Tag

Antibiotics

All articles tagged with #antibiotics

health12 days ago•10 min saved

From 35 to 79: The public-health overhaul that extended Americans’ lifespans

U.S. life expectancy has roughly doubled since 1776, rising from about 35–40 years to about 79 years today, thanks to reductions in infant and childhood mortality and major advances in sanitation, clean water, vaccines, antibiotics, nutrition, and chronic-disease prevention; the COVID-19 pandemic caused a temporary dip, but ongoing challenges like obesity and substance use help explain why the U.S. still trails other high-income nations.

via Fox News|

#antibiotics #health #life-expectancy

health25 days ago•16 min saved

Plain soap wins: antibacterial products offer no extra protection and may breed superbugs

A Washington Post column argues that antimicrobial soaps provide no benefit over plain soap and water in preventing illness, and their use could drive antibiotic resistance. While the FDA has banned some antimicrobial ingredients, loopholes remain. Experts urge sticking with plain soap and good hygiene rather than “hygiene theater,” since basic measures—handwashing with ordinary soap and water—remain the best defense against germs.

via The Washington Post|

#antibiotics #health #infectious-diseases

health1 month ago•8 min saved

Mouse gut bacteria linked to sepsis severity, study finds

A Nature study in mice shows that gut microbiome composition, especially Muribaculaceae abundance, correlates with sepsis severity: mice with higher gut bacterial load exhibit a stronger early inflammatory response and more bacteria in blood and organs, suggesting the microbiome may signal immune reactions before infection and that antibiotic-induced dysbiosis could worsen outcomes; human trials are needed.

via Fox News|

#antibiotics #gut-microbiome #health

science1 month ago•16 min saved

Healthy Guts, Stronger Cancer Immunotherapy

New research shows gut bacteria profoundly influence cancer treatment outcomes, especially immunotherapies. Scientists are reducing broad-spectrum antibiotic use, optimizing diet, and testing probiotics and fecal microbiota transplants to preserve beneficial gut microbes, with early trials suggesting improved responses and fewer complications—though the microbiome’s role remains complex and more evidence is needed.

via CP24|

#antibiotics #cancer #fecal-microbiota-transplant

health1 month ago•15 min saved

Tuning the gut: microbiome may boost cancer therapies

The gut microbiome is shaping cancer treatment outcomes, with research showing that preserving beneficial gut bacteria—rather than overusing broad-spectrum antibiotics—can improve responses to immunotherapy and transplants. Trials are testing probiotics like CBM588 and fecal microbiota transplants to repair dysbiosis and potentially reduce complications, while dietary strategies aim to support beneficial microbes. The field is promising but scientifically complex, and evidence is still accumulating.

via CNN|

#antibiotics #cancer #fecal-transplant

wellbeing-body1 month ago•19 min saved

Rethinking probiotics: 3 strategies to protect your gut during antibiotics

Probiotic supplements aren’t proven to help during antibiotic courses and may slow gut recovery; most people’s microbiomes rebound after a course, though some antibiotics can cause lasting changes, and probiotics may help only in high‑risk cases to prevent C. difficile. The author endorses prudent antibiotic use and completing prescribed courses, plus three non‑probiotic strategies to bolster the microbiome during therapy.

via The Washington Post|

#antibiotics #diagnosis-and-treatment #gut-health

science2 months ago•18 min saved

Global AMR wave: common infections resisting antibiotics worldwide

A global review led by Jilin University and Peking Union Medical College Hospital finds antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is not a distant threat but a present crisis: common infections are increasingly no longer treatable with standard antibiotics, with regional patterns influenced by policy, practice, and environmental use; bacteria such as E. coli and Klebsiella show β-lactamase activity in parts of Asia while carbapenem resistance climbs in Europe and the Americas, and fungi like Candida auris also resist multiple drugs. Reversing the trend requires rapid diagnostics, precision dosing, smarter drug combinations, and robust national surveillance and stewardship, plus cutting agricultural antibiotic use and pursuing new antibiotics and antifungals within a One Health framework. The study appears in the Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital.

