Jet-air dryers should not be used in hospital toilets
Jet-air hand dryers in hospital toilets spread more germs than disposable paper towels and should not be used, say researchers.
Low antibiotic concentration in the environment enough to increase antimicrobial resistance in laboratory conditions
Microbial communities are equipped with effective defence mechanisms against antibiotics. Existing antimicrobial resistance may become increasingly prevalent on its own – with no interference from antibiotics – in compact bacterial communities known as biofilms, or when protozoa hunt bacteria for food.
Cases of Measles in Malta
The following information has been published by the superintendent of Public Health
Combining antibiotics changes their effectiveness
The effectiveness of antibiotics can be altered by combining them with each other, non-antibiotic drugs or even with food additives. Depending on the bacterial species, some combinations stop antibiotics from working to their full potential whilst others begin to defeat antibiotic resistance, report EMBL…
Cystitis treatment: back to the 1950s
Doctors are beginning to prescribe antibiotic treatments from the 1950s for benign infections to fight antibiotic resistance and preserve the effectiveness of newer antibiotics. But these “old” antibiotics were not tested in the same way as their modern counterparts before being put on the market,…
When your immune system meddles in your love life
About a decade ago, evolutionary psychologists suggested that humans have evolved a first line of defense against disease: a behavioural immune system (BIS). This system is thought to be unconsciously activated, to varying degrees, when an individual perceives, rightly or wrongly, that there is a…
Childhood Measles Linked to Increased Risk of Later Lung Disease
In a new Respirology study, having measles—a highly contagious respiratory infection—during early childhood was linked with an increased risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in middle age, but only in adults with asthma and a considerable history of smoking.
Re-Introducing an ‘Old’ Antibiotic May Help Fight Multi-Drug Resistant Bacteria
A new study indicates that the drug fosfomycin may be effective for treating multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. In most European countries, the oral formulation is only approved as a 3 gram single dose for the treatment of uncomplicated cystitis; however the Pharmacology Research & Perspectives study…
Three or More Cups of Coffee Daily Halves Mortality Risk in Patients with Both HIV and HCV
Novel five-year study highlights importance of behaviors such as coffee drinking and not smoking on health and survival of HIV-infected patients, report investigators in the Journal of Hepatology
Chikungunya virus infection in Italy
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control issued a risk assessment on the ongoing outbreak of chikungunya virus infection in Italy. Two related clusters of autochthonous transmission of chikungunya virus have been detected in Italy in the city of Anzio and in Rome, two…
Nurses’ regular use of disinfectants is associated with developing COPD
Regular use of disinfectants is linked to a higher risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to new research looking at incidence of the disease in over 55,000 nurses in the USA.
Safe sex messages in bars could reduce sexual risk taking
Placing safe sex messages in pubs, bars and clubs could improve the sexual conduct of drinkers.