Abandoned antibiotic makes a comeback
Scarlet fever and infections of the skin and throat are often caused by a bacterium called Streptococcus pyogenes. In less-developed countries, inexpensive and well-tolerated antibiotics for therapy are often not available. Scientists of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig, Germany, have discovered that trimethoprim may provide an option. Contrary to a long-held belief, the bacteria are not generally resistant to this agent. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - March 21, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses Source Type: news
Comeback of an abandoned antibiotic: Trimethoprim
In less-developed countries, inexpensive and well-tolerated antibiotics for therapy of streptococcal infections are often not available. Scientists have discovered that trimethoprim may provide an option. Contrary to a long-held belief, the bacteria are not generally resistant to this agent. In their latest publication the scientists demonstrated three pathways for the development of resistance -- meaning that streptococci can easily become resistant to the antibiotic and pass on this trait quickly. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - March 19, 2014 Category: Science Source Type: news
Comeback of an abandoned antibiotic
(Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research) In less-developed countries, inexpensive and well-tolerated antibiotics for therapy of streptococcal infections are often not available. Scientists of the HZI in Germany have discovered that trimethoprim may provide an option. Contrary to a long-held belief, the bacteria are not generally resistant to this agent. In their latest publication the scientists demonstrated three pathways for the development of resistance -- meaning that streptococci can easily become resistant to the antibiotic and pass on this trait quickly. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - March 19, 2014 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news
Doctors issue new treatment guidelines for skin abscesses caused by MRSA
It has been more than 10 years since the clinical battle began with community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and doctors are still grappling with how to diagnose, treat and prevent this virulent form of staph infection, which is immune to many antibiotics. As MRSA cases have increased dramatically over the decade, so have the number of skin abscesses — generally pus-filled boils or pimples with discharge — that characterize these infections. Now, researchers from UCLA have issued updated guidelines outlining the best ways to treat and manage these abscesses. The first cases of MRSA were ...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - March 12, 2014 Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news
Doctors issue new treatment guidelines for skin abscesses caused by MRSA
It has been more than 10 years since the clinical battle began with community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and doctors are still grappling with how to diagnose, treat and prevent this virulent form of staph infection, which is immune to many antibiotics.
As MRSA cases have increased dramatically over the decade, so have the number of skin abscesses — generally pus-filled boils or pimples with discharge — that characterize these infections. Now, researchers from UCLA have issued updated guidelines outlining the best ways to treat and manage these abscesses.
The ...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - March 12, 2014 Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news
TMP-SMX Prevents Ocular Toxoplasmosis RecurrenceTMP-SMX Prevents Ocular Toxoplasmosis Recurrence
Extended treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole may reduce the risk of recurrence in patients with Toxoplasma gondii retinochoroiditis (TGR), according to a new study of 95 patients. Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Ophthalmology Headlines)
Source: Medscape Ophthalmology Headlines - January 27, 2014 Category: Opthalmology Tags: Ophthalmology News Source Type: news
Treatment of Infections Due to Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
This chapter reviews data on the treatment of infections caused by drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, particularly methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). This review covers findings reported in the English language medical literature up to January of 2013. Despite the emergence of resistant and multidrug-resistant S. aureus, we have seven effective drugs in clinical use for which little resistance has been observed: vancomycin, quinupristin–dalfopristin, linezolid, tigecycline, telavancin, ceftaroline, and daptomycin. However, vancomycin is less effective for infections with MRSA isolates that have a higher MIC w...
Source: Springer protocols feed by Microbiology - October 6, 2013 Category: Microbiology Source Type: news
Screening Libraries for Improved Solubility: Using E. coli Dihydrofolate Reductase as a Reporter
Low protein solubility is a problem in many areas of protein science. Although chemical methods have been developed to solubilize proteins these are not always effective and add to the cost of producing the protein. One way of overcoming these difficulties is to evolve the protein to be more soluble. A major hurdle in this process is the ability to select mutant proteins with enhanced solubility from a large library of randomly mutated proteins. In this article, we describe such a method. The method relies on the fact that increasing the expression of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) makes Escherichia coli resistant to Trime...
Source: Springer protocols feed by Biochemistry - February 21, 2013 Category: Biochemistry Source Type: news
NICE publishes QIPP Medicines Management document
Source: NICE
Area: News
NICE has published an evidence based document summarising medicines management options for local implementation on identified topics supporting the QIPP medicines use and procurement work stream. The document, which is not formal NICE guidance, covers the following identified topics:
. Laxatives
. Renin-angiotensin system drugs
. Lipid modifying drugs including ezetimibe
. Omega-3 fatty acid supplements
. High dose inhaled corticosteroids in asthma
. Hypnotics
. Low dose antipsychotics in people with dementia
. First-choice ant...
Source: NeLM - News - February 1, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
Could Renal Abscess Be a Complication of Pyelonephritis in this Patient?
Discussion
Urinary tract infections (UTI) are common. By the age of 7 years up to 8% of girls and 2% of boys have had a UTI. The current American Academy of Pediatrics criteria for a UTI diagnosis includes presence of pyruria (determined by microscopy) or leucocyte esterase (on dipstick) AND a culture-positive urine of < 50,000 colony-forming units/mL on a catheterized specimen, or >100,000 colony-forming units on a voided specimen. Because of possible contamination, bagged specimens are not acceptable. Clinical pyelonephritis (ie febrile UTI) is a fairly common problem in the pediatric population.
Learning Point
Renal abs...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - January 14, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Donna M. D'Alessandro, M.D. Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news
Cholera and Diarrhea
CHOLERA and DIARRHEA
At this very moment there is an outbreak of cholera in Zimbabwe– not a worldwide pandemic, but a localized epidemic. This is not a trivial point of interest, but a major news event that will not only have a dramatic impact on the population of Zimbabwe but also on the entire world as the aftermath of this epidemic will require international aid. Cholera will most likely kill thousands of people in Zimbabwe, impact tens of thousands of lives, and will continue to be a constant threat around the world and a very real concern for the adventurous and international travelers.
What is cholera?
Cholera...
Source: Wilderness Medicine Newsletter - January 1, 2009 Category: Rural Health Authors: wildernessmedicinenewsletter Tags: Cholera Diarrhea Source Type: news
