April 2019

European experts sound alarm as mosquito- and tick-borne diseases set to flourish in warmer climate

New research presented at this year’s European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) in Amsterdam, Netherlands (13-16 April) shows that the geographical range of vector-borne diseases such as chikungunya, dengue fever, leishmaniasis, and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is expanding rapidly. Spurred on by climate change and international travel and trade, vector-borne disease outbreaks are…

Ecological study identifies potential association between antimicrobial resistance and climate change

New research presented at this week’s 29th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) in Amsterdam, Netherlands (13 – 16 April 2019), identifies a novel association between antibiotic resistance and climate change. The study was conducted at the Institute of Infection Control and Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), Germany, in collaboration…

Petting zoos could potentially transmit highly virulent drug-resistant bacteria to visitors

New research presented at this year’s European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) in Amsterdam, Netherlands (13-16 April) shows that petting zoos can create a diverse reservoir of multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria, which could lead to highly virulent drug-resistant pathogens being passed on to visitors. The study is by Professor Shiri Navon-Venezia of…

Public health experts urge people to seek prompt medical advice if they suspect rabies exposure

There is only a short window of opportunity to seek medical help before rabies becomes almost invariably fatal, but people wait an average of 10 days before seeking medical advice following exposure to potentially rabid animals overseas, according to new research being presented at this year’s European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID)…

‘Superbugs’ found on many hospital patients’ hands and what they touch most often

IMAGE: A summary of findings from a study of multidrug resistant organisms, or MDROs, on the hands and often-touched objects of hospital inpatients. view more  For decades, hospitals have worked to get doctors, nurses and others to wash their hands and prevent the spread of germs. But a new study suggests they may want to expand…

Rite Aid to Stop Selling E-Cigarettes, Citing Surge in Young Users

Rite Aid, one of the country’s biggest pharmacy chains, will stop selling e-cigarettes and vaping products because of concern that they are fueling tobacco use among middle and high school students across the United States. Rite Aid said Thursday that it would remove the products from its more than 2,400 stores over the next 90…