Intestinal Worm Infections May Actually Help Promote Healing
Intestinal worm infections may not be all bad, according to a new study by William C. Gause, PhD, and colleagues at UMDNJ- New Jersey Medical School. The researchers have found cytokines that help oust intestinal worm infections in mice also soothe associated lung injury and inflammation. Cytokines are proteins released by cells that in turn play a role in communications among various cells in the body. The new study has been published online in advance of print in Nature Medicine.
Â
Many intestinal worms take a detour through the lungs en route to the gut. One such worm is Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, the equivalent in rodents to human hookworm, which currently infects over 700 million people worldwide. As this worm passes through the lungs, it induces tissue damage and inflammation.
To counter this assault, the body mobilizes a specific type of immune response called a Th2 response, which promotes expulsion of the worms. But the benefits of Th2 dont end there, according to the new research. Specific cell populations and immune proteins induced during a Th2 response to these parasites, including macrophages and interleukin (IL)-4 and -13, help to repair the worm-induced damage to the lungs. The parasite-induced Th2 response appears to activate multiple factors that are important in acute wound healing and control of inflammation, which together orchestrate an enhanced wound healing response. In mice unable to respond to these proteins, the researchers found that lung damage went unchecked.
Thus it is possible that promoting Th2 responses, triggered by parasites, may be beneficial in the treatment of wounds as well as acute lung injury caused by respiratory infections such as pneumonia.
APIC Salutes 2025 Trailblazers in Infection Prevention and Control
June 18th 2025From a lifelong mentor to a rising star, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) honored leaders across the career spectrum at its 2025 Annual Conference in Phoenix, recognizing individuals who enhance patient safety through research, leadership, and daily practice.
Building Infection Prevention Capacity in the Middle East: A 7-Year Certification Success Story
June 17th 2025Despite rapid development, the Middle East faces a critical shortage of certified infection preventionists. A 7-year regional initiative has significantly boosted infection control capacity, increasing the number of certified professionals and elevating patient safety standards across health care settings.
Streamlined IFU Access Boosts Infection Control and Staff Efficiency
June 17th 2025A hospital-wide quality improvement project has transformed how staff access critical manufacturer instructions for use (IFUs), improving infection prevention compliance and saving time through a standardized, user-friendly digital system supported by unit-based training and interdepartmental collaboration.
Swift Isolation Protocol Shields Chicago Children’s Hospital During 2024 Measles Surge
June 17th 2025When Chicago logged its first measles cases linked to crowded migrant shelters last spring, one pediatric hospital moved in hours—not days—to prevent the virus from crossing its threshold. Their playbook offers a ready template for the next communicable-disease crisis.
Back to Basics: Hospital Restores Catheter-Associated UTI Rates to Prepandemic Baseline
June 16th 2025A 758-bed quaternary medical center slashed catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) by 45% over 2 years, proving that disciplined adherence to fundamental prevention steps, not expensive add-ons, can reverse the pandemic-era spike in device-related harm.
