Antimicrobial resistance is now a leading cause of death worldwide due to drug-resistant infections, including drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis, pneumonia and Staph infections like the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus shown here.
(NIAID, cropped from original)
Drug-resistant microbes are a serious threat for future pandemics, but the new draft of the WHO’s international pandemic agreement may not include provisions for antimicrobial resistance.
Newly developed molecular drills may be able to fight treatment-resistant fungal infections like Candida auris.
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Fungal infections can be among the hardest to treat, and since the pandemic began they’ve become only more common. To prevent future antifungal resistance, scientists have developed tiny molecular drills.
Quaternary ammonium compounds can linger on surfaces and in indoor air and dust long after the disinfectant has dried.
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Quaternary ammonium compounds, also known as QACs or quats, are commonly used antimicrobials also found in many household products. Soap and water may be a safer bet when cleaning surfaces.
Candidiasis is a severe fungal infection that can spread easily in medical facilities.
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Multidrug-resistant fungal infections are an emerging global health threat. Figuring out how fungi evade treatments offers new avenues to counter resistance.
In the HBO series ‘The Last of Us,’ the parasitic fungus cordyeps mutates, and jumps from insects to humans and quickly spreads around the world, rendering its victims helpless to control their thoughts and actions.
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While ‘The Last of Us’ is a dramatic projection of a deadly fungal outbreak, it is based, if not in reality, in logic. And it’s a reminder that fungal infections are growing more resistant.
Husna Ismail, National Institute for Communicable Diseases y Olga Perovic, National Institute for Communicable Diseases
In hospitals, infection prevention and control cannot be met without a hygienically clean, and safe environment that has an adequate supply of clean running water.
Antibiotics are for bacterial infections – they shouldn’t be prescribed to treat viruses.
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Through the choice of images in publications, women and children of colour in low and middle income countries were treated with less dignity and respect than those in high income countries.
With the dual threats of antibiotic resistance and emerging pandemics, finding new drugs becomes even more urgent. A trove of medicines may be lying under our nose.
Antimicrobial resistance disproportionately affects the world’s poorest and most vulnerable populations in low- and middle-income countries.
Canadian doctors don’t have easy access to newer antibiotics, and must prescribe older, generic treatments that are increasingly ineffective due to resistance.
(Pexels/Shvets Production)
Penicillin originally came from a fungus, and with thousands of fungi to explore, Aotearoa New Zealand has a potential treasure trove of bacteria-killing compounds.
With nurse prescribing expanding globally, it’s important they are properly guided and supported when it comes to antibiotics and managing patient expectations.
Honorary Professor Faculty of Health and Medical Science, Univeristy of Sydney; Senior Researcher Sydney Institue for Infectious Disease, University of Sydney., University of Sydney