via Earth.com|

#antibiotics #antimicrobial-resistance #one-health

nutrition2 months ago•22 min saved

Protecting your gut on antibiotics: a dietitian's practical plan

After a course of antibiotics upset her gut, the author spoke with registered dietitian Avery Zenker, who says antibiotic effects on the gut vary by drug and person. To support recovery, prioritize hydration, a varied, fiber-rich diet, and prebiotic foods (like oats, bananas, garlic, apples, legumes). Limit fried foods, sugar, alcohol, and highly acidic or spicy items if symptoms occur. Probiotics aren’t guaranteed to help and aren’t always necessary; treat gut health during and after antibiotics like any other day, increasing fiber gradually and checking with a doctor about any interactions.

via Fit&Well|

#antibiotics #fiber #gut-health

health3 months ago•4 min saved

Kent meningitis outbreak peak passed, but vigilance remains, UKHSA says

UKHSA says the peak of the Kent meningitis outbreak linked to a Canterbury nightclub has passed, with 29 confirmed or suspected cases and two deaths. Four clinics across Canterbury, Ashford and Faversham are offering vaccines and antibiotics, and more than 10,000 vaccines and about 13,000 antibiotic courses have been administered. Cases may still appear as monitoring continues; the outbreak involves MenB, and routine MenB vaccination does not fully cover late teens.

via BBC|

#antibiotics #health #kent

science3 months ago•25 min saved

Birch Tar: Neanderthals’ Primitive Antibiotic Found on Tools

New research suggests Neanderthals produced birch tar (a process dating back to about 200,000 years ago) and used it as a primitive antiseptic, with lab tests showing the tar killed Staphylococcus aureus while largely sparing E. coli. Dental plaque analyses also indicate Neanderthals sought out medicinal plants like chamomile and yarrow, implying a sophisticated medical culture and care for wounds that could inform modern therapeutics as antibiotic resistance grows.

via ZME Science|

#ancient-medicine #antibiotics #archaeology

health3 months ago•4 min saved

Canterbury meningitis B outbreak prompts vaccine push and antibiotic response

An outbreak of meningitis B in Canterbury, southeast England, has reached 20 confirmed or suspected cases (two deaths), with 11 more awaiting confirmation; authorities are expanding vaccination access, distributing antibiotics, and investigating a link to a local nightclub, while stressing the overall risk is low and outlining vaccine timing and private access for older teens.

via Euronews.com|

#antibiotics #canterbury #health

health3 months ago•4 min saved

Kent meningitis outbreak exposes vaccination gaps and urgent vigilance

UK health officials are tackling a Kent meningitis outbreak linked to meningococcal B (MenB), with 15 cases in Canterbury and two deaths; many teens born before 2015 haven’t had MenB vaccine, though MenACWY covers other strains and is given at school. Private MenB courses cost about £220 and there is no NHS catch‑up for teens. Authorities urge vigilance, rapid antibiotic access for those exposed, and prompt medical care if symptoms appear.

via BBC|

#antibiotics #health #kent

health3 months ago•8 min saved

Certain antibiotics leave gut microbes altered for years, Swedish study finds

A Swedish study of 14,979 adults linked certain oral antibiotics—most notably clindamycin, fluoroquinolones, and flucloxacillin—to lasting reductions in gut microbiome diversity and shifts in species abundance, persisting four to eight years after use. Diversity tends to recover most quickly within two years, but lingering effects can persist longer, and the health implications remain uncertain and may vary by country and prescribing patterns.

via CIDRAP|

#antibiotics #clindamycin #fluoroquinolones

health3 months ago•10 min saved

Kent meningitis outbreak: warning signs and vaccines as two die

An outbreak of invasive meningitis in Kent has left two dead and 13 cases identified. The UK Health Security Agency and NHS are arranging antibiotics for students near the University of Kent in Canterbury as a precaution. Authorities warn to watch for meningitis symptoms (fever, headache, vomiting, stiff neck, rash, confusion) and seek urgent medical help, as bacterial meningitis can be severe. Vaccines are available and part of the UK schedule; early hospital treatment with antibiotics is often required.

via The Independent|

#antibiotics #health #meningitis

health3 months ago•17 min saved

Kent meningitis crisis: mass antibiotic outreach as two young lives are lost

Two people have died and 11 others are seriously ill in a Kent meningitis outbreak. The UK Health Security Agency has contacted around 30,000 people in Canterbury; close contacts are receiving antibiotics as a precaution, while vaccination is expected later. The University of Kent is moving some events online and a Canterbury nightclub, Club Chemistry, remains closed as authorities investigate and manage the response.

via BBC|

#antibiotics #health #kent