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Infections, not antibiotics, may be tied to childhood obesity
From The New York Times: Is the use of antibiotics in infancy tied to childhood obesity? Some studies suggest so, but a new analysis suggests the link may be with infections rather than antibiotics. Using records of a large health maintenance organization, researchers tracked 260,556 infants born from January 1997 through the end of March 2013. The database included details on antibiotic use, diagnosis, and height and weight from birth...
Type: Post
Mapping the human epigenome
The following news release was issued by PHSA on November 17, 2016. BC scientists play major role in international effort to map the human epigenome Vancouver – BC scientists and their colleagues from across the globe have made a major leap forward in understanding how the human body’s trillions of cells develop from a single genetic template, and how those genes interact with the environment. By mapping the epigenome (a...
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Mosquitoes capable of carrying Zika virus may have colony in Ontario
The insects tested negative for both the Zika and West Nile virus Species can carry Dengue fever From CBC.ca: A mosquito species capable of transmitting the Zika virus and other tropical diseases may have established a colony in southwestern Ontario, a development that could mean changes for Canadian healthcare providers. Two adult Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, also known as the Asian tiger mosquito, were recently trapped in Windsor-Essex, following the 17 found last...
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Researchers use antibiotics combo to kill first strain of highly resistant E. coli
Excerpted from Infection Control Today: The recent discovery of E. coli carrying mcr-1 and ndm-5 — genes that make the bacterium immune to last-resort antibiotics — has left clinicians without an effective means of treatment for this bacterium. But in a new study, University at Buffalo researchers have assembled a team of three antibiotics that, together, are capable of eradicating the deadly bacterium. The groundbreaking research was recently published in...
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Antibiotic-resistant genes are being spread via animal feed
Excerpted from The Independent: Antibiotic-resistant genes are being spread around the world in animal feed, according to new research that adds to fears humanity could lose one of our most important medicines. A UK government-commissioned report last year estimated 10 million people a year could die worldwide by 2050 because of the rise of ‘superbugs’, prompting the then Prime Minister David Cameron to announce a crackdown on over-prescribing by GPs...
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Case control study for MERS-CoV risk factors
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have published a study on Risk Factors for Primary Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Illness in Humans, Saudi Arabia, 2014. Read the full article in CDC Emerging Infectious Diseases, Volume 22, Number 1—January 2016., Produced by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), this highly-magnified, digitally-colorized scanning electron micrograph (SEM) reveals ultrastructural details at the site of interaction of numerous yellow-colored Middle...
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Antibiotics: 5 Myths Debunked
An interesting article from Medscape, by Brad Spellberg, MD Myth 1: Humans invented antibiotics in the 20th century Myth 2: Inappropriate antibiotic use causes the development of resistance Myth 3: To prevent resistance, patients must complete every dose of antibiotics prescribed, even after they feel better Myth 4: When antibiotic resistance emerges, it is usually a consequence of new mutations at the site of infection Myth 5: Cidal antibiotics result...
Type: Post