Treatment for C. diff May Be Weakening
The antibiotic vancomycin, recommended as first-line treatment for infection caused by the deadly superbug C. difficile (C. diff), may not be living up to its promise, according to new research…
Read MoreLatest News
WHO Announces Updated Terminology for Pathogens That Transmit Through the Air
Significant Global Variation in National COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines
Rise in Antibiotic Use for Conditions They Can’t Treat, Including COVID-19
MDRO Transmission Risk Appears Highest in Hospital Sinks
CDC Issues Alert on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus
Severity of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Versus COVID-19 and Flu Among Hospitalized U.S. Adults
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus Infection Reported in a Person in the U.S.
Monthly Magazine
The April 2024 Issue of Healthcare Hygiene Magazine is Now Available
Hands-on learning has been found to be more effective than mere classroom instruction in many sectors, so it’s no surprise that researchers continue to see promising results among students who…
Read MorePublic Health
Improving Health Communication to Save Lives During Epidemics
During epidemics of Ebola, COVID-19, Zika and other public health emergencies, effective communication of public health messages is crucial to control the spread of disease, maintain public trust, and encourage…
Read More
Experts Call for Global Genetic Warning System to Combat the Next Pandemic, Antimicrobial Resistance
Surveyed Infectious Diseases Experts Rate Influenza as the No. 1 Pathogen of Concern With Pandemic Potential
Testing Environmental Water to Monitor COVID-19 Spread in Unsheltered Encampments
Far-UVC Light Can Virtually Eliminate Airborne Virus Levels in an Occupied Room, Researchers Find
Case Report Shows Mpox Breakthrough Infection in Man Who Had Received Both Vaccine Doses
Humans Pass More Viruses to Animals Than We Catch From Them
AI Can Predict People’s Attitudes to Vaccines
Research News
Scientists Uncover Mechanism Affecting Generation of New COVID Variants
Researchers Investigate Vaccination Timeliness Among U.S. Children
AI Could Help Reduce Vaccine Hesitancy and Provide Helpful Advice on STIs
Researchers Model Viral Evolution
COVID-19 Outbreak Surveillance Through Text Mining Applied to EHRs
What Your COVID-19 Antibodies May Reveal About Your Recovery
Hunting an Underground Epidemic
Study Shows Human Medical Professionals are More Reliable Than Artificial Intelligence Tools
Researchers Explore Relationship Between HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis and the Incidence of Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Syphilis
Severe Lung Infection During COVID-19 Can Cause Damage to the Heart
A Protein Found in Human Sweat May Protect Against Lyme Disease
Study Provides New Insights Into Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Antibiotics/Antimicrobials
Physicians Under-utilize Next-Gen Antibiotics to Fight Resistant Infections in U.S. Hospitals
Despite Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approval of seven next-generation antibiotics to fight infections caused by resistant Gram-negative bacteria, clinicians frequently continue to treat antibiotic-resistant infections with older generic antibiotics considered…
Read More
Oral Vaccine for UTI is Potential Alternative to Antibiotics, Finds 9-Year Study
Researchers Report on Barriers Associated With Antimicrobial Stewardship
Breakthrough Antibiotic Shows Promise Against Obstinate Mycobacterial Infections
Researcher Discovers How Heteroresistance Impacts Antibiotic Resistance
Influenza
Metabolic Health Before Vaccination Determines Effectiveness of Anti-Flu Response
Metabolic health (normal blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels, among other factors) influences the effectiveness of influenza vaccinations. Vaccination is known to be less effective in people with obesity…
Read More
New Antibodies Target “Dark Side” of Influenza Virus Protein
How Children’s Birthdays Help Determine the Best Month for Flu Shots
New Type of Antibody Shows Promise Against Multiple Forms of Flu Virus
Flu Complications Largely Preventable With Annual Vaccine, Experts Say
Bacterial/Viral Research
Research Defines Specific Genomic Changes Associated With the Transmissibility of the Monkeypox Virus
Mount Sinai scientists, in collaboration with researchers from the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII) in Madrid, Spain, have located and identified alterations in the monkeypox virus genome that potentially correlate…
Read More
Researchers Identify New Genetic Risk Factors for Persistent HPV Infections
New TB Classification to Support Efforts to Eliminate the Disease
Newly Identified Yeast Could Prevent Fungal Infections by Outcompeting Rivals, Study Suggests
Our Bacteria are More Personal Than Previously Thought, Study Shows
Scientists Find Weak Points on Epstein-Barr Virus
Researchers Develop Economical Tool to Facilitate Identification of Disease-Causing Pathogens
How T Cells Combat Tuberculosis
Researchers Uncover the Architecture of Poxvirus Cores
Engineering Viruses to Kill Deadly Pathogens
Environmental Hygiene
Scientists Discover How Ultraviolet Light Degrades Coronavirus
New research has revealed how light can be used to destroy infectious coronavirus particles that contaminate surfaces. Scientists are interested in how environments such as operating rooms can be thoroughly…
Read More
Researchers Say Chlorine Disinfectant is No More Effective Than Water at Killing C. difficile
Germicidal UV Lights Could be Producing Indoor Air Pollutants, Study Finds
How Biofilm Changes the Understanding of Cleaning and Disinfection in Healthcare Settings
Researchers Review Multimodal Environmental Cleaning Strategies to Prevent HAIs
Expert Reviews the Past, Present and Future of Hospital Cleaning
Transmission Precautions
Decolonization Efforts in Hospitals and Nursing Homes Associated With Lower MDRO Carriage and Infections
In this quality improvement study of 35 healthcare facilities in Orange County, California, using quasi-experimental design, chlorhexidine bathing and nasal decolonization were associated with significantly lower multidrug-resistant organism prevalence and…
Read More
Study Reveals the Perceived Effectiveness of Various Protective Measures During the Pandemic
Incidence of Fit-Test Failure During N95 Respirator Reuse and Extended Use
Belief in Efficacy of Antimicrobial Gloves May Encourage Misuse, Researchers Caution
Requirement to Wear Masks in Hospitals May Have Had Little Impact on COVID-19 Transmission During Omicron Wave, UK Study Suggests
Quality Improvement
Study Shows Higher Mortality Rates for Patients on Respiratory Support in Rural Intermediate-Care Units
A new National Institutes of Health (NIH)-supported study finds that patients receiving ventilator life support in the intermediate care units – a potentially less costly alternative for people not sick…
Read More
Majority of U.S. Hospitals Found COVID-19 Reporting Directives to be Inconsistent
Nursing Assistant Turnover Linked to Scheduling Decisions
New App to Bridge Information Gap Between Hospitals and Nursing Homes
Improvement Projects to Reduce CLABSIs Face Real-Word Challenges and Complexities
Guidelines
WHO Updates its Guidance on Treatments for COVID-19
A panel of international experts representing the World Health Organization’s Guideline Development Group has updated its guidance on treatments for patients with COVID-19. The new recommendations published by The BMJ…
Read More
Societies Release Updated Recommendations for Elective Surgery After COVID-19 Infection
ACP Issues Practice Points on Treating COVID-19 Patients in Outpatient Settings
New Guidance for Preventing Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia is Released
Intersocietal Position Statement Addresses Confusion Over Ultrasound Disinfection Practices
Diagnostics
Scientists Close in on TB Blood Test Which Could Detect Millions of Silent Spreaders
Scientists have taken a major step toward developing a blood test that could identify millions of people who spread tuberculosis unknowingly. A breakthrough study has discovered a group of biological…
Read More
Non-Culturable Legionella Identified With Sequencing
Direct-to-Consumer Microbiome Testing Lacks Regulation and Clinical Validity
New Project Will Use Next-Gen, at-Home Rapid Test to Track COVID-19, RSV and Flu
Study Shows Rapid COVID-19 Tests Done at Home are Reliable
Glowing COVID-19 Diagnostic Test Prototype Produces Results in 1 Minute
Scientists to Develop Breathalyzer Test for COVID, RSV, Influenza A
Made-to-Order Diagnostic Tests May be on the Horizon
HCW-Collected Throat Specimen Had Higher Sensitivity for Rapid Antigen Testing for SARS-CoV-2 Than Nasal Specimen
Scientists Invent Single, Rapid Test for Both HIV and TB
HAIs
Study Identifies Key Risk Factors for SSI Following Commonly Performed Surgery
Review Indicates No Proof That Indwelling Catheters Cause More UTIs Than Intermittent Catheterization
Researchers Find Bundle Can be Effective in Reducing the Frequency of SSIs
New Findings May Reduce the Risk of Infection for Patients With Urinary Catheters
Catheter Infections Among Elderly Decreased After Better Preventive Efforts
Surgeon Experience, Implementation of SSI Surveillance System Associated With Better Outcomes After Colorectal Surgery
Impact of COVID-19 on HAIs in ICU Patients
