amoxicillin/clavulanate improves moderate exacerbations in patients with mild-to-moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and significantly prolongs the time between exacerbations, according to a new study from researchers in Spain. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-antibiotic-therapy-moderate-exacerbations-mild-to-moderate.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Fri, 07 Sep 2012 12:43:47 EST news266240616 For decades before antibiotics became generally available, sunshine was used to treat tuberculosis, with patients often being sent to Swiss clinics to soak up the sun's healing rays. Now, for the first time scientists have shown how and why heliotherapy might, indeed, have made a difference. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-high-doses-vitamin-d-tuberculosis.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Mon, 03 Sep 2012 15:00:23 EST news265889620 The antibiotic most commonly prescribed to treat bloodstream infections in dialysis patients may not always be the best choice, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-08-commonly-antibiotic.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Thu, 16 Aug 2012 17:00:05 EST news264345269 A more accurate, faster diagnostic test for Group B Streptococcal infection in babies has been reported in the Journal of Medical Microbiology. The new test could allow better treatment and management of the disease and reduce the risk of mortality among newborns. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-06-accurate-diagnostic-deaths.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Tue, 26 Jun 2012 19:00:03 EST news259944620 (Medical Xpress) -- Non-infectious proteins of the species of bacteria that causes Lyme disease can remain in the body for a long time after antibiotic therapy, and are capable of causing an inflammatory immune reaction that could contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant arthritis, Yale researchers have found. The study appears in the online Journal of Clinical Investigation. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-06-lyme-disease-perpetuate-inflammation.html Inflammatory disorders Tue, 26 Jun 2012 07:23:37 EST news259914197 (Medical Xpress) -- Recognition of severe septic shock early and starting a patient on an effective antibiotic treatment immediately is critical to saving lives, according to an editorial by two Virginia Commonwealth University physicians published in the May 31 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-06-early-identification-treatment-septic.html Medications Fri, 01 Jun 2012 08:00:01 EST news257753676 A simple, cheap dose of zinc helps the recovery of newborns suffering from bacterial infections such as pneumonia and meningitis, according to an Indian study reported on Thursday in The Lancet. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-05-dose-zinc-boosts-recovery-chances.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Thu, 31 May 2012 04:40:01 EST news257657226 Consumption of probiotics (live microorganisms, which may occur naturally in foods such as yogurt, intended to confer a health benefit when consumed) is associated with a reduced risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, a common adverse effect of antibiotic use, according to a review and meta-analysis of previous studies published in the May 9 issue of JAMA. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-05-probiotics-diarrhea-antibiotic.html Medications Tue, 08 May 2012 16:00:07 EST news255710407 In the E coli outbreak in Germany in May 2011, treatment with azithromycin was associated with a lower frequency of long-term carriage of the bacteria and shorter duration of shedding of the bacteria in stool specimens, according to a study in the March 14 issue of JAMA. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-intestinal-coli-infection-antibiotic-duration.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:00:08 EST news250868968 Aggressive infections in hospitals are an increasing health problem worldwide. The development of bacterial resistance is alarming. Now a young Danish scientist has found a natural substance in a Chilean rainforest plant that effectively supports the effect of traditional treatment with antibiotics. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-02-rainforest-combats-multi-resistant-bacterial-strains.html Medical research Mon, 20 Feb 2012 04:48:05 EST news248935650 Yet another study adds to the growing evidence that antibiotics can disrupt the balance of the intestinal flora, with negative effects on health. A team of researchers from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, has shown in mouse models that a single dose of the commonly used antibiotic, clindamycin, wiped out nearly 90 percent of bacterial taxa, leaving the mice unusually susceptible to infection by Clostridium difficile, a bacterial pathogen that is innocuous for most health people but that can cause severe diarrhea in individuals following antibiotic treatment.  Their research appears in the January issue of the journal Infection and Immunity. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-01-dose-antibiotic-mice-highly-vulnerable.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:40:01 EST news246272882 New research published online in the FASEB Journal (http://www.fasebj.org) suggests that the types and levels of bacteria in the intestines may be used to predict a person's likelihood of having a heart attack, and that manipulating these organisms may help reduce heart attack risk. This discovery may lead to new diagnostic tests and therapies that physicians use to prevent and treat heart attacks. In addition, this research suggests that probiotics may be able to protect the heart in patients undergoing heart surgery and angioplasty. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-01-microbiome-disease-gut-bacteria-severity.html Medical research Fri, 13 Jan 2012 02:00:02 EST news245640484 MGB Biopharma, a biopharmaceutical company which has licensed technology from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland, is developing a powerful new antibiotic treatment for resistant infections including the deadly MRSA and Clostridium difficile (C. diff.) bugs. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-09-powerful-diff-treatment.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:49:59 EST news235666182 Analysis by Indiana University School of Medicine researchers of ten years of scientific studies has resulted in changes in American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations for how initial urinary tract infection in infants and toddlers is diagnosed and treated. This change will affect thousands of children every year. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-iu-analysis-diagnosis-utis-young.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Tue, 30 Aug 2011 11:25:56 EST news233922348 Measuring the levels of a natural body chemical may allow doctors to reduce the duration of antibiotic use and improve the health outcomes of critically ill patients. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-antibiotic-critically-ill-patients.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Wed, 03 Aug 2011 12:17:31 EST news231592078 New research conducted at Uppsala University shows that extremely low concentrations of antibiotics can enrich for antibiotic resistant bacteria. The research suggests that antibiotic residue introduced to the environment via people and animals contributes to the problem of antibiotic resistance. The findings have just been published in the well-respected journal PLoS Pathogens. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-07-small-amounts-antibiotics-big-problems.html Medications Fri, 22 Jul 2011 07:50:15 EST news230539777 The recent outbreak of an E. coli infection in Germany has resulted in serious concerns about the potential appearance of a new deadly strain of bacteria. In response to this situation, and immediately after the reports of deaths, the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf and BGI-Shenzhen began working together to sequence the bacterium and assess its human health risk. BGI-Shenzhen has just completed the sequence and carried out a preliminary analysis that shows the current infection is caused by an entirely new super-toxic E. coli strain. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-06-bgi-sequences-genome-deadly-coli.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Thu, 02 Jun 2011 09:34:08 EST news226226032 A new Chlamydia test can quickly and easily demonstrate the subtype (serovar) of the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis a person is infected with. This has important clinical implications, because some Chlamydia subtypes, that particularly appear in homosexual men, need longer treatment with antibiotics. So far, it was not possible to demonstrate with one test only which subtype of Chlamydia trachomatis a person is infected with. Moreover, the new testing method is less time consuming than before. Koen Quint studied the new test in his PhD research project. The newly developed test is now commercially available. If there is no need to test the subtype, the test may also be used only to show whether someone is infected with Chlamydia. Koen Quint will defend his PhD thesis on Thursday, May 26 at VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-05-chlamydia-infection.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Tue, 24 May 2011 10:26:41 EST news225451590 People with severe asthma are more likely to have antibodies against the disease-causing bacteria Chlamydia pneumoniae than the general population and in some cases antibiotic treatment can greatly improve symptoms according to research presented today at the 111th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-05-role-bacteria-asthma-potential-antibiotic.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Mon, 23 May 2011 12:25:27 EST news225372313