Bacterial Infections

Chinese scientists discover mysterious bacteria on Tiangong space station

Chinese scientists have named the new bacterial species 'Niallia tiangongensis' found in surface samples from the Tiangong Space Station. They could be useful in environments with limited nutrients

Just 8% of bacterial infections in India treated aptly in 2019: Report

Only about eight per cent of bacterial infections detected in 2019 in India were treated appropriately, according to an analysis of low- and middle-income countries. Findings published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal show that in 2019, there were nearly 15 lakh bacterial infections resistant to carbapenems -- a common antibiotic -- across eight countries that were under study. Carbapenems are used for treating severe infections -- such as those acquired from being inside a hospital, where bacteria resistant to antibiotics are abundant. Of the 15 lakh bacterial infections, only over a lakh treatment courses were procured -- the resulting treatment gap meant that only 6.9 per cent of the patients were treated appropriately, researchers, including those from the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP), Switzerland, found. "India procured most of the treatment courses (80.5 per cent; 83,468 courses), with 7.8 per cent of infections treated appropriately

Scrub typhus may be under-recognised cause of fever hospitalisation: Study

Affecting around a tenth of rural populations in India every year, 'scrub typhus' infection, spread by the bite of an infected larval mite (chigger), could be an "under-recognised" leading cause of hospitalisations for fever, a study has suggested. The study, conducted by the Christian Medical College, Vellore, and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), looked at over 32,000 people from across 37 rural villages in Tamil Nadu, with its results published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Chiggers are found on grass, plant litter and bare soil across rural areas of Asia, and usually feed on small mammals such as rats and shrews. Scrub typhus is caused by the bacterium 'Orientia tsutsugamushi', which belongs to the rickettsia family. Severe illness due to the infection can lead to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), shock, meningitis and kidney failure. Rural areas in India are among the most affected by the potentially life-threatening infection, along w

McDonald's E. coli outbreak in US: What to know about the deadly cases

E. coli is a bacterium found in animal intestines and the environment, including water and food. While many strains are harmless, some can lead to serious illness

McDonald's quarter pounders linked to E coli outbreak, says CDC as 1 dead

The true number of people infected is likely much higher than the 36 currently known and may involve additional states, the CDC said

Murine Typhus in Kerala: Everything about this rare bacterial disease

A Kerala man has been diagnosed with a rare bacterial disease Murine Typhus. According to a report, the man recently travelled to Vietnam and Cambodia. So what is this new rare disease

Natural ways to prevent fungus and mould during this monsoon season

Growth of mould, mildew, or fungus on clothing is not only annoying but also harmful to one's health. Here's what to do the next time you notice white, powdery mould growing on your things

Bharat Biotech partners with Alopexx to develop anti-microbial vaccine

Bharat Biotech on Wednesday announced a collaboration with Alopexx Inc for development and commercialisation of the latter's broad-spectrum anti-microbial vaccine in India and other low income countries. As part of the collaboration, the companies will co-develop and commercialise the vaccine -- AV0328, in India and other licensed territories, Bharat Biotech said in a statement. Alopexx would be entitled to a one-time upfront payment and milestone payments, as well as royalties on future sales of AV0328 in the licensed territories, it added. "Our goal is to develop solutions to reduce anti-microbial resistance through vaccination. This collaboration aligns with our mission to provide safe, affordable, and high-quality vaccines to combat infectious diseases globally," Bharat Biotech Executive Chairman Krishna Ella said. Alopexx CEO Daniel Vlock said, this collaboration brings the company one step closer to addressing the critical need for affordable, broad-spectrum antimicrobial ..

