Dr. David Shlaes has been following the various discussions around the development of rapid diagnostic tests for acute bacterial infections. The ACSH advisor has concluded that broad-spectrum empiric therapy of potentially serious infections in the hospital will continue – and well it should – regardless of the availability of such rapid tests.
bacterial infections
Bacterial resistance is a devastating problem. Over two-million Americans suffer from antibiotic-resistant infections every year, causing about 23,000 deaths. And the World Health Organization warns that a post-antibiotic era may be upon us, when common infections and minor injuries
It may sounds counterintuitive, but a study just published online by JAMA concludes that the use of gloves and gowns by health care workers in intensive care units (ICU)
Antibiotic resistance is a serious and persistent national problem. For example, Staphlococcus aureus bacteria that are resistant to the antibiotic methicillin (MRSA) have become common throughout the US, causing invasive infections of skin and soft tissues as well as bloodstream infections in patients in critical care settings.
Yesterday we wrote about a program designed to provide guidance about when antibiotics should be used and which kind (broad or narrow spectrum) of drug should be used.
The current "swine flu" problem is a reminder that the U.S. pays too little attention to the important broader issue of Adult Immunization and that too few adults are getting the shots they need, even though most kids are getting theirs. Scientists associated with the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH) have researched and written a thorough, comprehensive report on this largely-neglected topic, available in three formats:
Although vaccination is acknowledged to be one of the most cost-effective public health strategies available to prevent many communicable viral and bacterial infections, large numbers of Americans above the age of 18 remain vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases.