The Tipping Point: Patients predisposed to Clostridium difficile infection and a hospital antibiotic stewardship programme
This paper concludes that analytic models can prospectively identify most patients at the time of admission who later test positive for C. difficile. This approach to early identification may help AMS programmes pursue susceptibility testing and modifications to antibiotic therapies sooner in order to better prevent C. Difficile Infections (Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH))
Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH) - September 2, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Sepsis Care and Treatment in New Zealand and Australia
Sepsis is internationally recognized as a medical emergency.1 As a result, clinicians' attitudes toward its treatment has evolved over the last 10 years, and treatment regimes in both ambulance services and hospitals have become more aggressive. The key research finding that underpins these changes is that early antimicrobial therapy is essential in reducing mortality.2,3 The therapy also reduces in-hospital complications and shortens patient recovery times.
The most commonly adopted treatment for sepsis comprises administration of IV fluid alongside antimicrobial therapy.2,3 Evidence and support for the more aggressive tr...
Source: JEMS Patient Care - September 1, 2016 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Benjamin Wylie-Cheer, BHlthSc (Paramedic), PgCEM Tags: Patient Care Source Type: news
Antibiotic Therapy During Infancy Increases Type 1 Diabetes Risk in Mice
Three therapeutic doses administered during early life disturb the animals’ microbiomes and lead to enduring changes in the immune systems of non-obese diabetic mice, researchers report. (Source: The Scientist)
Source: The Scientist - August 22, 2016 Category: Science Tags: Daily News, News & Opinion Source Type: news
Yale-Trained Doctor Refutes Dangerous Misinformation Given by CDC's Dr. Paul Mead on Fox 5 Lyme Special
This study evaluated antibiotic vs placebo. The study was terminated early due to the determined likelihood that a beneficial effect would not be found. When this was critically analyzed with biostatistical methods, an article was published which I believe demonstrates that Klempner's study was so poorly designed and analyzed that in order for a treatment effect to have been observed, the antibiotic treated patients would have had to improve to a level of health which was a full standard deviation better than the average health of the general population. It's a reasonable hope for antibiotics to return a patient to a somew...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - August 16, 2016 Category: Science Source Type: news
Laboratory Blood Cultures: Past, Present, and Future
The expedient recovery of microorganisms from blood is an important subject both for the clinical microbiology laboratory and for the care of the patient. Blood culture techniques continue to be the subject of research and development, in part because the early identification of a potential microbial pathogen and because the subsequent antibiotic susceptibility results influence patient outcomes and guide targeted antimicrobial therapy. These functions are of even greater importance in the current era of multidrug-resistant pathogens and a more limited therapeutic armamentarium. (Source: Clinical Microbiology Newsletter)
Source: Clinical Microbiology Newsletter - July 23, 2016 Category: Microbiology Authors: Glen T. Hansen Source Type: news
"It's A Scandal" -Daryl Hall on Doctors Denying Chronic Lyme
Growing up a musically-obsessed child in the 80's, Daryl Hall was one of my biggest inspirations. A masterful, inventive songwriter with an ocean of soul, he set me on the path to being an artist, to never waste a word, and to sing because I mean it.
With six number ones and five additional top ten hits throughout the 70's and 80's Daryl Hall and John Oates are the number one duo in music history. Still at the top of his game at 69 years old, Daryl has won legions of new fans with his hit MTV Live show Live From Daryl's House.
In February of 2015, at my very sickest from chronic Lyme and Bartonella, after it was missed b...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - July 22, 2016 Category: Science Source Type: news
The trouble with antibiotics
Most people are aware of the potential downsides of taking an antibiotic. These side effects can range from allergic reactions to stomach upset, diarrhea, mental confusion, and in some cases, Clostridium difficile colitis – painful colon inflammation caused by a disruption in the normal balance of bacteria in the large intestine.
However, more recently, concerns regarding the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria are increasingly in the news.
