McMaster researchers uncover hidden antibiotic potential of cannabis
(McMaster University) The research team found that CBG had antibacterial activity against drug-resistant MRSA. It prevented the ability of that bacteria to form biofilms, which are communities of microorganisms that attach to each other and to surfaces; and it destroyed preformed biofilms and cells resistant to antibiotics. CBG achieved this by targeting the cell membrane of the bacteria. These findings in the laboratory were supported when mice with an MRSA infection were given CBG. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - February 26, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news
Cannabis compound acts as an antibiotic
(American Chemical Society) Public health agencies worldwide have identified antibiotic resistance of disease-causing bacteria as one of humanity's most critical challenges. However, scientists haven't discovered a new class of antibiotics in more than 30 years. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Infectious Diseases have uncovered the hidden antibiotic potential of a non-psychoactive cannabis compound called cannabigerol (CBG), which helped control methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in mice. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - February 26, 2020 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news
Increased Mortality Seen With Empirical Anti-MRSA Treatment for Pneumonia Increased Mortality Seen With Empirical Anti-MRSA Treatment for Pneumonia
Empirical anti-MRSA treatment is associated with an increased risk of 30-day mortality in patients hospitalized for pneumonia, compared with standard antibiotic therapy, according to a retrospective study.Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Pathology Headlines)
Source: Medscape Pathology Headlines - February 22, 2020 Category: Pathology Tags: Pulmonary Medicine News Source Type: news
Empirical Anti-MRSA vs Standard Antibiotic Therapy and Risk of 30-Day Mortality in Patients Hospitalized for Pneumonia
US-based cohort study of 88,605 hospitalisations for pneumonia did not find a mortality benefit for treatment with empirical anti –methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA) therapy vs standard antibiotics for any group of patients examined, even those with risk factors for MRSA. (Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH))
Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH) - February 20, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Effect of Vancomycin or Daptomycin With vs Without an Antistaphylococcal β-Lactam on Mortality, Bacteremia, Relapse, or Treatment Failure in Patients With MRSA Bacteremia: A Randomized Clinical Trial
RCT (n=352) found no significant difference in the primary composite end point of mortality, persistent bacteremia, relapse, or treatment failure for addition of an antistaphylococcal β-lactam to standard antibiotic therapy (vancomycin or daptomycin) vs standard therapy alone. (Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH))
Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH) - February 13, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Drug Combo No Better in MRSA Blood Infections, Ups Risk Drug Combo No Better in MRSA Blood Infections, Ups Risk
Adding a beta-lactam to standard therapy for MRSA bacteremia does not improve outcomes and appears to up the risk for kidney injury, data from a randomized controlled trial showed.Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Internal Medicine Headlines)
Source: Medscape Internal Medicine Headlines - February 11, 2020 Category: Internal Medicine Tags: Infectious Diseases News Source Type: news
Trial shows using two drugs not better than one when treating MRSA blood infections
(University of Melbourne) Researchers attempting to improve the treatment for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) blood infections have discovered the combination of two antibiotics was no better than one, and led to more adverse effects. In what is the biggest trial of MRSA bloodstream infections to date, (352 participants from Australia, Singapore, New Zealand and Israel), the CAMERA2 clinical trial, researchers were surprised to see the drug combination wasn't as effective as anticipated. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - February 11, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news
The Coronavirus Outbreak Should Bring Out the Best in Humanity
Pandemics are perversely democratic. They’re nasty, lethal and sneaky, but they don’t discriminate. No matter your age, ethnicity, religion, gender, or nation, you’re a part of the pathogenic constituency.
That shared vulnerability, and the resulting human collectivism—a universal response to a universal threat—is newly and vividly evident in the face of the now-global outbreak of the novel coronavirus known as 2019-nCoV. As of writing, there have been over 30,000 diagnosed cases and over 630 related deaths. A virus that emerged in a single city, Wuhan, China—indeed, in a single crowded ...
