According to recent studies, surgical site infections (SSIs) are the leading cause of hospital readmission following an operation. In hopes of catching those SSIs before readmission is necessary, scientists have developed an experimental app known as WoundCare.
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Ordinarily, people who are receiving new joints are placed on intravenous antibiotics before and after the operation. There might be a better method of reducing the chances of infection, however. An orthopedic surgeon has created antibiotic beads that are implanted with the joint.
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With the whole body pressing down on the point of contact, prosthetic legs can be painful, awkward and cause infections. Now scientists from ONR have developed a more comfortable “smart” prosthetic that can be attached at will, and monitored for infection and stress with an array of sensors.
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Handrails are pretty good at helping escalator riders stay balanced, but you know what else they're good at? Collecting germs. LG is aiming to put a stop to these conveyor belts of infectious bacteria with a dedicated sterilizer that blasts the germs with UV light.
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In a particular patch of Brazilian forest, the trademark sound of howler monkeys has been replaced by an eerie silence as the creatures fall prey to an outbreak of yellow fever. While tragic, one researcher says the event could offer valuable insight into simian ecology.
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When a patient is diagnosed with sepsis, a race against time begins to identify the culprit causing the body’s system to shut down. But hope could be on the horizon, as researchers recently unveiled a diagnostic tool that enables blood-borne bacteria to be identified in a matter of hours.
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University of Bristol researchers discovered certain bacteria can use a “molecular lasso” to attach itself to host cells in what they call a catch-clamp mechanism. Understanding the process could lead to new treatments of a serious condition known as infective endocarditis.
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The process of identifying a bacteria causing infection can take a few days and may require highly-specialized equipment. Now, microparticles and biomolecules are teaming up to form a new dynamic duo, which could help speed up and simplify the process.
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Scientists have come up with a way to catch and kill harmful airborne pathogens in one foul swoop, through a special salt treatment that "deactivates" the viruses once they are trapped by a surgical mask.
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Why are men hit harder than women when infected with the same virus? Researchers say you can thank evolution for this – viruses tend to be "kinder" to women to ensure they are passed on to their offspring.
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