Low dose injections of artificial properdin provide substantial protection against septic diseases in mice
"I am really excited about this landmark discovery. We demonstrate that boosting the innate immune system can have a significant impact on the body's ability to defend itself against life-threatening infections" - Professor Wilhelm Schwaeble from the University of Leicester's Department of Infection, Immunity and InflammationResearchers at the University of Leicester have produced an artificial version of a naturally occurring protein, properdin, which has been found to successfully combat bacterial pneumonia and meningitis when tested in mice. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - March 26, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses Source Type: news
Artificial booster makes immune system dramatically more effective in fighting pneumonia and meningitis
Researchers at the University of Leicester have produced an artificial version of a naturally occurring protein, properdin, which has been found to successfully combat bacterial pneumonia and meningitis when tested in mice.In the new study, published today (24 March) in the online early edition of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the researchers have shown that a booster of the innate immune defence has a profound and immediate effect on the body's ability to clear infections, even when the bacteria have reached the bloodstream. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - March 25, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Immune System / Vaccines Source Type: news
TaiGen’s pneumonia antibiotic Taigexyn gets marketing approval in Taiwan
TaiGen Biotechnology Company (TaiGen) has received approval from the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) for its new drug application of Taigexyn oral formulation to treat community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CAP). (Source: Pharmaceutical Technology)
Source: Pharmaceutical Technology - March 17, 2014 Category: Pharmaceuticals Source Type: news
Targeting bacterial cell division to fight antibiotic resistance
Nowadays, people do not expect to die as a result of a common infection like bacterial pneumonia. However, many do. Indeed, some bacteria have become resistant to all available antibiotics, due to overuse. The trouble is that there are currently no antibiotic that can kill all possible pathogens. Until now, antibiotic resistance has been counteracted by isolating derivatives of the antibiotics that are less easily degraded or expelled by the bacteria, by working on chemical modifications of the available antibiotics or by giving a combination of the antibiotics available. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - March 14, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: MRSA / Drug Resistance Source Type: news
Deadly immune 'storm' caused by emergent flu infections
Scientists have mapped key elements of a severe immune overreaction -— a “cytokine storm” -— that can both sicken and kill patients who are infected with certain strains of flu virus. A cytokine storm is an overproduction of immune cells and their activating compounds (cytokines), which, in a flu infection, is often associated with a surge of activated immune cells into the lungs. The resulting lung inflammation and fluid buildup can lead to respiratory distress and can be contaminated by a secondary bacterial pneumonia -- often enhancing the mortality in patients. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - February 27, 2014 Category: Science Source Type: news
FDA Gives QIDP Status To The Medicines Company's Antibiotic Carbavance
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has moved The Medicines Company’s new drug Carbavance forward, according to a press release issued by the company. The FDA designated Carbavance as a Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP), which gives it FDA priority review and “fast track” status. Additionally, QIDP status allows the company five years of exclusivity when approved. The designation allows six indications that include febrile neutropenia, complicated urinary tract infections, intra-abdominal infections, hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia, and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia. (Source...
Source: Pharmaceutical Online News - January 22, 2014 Category: Pharmaceuticals Source Type: news
Clinigen provides VIBATIV to patients with hospital-acquired bBacterial pneumonia
Clinigen Group plc has announced the initiation of an early access program, managed by Clinigen Global Access Programs (Clinigen GAP), to provide the anti-bacterial VIBATIV® (telavancin) to patients in Europe with hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia (HAP) known or suspected to be caused by MRSA. HAP is an area of considerable unmet need; for the first time VIBATIV® will be available to physicians in Europe to treat eligible patients on an individual named patient basis (Source: Pharmacy Europe)
Source: Pharmacy Europe - January 22, 2014 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: ebercott Tags: *** Editor's Pick Infectious Disease Latest News Source Type: news
Doctors Ignore Advice On Sore Throats, Bronchitis
CHICAGO (AP) — Repeated warnings that antibiotics don’t work for most sore throats and bronchitis have failed to stop overuse: Doctors prescribed these drugs for most adults seeking treatment at a rate that remained high over more than a decade, researchers found.
The results are in two analyses of national health surveys from the late 1990s to 2010, representing more than 2 million annual visits to doctors’ offices or emergency rooms.
Antibiotics can have bad side effects, including stomach pain and severe diarrhea, and inappropriate prescriptions put patients at needless risk. The practice also can cause dr...
Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - October 3, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Kckatzman Tags: Health Local Antibiotics CBS Boston Diane Stern Harvard JAMA WBZ Source Type: news
Legionella subverts to survive
Bacteria of the genus Legionella have evolved a sophisticated system to replicate in the phagocytic cells of their hosts. LMU researchers have now identified a novel component of this system. In humans, Legionella is responsible for the so-called Legionnaires' disease, a form of bacterial pneumonia that is often lethal. The bacteria can also cause Pontiac fever, a flu-like condition characterized by coughing and vomiting. Most Legionella-associated illnesses in humans are caused by Legionella pneumophila... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - July 23, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses Source Type: news
Flu Increases Likelihood Of Bacterial Pneumonia 100-Fold
It's been known for more than two centuries that pneumonia cases increase during flu epidemics. But population-level epidemiological studies looking at seasonal patterns of influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia incidence have revealed either a modest association or have failed to identify any signature of interaction between the two. These seemingly inconsistent observations at the personal and population scales have puzzled public health officials... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - June 28, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Flu / Cold / SARS Source Type: news
Influenza infection increases likelihood of bacterial pneumonia 100-fold, U-Michigan-led study finds
(University of Michigan) It's been known for more than two centuries that pneumonia cases increase during flu epidemics. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - June 26, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news
Vibativ Approved for Certain Bacterial Pneumonia
Title: Vibativ Approved for Certain Bacterial PneumoniaCategory: Health NewsCreated: 6/24/2013 12:35:00 PMLast Editorial Review: 6/25/2013 12:00:00 AM (Source: MedicineNet Lungs General)
Source: MedicineNet Lungs General - June 25, 2013 Category: Respiratory Medicine Source Type: news
Vibativ Approved for Certain Bacterial Pneumonia
Only when other treatments aren't suitable (Source: Pulmonary Medicine News - Doctors Lounge)
Source: Pulmonary Medicine News - Doctors Lounge - June 25, 2013 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: webmaster at doctorslounge.com Tags: Pharmacy, Pulmonology, FDA Approvals, Source Type: news
FDA OKs Vibativ for Nosocomial Pneumonia
WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) -- The FDA has expanded the indications for the antibiotic telavancin to include treatment for hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia caused by Staphylococcus aureus. (Source: MedPage Today Emergency Medicine)
Source: MedPage Today Emergency Medicine - June 24, 2013 Category: Emergency Medicine Source Type: news
FDA Approves Vibativ for Bacterial Pneumonia
FDA Approves Vibativ for Hospitalized Patients with Bacterial Pneumonia (Source: eMedicineHealth.com)
Source: eMedicineHealth.com - June 24, 2013 Category: Journals (General) Source Type: news
