Medical devices such as catheters extend from within a patient's body out through an opening in their skin, and unfortunately those openings often become infected. Thanks to new research, however, ultraviolet optical fibers may eventually keep such infections from occurring.
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The increased use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers and disinfectants in hospitals has been incredibly successful in reducing cases of deadly golden staph infections. However, a new study has found that some bacteria are now becoming resistant to these alcohol-based sanitizers.
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As a lung infection, the most direct route to treat pneumonia would be inhalable drugs. Now researchers at Georgia Tech have made a step towards that goal, with breathable viruses that hunt down and kill disease-causing bacteria in the lungs.
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It’s long been believed that cytomegalovirus (CMV) probably weakens the immune system in older people, but now mice tests have shown that the opposite is true – somehow, the virus gives the immune system a bit of a late-stage boost.
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Although there already are methods of determining if someone has an infection, those methods have their limitations. Scientists from the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) have developed what they believe is a better technique, which incorporates electrochemistry.
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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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