In late December, officials at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center confirmed the demise of a second patient who contracted Legionnaires’ disease. The administration has not divulged precise details related to the time; however, it was noted that the patient was already battling serious health issues, akin to the first individual who tested positive earlier. As…
A scientific research paper recently published explores the species distribution, clinical prevalence, and antimicrobial profiles of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) within a tertiary hospital over a period of two years. The main objective of this retrospective analysis was to serve as a reference guide for clinical anti-infection strategies and hospital infection control measures. Key areas examined…
In a key decision aimed at addressing patient safety and public health, the cabinet of Cyprus, led by Health Minister Michalis Damianos, approved a series of measures to tackle the escalating issue of antimicrobial resistance and hospital-related infections. Described by Damianos as one of the country's most significant health challenges, the high rate of antibiotic…
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is raising significant health alarms related to a drastic surge in the infections from carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), often referred to as 'nightmare bacteria' known for its resistance to some of the most robust antibiotics available. Recent studies reveal that there has been a staggering 461 percent…
Infections contracted in the hospital can have devastating impacts, impacting both physical and emotional wellbeing. A recent case involves a patient named Olena who, initially healthy with only mild health concerns, went through a distressing journey after contracting an infection during a preventive colonoscopy procedure. This ordeal led her through a series of symptoms, diagnoses,…
The healthcare arena in Texas is grappling with the rapid spread of a deadly, drug-resistant fungus known as Candida auris, presenting long-term care facilities and immunocompromised patients with considerable challenges. As documented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 2,800 cases of this insidious fungal infection have occurred nationally this year,…
In the field of healthcare, infection prevention is paramount. A novel, open-access scientific and medical research paper published by Dove Medical Press investigates a pertinent issue: the rise of carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria (CR-GNB) in a hospital setting. Sourced from a peer-reviewed study conducted by Hou, Niu, Yu, and Wang from the Department of Clinical Laboratory…
Woo! Science column recently brought attention to the concerning Infection Prevention situation unfolding in the United States, highlighting a measles outbreak in Texas that resulted in two deaths. The ripple effects of this incident are far-reaching, extending beyond the state borders as the rubeola virus, responsible for measles, easily circumvents geographic and socio-cultural boundaries. Notably,…
Recent studies have dwelled on the escalating trend of the fungal infection, Candida auris, which has been on a disturbing rise. Notably, this increase is not contained to only single-source cases, but also, manifold sources have been spawning the infection. C. auris, ever since its first reported US case in 2016, has been recognized as…
A drug-resistant fungal infection assessed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as an 'urgent antimicrobial resistance threat' is experiencing a rapid upsurge in the United States. A recent hospital-based research points towards a marked escalation, particularly in areas like Florida and Georgia. Known as Candida auris (C. auris), this pathogen presents a…