All articles tagged with #infections
An 8-year-old Louisiana girl, Lillian Smart, died after being infected with Naegleria fowleri (brain-eating amoeba) suspected to have been contracted while swimming in Lake Claiborne; PAM is extremely rare and usually fatal, with most documented cases occurring in July–August.
US health officials report a rising threat from West Nile virus as mosquito activity increases, with at least eight deaths and more than 180 cases across 30 states this year. Arizona has the most cases and fatalities, while California has fatalities among dozens of cases. West Nile can cause brain inflammation and paralysis, and there is no specific antiviral treatment. A climate-change–driven drought concentrates mosquitoes and birds around shrinking water sources, prompting preventive guidance to wear insect repellent, cover exposed skin, and eliminate standing water around homes.
A Florida man contracted the flesh-eating bacteria Vibrio vulnificus while fishing, causing his left leg to swell up to eight times its normal size. After multiple surgeries to remove infected tissue, doctors say amputation below the knee is planned as the infection—often contracted from coastal waters or shellfish—continues to threaten his life. The case underscores the danger of Vibrio infections along the Gulf Coast, with dozens of cases reported this year.
Candida auris, a drug-resistant yeast, has been detected in 23 states in 2026, including Wisconsin which has reported over 100 cases historically and about 31 so far this year. Infections, mainly in healthcare settings among immunocompromised patients or those with medical devices, are difficult to treat. Texas leads 2026 cases, with Michigan and Illinois nearby; nationwide cases surpassed 6,000 in 2024. The fungus spreads through touch and contaminated surfaces, requires lab confirmation for diagnosis, and carries a substantial mortality risk (30–60%), highlighting the importance of infection-control measures and hand hygiene.
Five Louisiana residents have died from Vibrio vulnificus infections linked to warm coastal waters, with four more hospitalizations and all patients having underlying health conditions. Vibrio is a flesh-eating bacterium most common in May–October; prevention includes avoiding raw oysters for at-risk individuals, covering wounds when in brackish water, and washing any cuts exposed to seawater or seafood and seeking care if infection signs appear.
Florida health officials report 1 death and 12 Vibrio vulnificus infections along the coast, with eight of the cases in Bay, Hillsborough, Lee, Marion, Okaloosa, Polk and St. Johns counties. The bacteria thrive in warm coastal waters and can infect people through contaminated seafood or open wounds; infections are rare but can be life‑threatening and may require aggressive surgeries or amputations. Last year Florida reported 5 deaths and 33 infections related to Vibrio vulnificus, and in 2024 there were 82 infections and 19 deaths. Officials warn to avoid contact between open wounds and warm seawater and to cook shellfish thoroughly.
An elderly Palm Beach County resident, aged 80–84, died after contracting Vibrio vulnificus, marking the first US fatality from the flesh-eating infection in 2026. The bacterium thrives in coastal and brackish waters and can be contracted via contaminated seawater or raw oysters; Florida has 11 cases so far this year, with infections reported in Hillsborough, Lee, Miami-Dade, Okaloosa, and St. John’s counties. The CDC warns the infection can kill about 1 in 5 people and severe cases can require amputations, underscoring the ongoing risk during summer months.
Eye doctors warn that three common contact-lens habits can raise infection risk and even cause rare serious eye problems, so wearers should avoid certain activities, practice proper handling, and follow recommended replacement and cleaning routines to protect long-term eye health.
Five Floridians have contracted Vibrio vulnificus as Vibrio season peaks in warm coastal waters, underscoring the ongoing risk from seawater exposure and raw shellfish. Infections can be severe, ranging from wound infections to life‑threatening septicemia, particularly for people with liver disease or weakened immune systems. Health officials urge avoiding raw oysters, ensuring shellfish is fully cooked, and protecting any open wounds from seawater, while seeking urgent medical care for fever, swelling, or rapidly spreading redness.
A health-focused piece warns that beach outings can carry six common rashes and infections from ocean water or sand, caused by bacteria, fungi, parasites, or fecal contamination; it recommends practical prevention steps such as rinsing off after swimming, wearing sandals on sand, avoiding barefoot exposure in polluted areas, covering wounds, showering after beach time, washing hands, and heeding local beach advisories to minimize risk.
A roundup of 13 popular home remedies shows that some, like cranberry juice, may help prevent urinary tract infections and boost antibiotic effectiveness, while ginger can ease nausea, vitamin C can shorten cold duration, and apples may lower dementia risk and cholesterol. Chicken soup may aid recovery from respiratory infections; honey with lemon can soothe coughs; and warm baths or a relaxing bedtime ritual can improve sleep. The piece also notes caveats: the evidence for hot drinks cooling the body is nuanced; looser underwear may modestly boost male fertility; cycling can cause temporary genital numbness that improves with proper saddle fit; and weather can influence joint pain. Overall, several familiar remedies have measurable benefits, but many claims are modest or condition-dependent.
The CDC warns about XDR shigella, a drug-resistant Shigella strain causing shigellosis in the US, with infections up 8.5% from 2011 to 2023 and about 450,000 cases annually; the strain is resistant to most common antibiotics, leaving few oral treatments and sometimes requiring hospitalization for IV antibiotics; antimicrobial-resistant infections cost roughly $93 million in direct medical costs. Transmission is fecal-oral, via contaminated food/water and, increasingly, sexual activity; prevention centers on handwashing, safe food and water, and abstaining from sex during/after illness. Most infections resolve in 5–7 days, but young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals remain higher risk.
A Finnish study of over 65,000 dementia patients found that certain infections, notably cystitis and other bacterial infections treated in hospital, occurred years before dementia and were associated with about a 19% higher rate of late-onset dementia. Even after adjusting for other pre-diagnosis diseases, the link persisted, suggesting severe infections may accelerate cognitive decline, typically appearing about 5 to 6.5 years before diagnosis. The study is observational and cannot prove causation; authors note vaccination and infection prevention might help, but intervention trials are needed.
A Finnish nationwide registry study of 62,555 dementia patients and 312,772 controls found two severe infections—cystitis and a bacterial infection of an unspecified site—were linked to higher dementia risk years before diagnosis, with infections appearing to independently raise risk even after accounting for other dementia-related diseases; the study is observational, and generalizability may be limited.
A Finnish study of 62,555 people aged 65+ with late-onset dementia (2017–2020) and 312,772 matched controls found 29 risk factors for dementia. Among infections, only urinary tract infections (UTIs) and bacterial infections were linked to dementia, with severe infections—especially UTIs—associated with a 19% higher risk after adjusting for other conditions. The time between infection and dementia diagnosis averaged five to six years. While this suggests infections may contribute to dementia risk, it does not prove causality, and the researchers call for intervention studies. Non-infectious risks included alcohol-related disorders, Parkinson’s disease, and brain disease.