Antibiotics used to treat a variety of common bacterial infections are becoming more difficult to access, mostly because the drugs are less profitable for manufacturers to produce and market. Writing in a commentary in Clinical Microbiology and Infection [1], researchers say the problem is particularly acute for formulations needed to treat sick babies and children. […]
Category: Infectious diseases
Symptoms of cystitis probably caused by bacterial infection, even when tests are negative
The majority of women suffering with pain when urinating, or needing to urinate often or urgently probably do have a bacterial infection, even when nothing is detected by standard urine testing. Symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI) such as cystitis are common in women but, in around a quarter of cases, no infection is […]
Measuring immune response could be key to differentiating malaria from other infections
Vienna, Austria: Analysing a patient’s immune response could be key to quickly and accurately diagnosing malaria, according to research presented on World Malaria Day at the 27th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID). Malaria affects around 200 million people around the world but its non-specific symptoms, coupled with a lack of access […]
New test can identify dangerous bacteria with resistance to last-resort antibiotic
Vienna, Austria: New research suggests it is possible to quickly and accurately diagnose some the most dangerous and drug-resistant types of bacterial infections, using equipment already owned by most hospitals. Bacteria have been gradually evolving to become resistant to the antibiotics used to treat them. Over the last few year, scientists have found evidence that […]
Drug-resistant bacteria in patients’ urine or stools raise risk of drug-resistant sepsis
Vienna, Austria: People who have recently been found to have drug-resistant bacteria in their urine or stool samples have a greatly increased risk of developing a bloodstream infection that is also resistant to certain antibiotics, according to a study presented at the 27th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID). Sepsis affects an […]
New research sheds light on treating bloodstream infections with fewer side effects and without the need for antimicrobials of “last resort”
Vienna, Austria: Patients with bloodstream infections could avoid treatment with a combination of antimicrobial therapies if they are given the right drug as early as possible and if they are classified as at low risk of death. This would reduce the risk of adverse side effects, as well as the likelihood of drug resistance developing […]
Testing urine for particular proteins could be key to preventing kidney transplant failure
Vienna, Austria: Testing for molecular markers in the urine of kidney transplant patients could reveal whether the transplant is failing and why, according to research presented at the 27th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID). Transplants are life-saving treatments for patients with end-stage kidney disease but around 25% fail within five years, […]
Study of bacteria’s DNA fingerprint suggests it could be spreading around Europe via food distribution
Vienna, Austria: Foods should be investigated as a potential source of spread of Clostridium difficile, according to research presented at the 27th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID). Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) causes gut infections and can be particularly dangerous for elderly patients. Because it is resistant to commonly used antibiotics it […]
The cost of Clostridium difficile infections: thousands of hospital beds occupied a year and patients at higher risk of death if infection recurs
Vienna, Austria: Repeated infection with the bacterium Clostridium difficile (C. difficile), which causes stomach upsets and diarrhoea, is linked to higher death rates, as well as having a significant impact on health services in terms of cost and hospital beds occupied. In the first of two presentations at the 27th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology […]
WHO report is ‘major step forward’ in fight against drug-resistant bacteria
A new report by the World Health Organization lays out, for the first time, which antibiotic-resistant bacteria pose the greatest risk to global health and urgently need new effective treatments. The report was chaired by Prof. Evelina Tacconelli, executive committee member of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) in collaboration with […]