Antibiotic production waste fuelling drug-resistant bacteria, warns WHO

In a first, the World Health Organization (WHO) has issued norms on managing waste during antibiotic production

New research shows how viruses work where antibiotics fail against bacteria

Viruses called bacteriophages, or phages, target bacteria but can't infect humans or other higher organisms

Valley fever: All about the viral infection spread at California music fest

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued a warning that Valley fever cases are connected to the Lightning in a Bottle festival at Buena Vista Lake, California from May 21 to 25

Chimps 'seek out' medicinal plants to heal injuries, infections: Study

Chimpanzees sought out and ate medicinal plants to treat their injuries, according to a study. While wild chimpanzees are known to consume a variety of plant matter, researchers said it can be hard to figure out if they intentionally seek out medicinal plants to heal their ailments, or "passively" consume plants that happen to be medicinal. The study is published in the journal PLoS ONE. At the Budongo Central Forest Reserve in Uganda, the researchers, including those at the University of Oxford, UK, observed the behaviours and health of 51 wild chimpanzees, belonging to two habituated communities. The researchers observed a male chimpanzee with an injured hand seek out and eat the leaves of a fern, which may have helped to reduce pain and swelling. They also recorded another chimpanzee with a parasitic infection consuming the bark of a cat-thorn tree (Scutia myrtina). The team also tested the plant extracts of tree and herb species in the reserve, which they suspected were being

Rare flesh-eating bacteria that can kill in two days spreads in Japan

At the current rate of infections, the number of cases in Japan could reach 2,500 this year, with a 'terrifying' mortality rate of 30%

Lupin recalls 51k bottles of generic drug due to defective containers in US

Drug firm Lupin is recalling over 51,000 bottles of a generic antibiotic medication in the US market due to a "defective container", according to the American health regulator. The US-based arm of the drug maker is recalling 51,006 bottles of Cefdinir for Oral Suspension (250 mg/5 mL) due to "defective container: lack of seal integrity," US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) said in its latest Enforcement Report. Cefrine Oral Suspension is indicated for the treatment of a range of bacterial infections. The affected lot has been manufactured at Lupin's Mandideep-based plant and marketed in the US by Baltimore-based Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc, it said. The drug maker initiated the Class II nationwide (US) voluntary recall on May 8 this year. As per the USFDA, a Class II recall is initiated in a situation in which the use of, or exposure to, a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health

Experts flag need to stop OTC sale of antibiotics, spread awareness

The study adds that an estimated 7.7 million die in LMICs due to bacterial infections, of which almost five million deaths are due to AMR bacteria

Dr Reddy's Laboratories launches generic anti-bacterial medication in US

Dr Reddy's Laboratories on Friday said it has launched a generic medication, used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections, in the US market. The company has launched Doxycycline Capsules (40 mg) in the US market, the Hyderabad-based drug maker said in a statement. The company's product is a therapeutic generic equivalent of Oracea capsules (40 mg) approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA). Shares of the company on Friday ended 0.71 per cent up at Rs 6,332.85 apiece on the BSE.

Lupin gets USFDA nod to market a generic drug to treat bacterial infections

Drug maker Lupin on Friday said it has received approval from the US health regulator to market a generic medication to treat bacterial infections, in America. The company has received approval from the USFDA for Doxycycline for Injection USP, the Mumbai-based drug maker said in a statement. The company's product is the generic equivalent of Pfizer Inc's Vibramycin for injection, it added. The product will be manufactured at its Nagpur facility, Lupin said. Doxycycline for Injection USP is indicated to reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria. As per the IQVIA MAT January 2024 data, Doxycycline for Injection USP had estimated annual sales of USD 47 million in the US market.

Swift action must to stop 'silent pandemic' from becoming catastrophic

By 2050, #AntimicrobialResistance is expected to claim 10 million lives a year globally, more than cancer and diabetes combined, with most of this burden falling on low- and middle-income countries

Pfizer suspends sale, use of some products in India over quality concerns

Stockists have been asked not to sell, distribute, or use the products until further notice from Pfizer

Cow urine unfit for humans, contains harmful bacteria, says research body

Cow urine, which has been touted as a miracle medicine for decades, has now found to be unsuitable for direct human consumption