March 01, 2013
A roundup of news on drug resistance and other topics in global health.
MRSA infection rates are still increasing, but at a slower pace than previous years, new CDDEP study published in the current issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology reports. [CDDEP]
A new CDDEP paper in PLoS Pathogens examines the relationship between two dangerous strains of drug-resistant staph bacteria: one that thrives in hospitals, and one that originated outside healthcare. [CDDEP]
Bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics that they have never been exposed to through mutations that enable them to cope with environmental stress, research published in the journal BMC Evolutionary Biology demonstrates. [New Scientist]
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently alerted healthcare providers on the increased incidences of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) and issued additional recommendations to prevent their emergence and spread. [NBC News]
In a new study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, researchers have reconstructed the sequences of beta-lactamase proteins, which are 2-3 billion year old ancestors of enzymes that currently provide resistance to antibiotics in bacteria. This research is expected to open the door to a scientific replay of the evolution of antibiotic resistance with an eye to finding new ways to cope with the problem.” [American Chemical Society]
In order to control antibiotic overuse, The American Academy of Pediatrics issued new guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of ear infections. [NPR]
A new report produced by the World Health Organization (WHO) identifies “top research priorities for infectious diseases of poverty in relation to environment and agriculture.” [WHO]
Research published in the journal PLoS One finds three new associations between human genetic variants and malaria severity. [Sanger Institute]
A review article on tuberculosis published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) highlights that strong political and financial commitments are necessary for the global control of tuberculosis. [NEJM]
Daily temperature variation is helpful in identifying areas prone to the risk of malaria infection, according to a study published in the journal Scientific Reports. [Penn State News]
A photo essay in the Time magazine illustrates the problematic rise of drug-resistant tuberculosis in India. [Time]
With Solve the Outbreak, CDC introduces a new game for the iPad in which users are expected to control fictional outbreaks based on real-life cases. [Huffington Post]
Image via sanofi-pasteur/Flickr
