Strategies to Prevent & Control C. difficile in Health Care Facilities—Part 1
In an exclusive interview with Contagion®, Maureen Spencer, Accelerate Diagnostics, discusses different strategies to prevent and control C. difficile in health care facilities.
Can Tooth Decay Explain the Pathogenesis of Certain Infectious Diseases?
A review in Trends in Microbiology provides insight into the role of biofilms in the pathogenesis of polymicrobial infectious diseases.
HIV Suppression: Separating Fact From Fiction
We cover 10 things you need to know about HIV viral suppression, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Drug-Resistant Strain of Gonorrhea Spreads to North America
According to a recent dispatch from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a drug-resistant strain of Neisseria gonorrhoeae was found in Canada this year.
E. Coli Bacteria Produce Toxic Protein to Ward Off Other Bacteria
In a new study, researchers have learned more about a toxin produced by an E. coli strain to communicate with neighboring bacteria.
No Benefits for Protease Inhibitor Plus Raltegravir As Second Line in HIV
Treatment with a protease inhibitor plus raltegravir was found to offer no benefit over a protease inhibitor plus nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor regimen in patients with HIV.
Top 5 Contagion® News Articles for the Week of November 12, 2017
Stay up-to-date on the latest infectious disease news by checking out our top 5 articles of the week.
World Toilet Day: Importance of Preventing Sanitation-Associated Infectious Diseases
World Toilet Day, November 9th, is dedicated to promoting awareness and inspiring action against the global sanitation crisis.
Swabbing Our Way to a Solution for Antibiotic Resistance—Part 2
What microbial growth was found after Contagion® writer, Saskia Popescu swabbed & sent her samples?
Study Suggests Naturally-Acquired Immunity Against Zika Virus May Already Occur
The results of a new study suggest that naturally-acquired immunity against the Zika virus may already occur in women in endemic regions of the world.
Is a "Hard Stop" Method the Key to Reducing Inappropriate C. difficile Testing?
A testing stewardship effort found that using a “hard stop” alert system may help reduce inappropriate C. difficile testing.
Antiviral Drug Identified as Effective Ebola Fighter
A research team has found that an antiviral drug available in Russia and a few other countries shows promising results when it comes to fighting Ebola virus disease.
Tuberculosis Susceptibility Has Genetic Basis
Researchers are gaining a greater understanding of the role that human genetics plays in determining who contracts tuberculosis as well as how severely it impacts its victims.
Study Finds Administering Colistin with Minocycline Reduces Colistin-Induced Acute Renal Failure
A recent study seeks to determine if the combination of minocycline with colistin could decrease the incidence of acute renal failure in those treated.
Madagascar's "Worst Plague Outbreak in 50 Years" May Finally Be Winding Down
The latest WHO External Situation Report suggests that the plague outbreak that has been ravaging Madagascar for months may finally be winding down.
Are We Ready for the Next Flu Pandemic?
At a recent event called "The Next Pandemic," researchers agreed that the world is not ready for the next big flu pandemic and discussed what it will take to strengthen preparedness.
Congress Pushes for Predictive Models for Zika and Other Infectious Disease Outbreaks: Public Health Watch
Congress has requested more information about how government agencies are currently using predictive modeling and simulation technologies to assess the country’s risk for outbreaks and prepare responses.
Study Finds HPV-Related Respiratory Disease Prevented by Vaccine
Researchers have found that human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine may also protect against recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, a rare, but incurable childhood respiratory disease.
Aging and HIV Infection Linked With Changes in Gut Microbiome
Clinicians should counsel individuals with HIV on avoiding health-related behaviors that may alter their gut microbiota and instead practices those that may decrease inflammation.
FDA Approves First Digital Pill to Track Medication Adherence
The FDA has approved the first sensor-equipped pill capable of digitally tracking whether patients are adhering to their prescribed medications.
Case Report Provides New Insights on Dosing of Novel Drug for Patients with Cystic Fibrosis
The results of a new study may provide a basis for estimating appropriate dosing regimens of ceftolozane/tazobactam in patients with cystic fibrosis.
Legionella in Disneyland Emphasizes the Growing Difficulties of Legionnaires' Disease Prevention
A recent outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, shows that even the “happiest place on earth” isn’t immune to this virulent pathogen.
Hepatitis A Outbreak Triggers Efforts to Clean Up Homeless Encampments Along San Diego River
As the hepatitis A outbreak in San Diego continues, officials focus their efforts on homeless encamped along the San Diego River. Is the situation improving or getting worse?
Are China's Rural Clinics Doing Enough to Fight TB?
A new study suggests that village clinics are not properly dealing with the ongoing problem of tuberculosis in rural China.
The US is In The Golden Age of Vaccine Development
With 264 vaccines in the pipeline in the United States, the future for the prevention of diseases appears to be extremely bright.
Healthcare-Associated Infections Are Being Used to Highlight Poor Administration Practices
Hospital employees are increasingly using hospital infection rates to highlight gaps in training, education, and staffing.
Top 5 Contagion® News Articles for the Week of November 5, 2017
Undetectable=Untransmittable: A Message That Needs Pushing
Studies have proven that undetectable levels of HIV mean an individual cannot transmit the virus to someone else. Now the word needs to spread.
Are Electric Bandages the Key to Fighting Biofilm Infections?
Researchers from the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center have found that special electric bandages can disrupt biofilm infection and enable healing in already infected burn wounds.
HEPLISAV-B Approved by FDA
The vaccine is the only 2-dose regimen for the prevention of infection by all known subtypes of hepatitis b in adults 18 and older.