Disease/Infection News

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HALT-C trial reveals high mortality rates among patients with HCV

A three-year follow-up study of patients in the Hepatitis C Antiviral Long-term Treatment against Cirrhosis trial revealed that increased mortality among patients with advanced chronic hepatitis C who received long-term peginterferon therapy was attributed to non-liver related causes and occurred primarily in patients with bridging fibrosis.

8 Apr 2011

IBM discovers biodegradable nanoparticles that seek out and destroy drug-resistant bacteria

IBM's announcement of the first biodegradable nanoparticles that can seek out and destroy drug-resistant bacteria caps off a century of healthcare and life sciences innovation from IBM.

8 Apr 2011

New substance to tackle drug resistant tuberculosis

This year's World Health Day focuses on the growing threat of potentially deadly infections developing resistance to antimicrobial drugs - especially to antibiotics. On this occasion, the European Commission is presenting the promising results of two EU-funded international research projects which provide new hopes to help and treat people.

8 Apr 2011

GeoVax Labs to update its HIV/AIDS vaccine status at World Vaccine Conference

Harriet Robinson, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer at GeoVax Labs, Inc., will provide an update on the status of the Company's therapeutic and preventative HIV vaccines at the 2011 World Vaccine Conference at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center in Washington DC on Thursday, April 14.

8 Apr 2011

Hospira focuses on clinical surveillance systems to help reduce antimicrobial resistance

As part of World Health Day 2011, the World Health Organization is calling on policy makers, providers, the public and the healthcare industry to take action to combat the serious health threat of antimicrobial resistance.

8 Apr 2011

Opinions: Support antibiotic R&D; foreign aid budget cuts

"The framework for antibiotic discovery, development and approval is broken," Matthew Cooper of the University of Queensland and David Shales, former vice president at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, write in a Nature comment, calling for "a sustained effort from government and industry to develop new drugs quickly."

8 Apr 2011

IDSA develops plans to combat deadly antibiotic-resistant 'super bugs'

To head off a health care disaster, the Infectious Diseases Society of America has developed a plan to combat deadly antibiotic-resistant "super bugs" and is rolling out the multi-pronged plan today, on World Health Day 2011.

8 Apr 2011

New CDC guidelines to reduce risk of catheter-associated infections in the U.S.

The CDC has announced new guidelines to reduce the risk of catheter-associated infections in the United States. The guidelines now designate treatment with chlorhexidine gluconate-impregnated sponge as a category 1B recommendation exclusively based on evidence related to BIOPATCH® Protective Disk with CHG.

7 Apr 2011

World Health Day 2011 highlights problem of antimicrobial resistance

On the eve of World Health Day 2011, Inter Press Service examines the growing global challenge of antibimicrobial resistance.

7 Apr 2011

Top 10 global pharmaceutical company, Medicago sign deal to develop non-influenza vaccine

Medicago Inc., a biotechnology company focused on developing highly effective and competitive vaccines based on proprietary manufacturing technologies and Virus-Like Particles, today announced that it has entered into a research collaboration agreement for the development of a non-influenza vaccine candidate with a top 10 global pharmaceutical company.

7 Apr 2011

Opinions: Doctor shortages; harm reduction

In his column in the Guardian, Jonathan Wolff, a professor of philosophy at University College London, says despite the U.S. being viewed as having the best system of higher education in the world, the country "simply does not train enough doctors to meet its voracious appetite for medical attention" and therefore "is compelled to raid the world to make up the difference."

7 Apr 2011

Superbugs and antibiotic resistance

Health experts come together today (Thursday) to warn that a new form of superbug that gives bacteria the power to resist virtually all known antibiotics is spreading quickly, posing a global health disaster. It is called New Delhi metallobeta-lactamase, or NDM-1 for short. This enzyme destroys carbapenems, an important group of antibiotics used for difficult infections in hospitals, and has been found in a wide variety of bacterial types. British researchers last August reported that infections involving NDM-1 had been found in patients in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Britain.

6 Apr 2011

Optimer, Cubist sign deal to market DIFICID for CDI treatment in the U.S.

Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the signing of an exclusive two-year co-promotion agreement to market DIFICID, in the United States.

6 Apr 2011

Study: Migratory birds play a key role in avian influenza transmission

The persistence and recurrence of H5N1 avian influenza in endemic regions can largely be blamed on movement and infection by migratory birds. Trade in poultry, poultry products and caged birds, and movement of wild birds also account for H5N1 prevalence in these areas.

6 Apr 2011

WSPA, BAWA partner for anti-rabies campaign in Bali

The World Society for the Protection of Animals, along with the Bali Provincial Authorities and WSPA partner the Bali Animal Welfare Association, is celebrating an important milestone in Bali's historic campaign to eradicate rabies.

6 Apr 2011

Novartis' TOBI Podhaler receives Health Canada NOC for Pa treatment in CF patients

Novartis Canada announced today that it has received Health Canada Notice of Compliance for TOBI Podhaler, a fast and convenient inhaled therapy for cystic fibrosis patients aged six and over.

6 Apr 2011

Increased risk of virologic failure associated with NNRTI-based regimens in HIV-1 drug resistance mutations

An analysis of data from 10 studies indicates that the presence of low frequency (also called "minority") human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) drug resistance mutations, particularly those involving nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) resistance, are significantly associated with an increased risk of first-line antiretroviral treatment failure, according to an article in the April 6 issue of JAMA.

6 Apr 2011

Bill Gates travels to Europe to promote global health investments

Bill Gates, co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is in Europe this week "in an effort to persuade Europeans not to cut aid budgets in the face of austerity - and in particular not to reduce spending on vaccinations and agriculture," the Wall Street Journal reports.

6 Apr 2011

HaloSource introduces new line of finished devices for in home point-of-use water treatment

HaloSource, Inc., the clean water and antimicrobial technology company, today launches its line of finished devices for in home point-of-use water treatment, powered by HaloPure(R) drinking water disinfection technology.

6 Apr 2011

MCH: HyGreen Hand Hygiene Reminder System reduces infections by 89%

Xhale Innovations, a leading provider of patient safety technology, announced today the results of a study presented by Miami Children's Hospital at the Annual Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America Conference on the HyGreen Hand Hygiene Reminder System.

6 Apr 2011