June 29, 2012
A round-up of news on drug resistance and other topics in global health.
In a study published in Nature, Yale University researchers examine which molecular sensors turn Salmonella virulent, presenting a new potential target in dangerous bacteria for drugs to disarm. [Futurity]
An op-ed in SciDev co-authored by Ramanan Laxminarayan stresses the need for cross-border cooperation in eradicating infectious diseases. [SciDev]
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that two patients in a Rhode Island hospital have tested positive for bacteria containing an enzyme called New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM), which makes the bacteria resistant to most antibiotics. [HealthMap]
In new research set to be published in the Journal of Animal Science, USDA scientists have discovered that adding sodium chlorate to the feed or water of livestock decreases intestinal concentrations of bacteria harmful to humans. [Food Safety News]
The CDC has released a new guide to help healthcare facilities control the spread of Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), which cause infections that can be difficult to treat. [Controversies in Hospital Infection Prevention]
In a new study published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, scientists have developed a non-antibiotic approach in the treatment of urinary tract infections through the use of non-antibiotic compounds called FimH antagonists. [ScienceBlog]
In a study in the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, Brown University engineers report that using selenium nanoparticles to coat medical devices and implants can effectively drive away staph bacteria. [Futurity]
An article in Science examines contentious issues surrounding methods of counting deaths and their causes in low- and middle-income countries, including wide disparities in estimated worldwide malarial deaths. [Science]
Salmonella typhimurium (pink) image via AJC1/Flickr
