TB Outbreaks Could be 'Solved' by DNA Tracking
September 4th 2012Reconstructing the spread of killer diseases such as tuberculosis (TB) from person to person using DNA sequencing quickly identifies the origin and movement of pathogens. This approach is directly informing public health strategies to control infectious disease outbreaks, says a scientist speaking at the Society for General Microbiology's Autumn Conference at the University of Warwick.
Lyme Disease Retreatment Guidance May be Flawed
August 30th 2012A new statistical review calls into question studies that have been taken as proof that antibiotic retreatment for chronic Lyme disease is futile. That misunderstanding has led to medical guidance that discourages retreatment and insurance coverage for it. Instead, the authors of the review suggest, the proper reading of the studies and their data is that they prove nothing.
Environmental Hygiene: What We Know from Scientific Studies
August 30th 2012A renewed interest in the healthcare environment and to what degree surface contamination contributes to the spread of infectious pathogens is driving a growing body of research in this area. Let's take a look at what we know about various aspects of environmental hygiene from the scientific literature.
Nurse Leader Resistance Perceived as a Barrier to High-Quality, Evidence-Based Patient Care
August 30th 2012A new national survey of more than 1,000 registered nurses suggests that serious barriers - including resistance from nursing leaders - prevent nurses from implementing evidence-based practices that improve patient outcomes.