Infections

World’s first malaria vaccine works in major trial

An experimental vaccine from GlaxoSmithKline halved the risk of African children getting malaria in a major clinical trial, making it likely to become the…    

Cholera epidemic spreads in west, central Africa: U.N.

A cholera epidemic sweeping through west and Central Africa, one of the biggest in the vast region’s history, has infected more than 85,000 people,…    

Can antivirulence drugs stop infections without causing resistance?

Antivirulence drugs disarm pathogens rather than kill them, and although they could be effective in theory, antivirulence drugs have never been tested in humans.…    

Alcohol impairs the body’s ability to fight off viral infection

Alcohol is known to worsen the effects of disease, resulting in longer recovery period after trauma, injury or burns. It is also known to…    

Two U.S. children develop flu from pigs: CDC

Two U.S. children were infected with flu viruses that originated in pigs in the past two months, and an analysis of both viruses showed…    

Statins reduce deaths from infection and respiratory illness, 8 years on from trial

The death rate among patients prescribed a statin in a major trial that ended in 2003 is still lower than those given a placebo,…    

Hospital-related infections drop under California initiative

Scores of California hospitals, under pressure to reduce infections that kill an estimated 12,000 patients every year, say they have managed to cut costs…    

Study identifies new way to treat common hospital-acquired infection

Researchers at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston have discovered a molecular process…    

Vaccinations: They Are Not Just For Kids, Says Loyola Expert

A new school year means more than new clothes, new books and a new grade level – it also means new shots for millions…    

Strengthening fragile immune memories to fight chronic infections

After recovering from the flu or another acute infection, your immune system is ready to react quickly if you run into the same virus…    

Experts redesign common microbe to fight drug-resistant bacteria

Researchers in Singapore have re-engineered a harmless strain of bacteria to fight another common, drug-resistant microbe that spreads in hospitals and is deadly to…    

Hepatitis C Transmitted by Unprotected Sex Between HIV-Infected Men

Sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is considered rare. But a new study by researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, working with…    

Purdue biologists identify new strategy used by bacteria during infection

Purdue University biologists identified a new way in which bacteria hijack healthy cells during infection, which could provide a target for new antibiotics.

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Copper kills 97 percent of hospital ICU bacteria: study

Antimicrobial copper surfaces in intensive care units (ICU) kill 97 percent of bacteria that can cause hospital-acquired infections, according to preliminary results of a…    

Copper reduces infection risk by more than 40 percent

Professor Bill Keevil, Head of the Microbiology Group and Director of the Environmental Healthcare Unit at the University of Southampton, has presented research into…    

Arizona death prompts probe for European E.coli link

U.S. health officials are investigating whether the death of an Arizona resident could be linked to the recent E.coli outbreak in Europe.

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Finding is a feather in the cap for researchers studying birds’ big, powerful eyes

Anthrax, septicemia and meningitis are some of the planet’s most deadly infections. In part because doctors lack basic insights to prevent and cure diseases…    

More vaccines for poor could save 6.4 million lives

Millions of children’s lives and billions of dollars could be saved if vaccines were more widely available in 72 of the world’s poorest countries,…    

Germany defends E.coli response as death toll rises

German ministers on Wednesday defended their response to the E.coli outbreak that has killed 24 people and signaled possible changes in the way the…    

Coffee drinking improves hepatitis C treatment response

Advanced hepatitis C patients with chronic liver disease may benefit from drinking coffee during treatment, according to a new study in Gastroenterology, the official…    

Europe E.coli is toxic new strain, trade row grows

A highly infectious new strain of E.coli bacteria is causing a deadly outbreak of food poisoning that is spreading from Germany across Europe, scientists…    

Study finds fire stations contaminated with MRSA

MRSA transmission may be occurring in fire stations, according to a study published in the June issue of the American Journal of Infection Control,…    

Noisy operations associated with increased infections after surgery

Patients who undergo surgery are more likely to suffer surgical site infections (SSIs) if the operating theatre is noisy, according to research published in…    

Study finds dangerous bacteria on cell phones of hospital patients

Cell phones used by patients and their visitors were twice as likely to contain potentially dangerous bacteria as those of healthcare workers (HCW), according…    

Do bedbugs carry superbugs?

Researchers in Canada have found bedbugs carrying antibiotic-resistant superbugs, a surprise finding because scientists had thought the pests were not capable of spreading infections.…