Infections

Significant morbidity and mortality is caused by healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs), including surgical site infections (SSIs), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) and other healthcare-related infections and conditions caused by drug-resistant pathogens that jeopardize patient safety.

Infections May be Deadly for Many Dialysis Patients

An infection called peritonitis commonly arises in the weeks before many dialysis patients die, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). The findings suggest that peritonitis may be a deadly condition ...More
May 24, 2012
Posted in News
Potential New Drugs for Fox Tapeworm Infection in Humans

Scientists are reporting development and testing of a new series of drugs that could finally stop the fox tapeworm — which causes a rare but life-threatening disease in humans — dead in its tracks. The report, which appears in the American Chemical Society's Journal of ...More
May 16, 2012
Posted in News
Heart Infection Involving ICD Associated with High Rate of Complications, Risk of Death

Patients with infective endocarditis involving implanted cardiac devices experience a high rate of complications such as valve infections, heart failure, and persistent bacteremia, and high in-hospital and 1-year mortality rates, particularly if there is valve involvement, ...More
April 25, 2012
Posted in News
Bartonella Infection Associated with Rheumatoid Illnesses in Humans

A bacterium historically associated with cat scratch fever and transmitted predominately by fleas may also play a role in human rheumatoid illnesses such as arthritis, according to new research from North Carolina State University. Bartonella is a bacterium that is ...More
April 23, 2012
Posted in News
Research Offers New Clues to Prevent Infection in Cardiac Devices

Bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, the 'superbug' behind MRSA, can be a major problem for patients who have a medical implant, such as a replacement heart valve or pacemaker. Bacteria are able to form colonies – called biofilms – on the implanted device, which can lead ...More
April 10, 2012
Posted in News
Infection Linked to Blood Clots in Veins and Lungs

Older adults who get infections of any kind – such as urinary, skin, or respiratory tract infections – are nearly three times more likely to be hospitalized for a dangerous blood clot in their deep veins or lungs, University of Michigan Health System research shows. The ...More
April 3, 2012
Posted in News
Mayo Clinic Reports Emerging Fungal Infection in the Southwest That Mimics Cancer

An emerging fungal infection of the gastrointestinal tract that mimics cancer and inflammatory bowel disease appears to be emerging in the Southwestern United States and other desert regions, according to Mayo Clinic researchers in Arizona investigating the disease. The ...More
March 29, 2012
Posted in News
To Drive Infections, a Hijacking Virus Mimics a Cell's Signaling System

New biological research reveals how an invading virus hijacks a cell's workings by imitating a signaling marker to defeat the body's defenses. By manipulating cell signals, the virus destroys a defensive protein designed to inhibit it. This finding, from studies in human ...More
March 26, 2012
Posted in News
IDSA Issues Rhinosinusitis Guidelines to Help Doctors Distinguish Between Bacterial and Viral Cause

The vast majority of sinus infections are caused by viruses and should not be treated with antibiotics, suggest new guidelines released by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). Nearly 1 in 7 people are diagnosed with a sinus infection each year. Although sinus ...More
March 21, 2012
Posted in News
Public Disclosure of Hospital Infection Rates Varies by State

Only 21 states require public reporting of hospital data on surgical site infections and, even when disclosure is mandated, the information is often not easily accessible to patients who could use it to make decisions about their medical care, according to new Johns Hopkins ...More
March 19, 2012
Posted in News, Policies and Practice