“Antimicrobial stewardship” promotes the appropriate use of antimicrobial agents, including antibiotics, in order to improve patient outcomes, reduce drug resistance, and l...
Source: New Harvard Health Information - July 20, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Susan Farrell, MD Tags: Drugs and Supplements Infectious diseases Managing your health care Source Type: news
Clostridium tertium Bacteremia in a Patient with Febrile Neutropenia: Potential Benefit of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization–Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry
We report a patient with febrile neutropenia who developed Clostridium tertium bacteremia while receiving empiric broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy. The aerotolerance of C. tertium can result in its misidentification, thereby delaying diagnosis and the administration of appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Such delays in high-risk oncology patients, especially those with febrile neutropenia, could result in serious complications and adverse outcomes. C. tertium was rapidly and reliably identified by using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). (Source: Clinical Microbiology Newsletter)
Source: Clinical Microbiology Newsletter - July 12, 2016 Category: Microbiology Authors: María José González-Abad, Mercedes Alonso Sanz Source Type: news
Studies Show Early-Life Antibiotics Trigger Obesity in Pets
Most researchers agree that microbiota, much like all the organ systems of the body, is hugely important in terms of its impact on human and animal health. (In this context, microbiota, also called the "microbiome," is the collection of microorganisms that lives in and on the body.)
Microbiota serve many beneficial functions, including controlling pathogens, supporting the immune system, and producing vitamins and short chain fatty acids.
Currently there is exciting research underway into the microbiota of dogs and cats, and specifically, how it is impacted by the use of antibiotics.
Many Common Pet Diseases Are Linked ...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - June 9, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Inhaled Antibiotic Therapy for VAP and TracheobronchitisInhaled Antibiotic Therapy for VAP and Tracheobronchitis
Is inhaled antibiotic therapy a safe and effective treatment alternative for ventilator-associated respiratory infections? BMC Pulmonary Medicine (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Source: Medscape Today Headlines - May 9, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Pulmonary Medicine Journal Article Source Type: news
Study: longer-term antibiotics won't ease chronic Lyme disease
Steven Reinberg and HealthDay News People with persistent symptoms associated with Lyme disease are unlikely to find relief from longer-term antibiotic therapy, according to a new Dutch study. (Source: Health News - UPI.com)
Source: Health News - UPI.com - March 31, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Antibiotics for Lyme Disease -- How Long is Enough?
How long to treat patients with Lyme remains an issue of controversy. With traditional antibiotic therapy, lasting 2-4 weeks, 10-20% of patients will have ongoing symptoms including fatigue, joint pain, insomnia, and complaints of “brain fog.” Indefinite long-term treatment is advocated by ILADS (International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society), based on a patient’s symptoms. In contrast, IDSA (Infectious Disease Society of America ) only recommends 2-4 weeks treatment. The two groups are bitter adversaries. (Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News)
Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News - March 31, 2016 Category: Pharmaceuticals Authors: Judy Stone Source Type: news
Long-term antibiotic therapy ineffective for persistent Lyme symptoms
(Reuters Health) - Twelve weeks of antibiotic therapy proved ineffective at combating the long-term symptoms seen in some people who have had Lyme disease, a new test of 280 sufferers found. (Source: Reuters: Health)
Source: Reuters: Health - March 30, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: healthNews Source Type: news
Long-term antibiotics ineffective for persistent Lyme disease
Long-term is no better than standard antibiotic therapy for persistent symptoms of Lyme disease, according to a report published online March 30 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Randomized... (Source: Family Practice News)
Source: Family Practice News - March 30, 2016 Category: Primary Care Source Type: news
Long-term antibiotics ineffective for persistent Lyme disease
Long-term is no better than standard antibiotic therapy for persistent symptoms of Lyme disease, according to a report published online March 30 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Randomized... (Source: Clinical Neurology News)
Source: Clinical Neurology News - March 30, 2016 Category: Neurology Source Type: news