Source: TIME: Health - February 8, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Jeffrey Kluger Tags: Uncategorized 2019-nCoV Infectious Disease Source Type: news
FDA Tells Purell Maker to Stop Making False Claims
The agency warned Gojo Industries that unsubstantiated claims that Purell can help prevent illnesses such as the flu, Ebola virus, norovirus and the MRSA superbug violate federal laws, The New York Times reported Tuesday. (Source: WebMD Health)
Source: WebMD Health - January 29, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
F.D.A. Warns Purell to Stop Claiming It Can Prevent Ebola or Flu
The Food and Drug Administration told the maker of Purell hand sanitizers to discontinue marketing campaigns that the agency complained also included claims for avoiding illness from other viruses. (Source: NYT Health)
Source: NYT Health - January 28, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Sheila Kaplan Tags: Purell Drugs (Pharmaceuticals) Cleansers, Detergents and Soaps Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Influenza Norovirus Ebola Virus Gojo Industries Inc Food and Drug Administration Hygiene and Cleanliness your-feed-healthcare Source Type: news
FDA Warns Purell To Stop Making Unproven Claims About Hand Sanitizers
(CNN) — The US Food and Drug Administration is giving the maker of Purell products a stern warning: Stop making unproven claims that over-the-counter hand sanitizers help eliminate Ebola, MRSA or the flu.
In a “warning letter” to Purell’s parent, Gojo Industries, the agency called out the company for making numerous marketing claims that potentially position its sanitizing products as a pharmaceutical drug rather than an over-the-counter topical antiseptic.
The letter from the agency’s director of compliance cited numerous examples of what the FDA says are unproven claims for Purell products m...
Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - January 27, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Health – CBS Boston Tags: Boston News Health Syndicated CBSN Boston CNN Hand Sanitizer Source Type: news
Nasal and Skin Decolonization Safely Replaces Contact Precautions for MRSA-Colonized Patients Nasal and Skin Decolonization Safely Replaces Contact Precautions for MRSA-Colonized Patients
Nasal and skin decolonization safely and less expensively replaced contact precautions for patients colonized with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at one U.S. hospital network, according to a new report.Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Critical Care Headlines)
Source: Medscape Critical Care Headlines - January 27, 2020 Category: Intensive Care Tags: Infectious Diseases News Source Type: news
UK still free of coronavirus cases
Patients with symptoms advised to call GP rather than attend practice Related items fromOnMedica Warn patients that natural malaria immunity fades Single-dose malaria drug eliminates parasite from liver Should we have compulsory measles vaccination at school entry? Parents still following folklore methods for cold prevention Double check patients with ‘penicillin’ allergy to avoid MRSA risk (Source: OnMedica Latest News)
Source: OnMedica Latest News - January 26, 2020 Category: UK Health Source Type: news
Lack of antibiotics in low income countries 'worsening superbugs threat'
Only three new treatments available in 10 or more poorer countries, report findsMany antibiotics are unavailable in poorer countries despite higher infection rates, exacerbating the threat of drug-resistant superbugs, according to a report to bepresented to world leaders and the bosses of top pharmaceutical companies in Davos.The report, released by the Access to Medicine Foundation, an Amsterdam-based non-profit group, also shows that the number of new treatments being developed for common infectious diseases such as pneumonia, tuberculosis and gonorrhoea has fallen.Continue reading... (Source: Guardian Unlimited Science)
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - January 21, 2020 Category: Science Authors: Julia Kollewe Tags: Antibiotics Business Davos 2020 Drugs MRSA and superbugs Health Source Type: news
Cannabis compound could be weapon in fight against superbugs
Mice cured of MRSA, raising hopes of treating antibiotic-resistant bacteriaA compound made by cannabis plants has been found to wipe out drug-resistant bacteria, raising hopes of a new weapon in the fight against superbugs.Scientists screened five cannabis compounds for their antibiotic properties and found that one, cannabigerol (CBG), was particularly potent at killing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), one of the most common hospital superbugs.Continue reading... (Source: Guardian Unlimited Science)
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - January 19, 2020 Category: Science Authors: Ian Sample Science editor Tags: Drug resistance Antibiotics Medical research Cannabis Science UK news Source Type: news
