“Infectious diseases” on The Daily Caller

The discovery of anti-infective agents such as antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, and antibacterials in the 1930s and 1940s represents a transformative moment in human history. They have made an invaluable contribution to the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. Since their introduction, anti-infectives have revolutionized healthcare and saved millions of lives. Unfortunately, over time, bacterium inevitably develops resistance to existing drugs, making infections difficult if not impossible to treat. (more)

In a previous post, in recognition of National Military Month, it was discussed how our military had improved as first defenders of America’s freedoms. This post focuses on how the military, while assuring our national security, has also in unheralded fashion improved civilian society, enhancing daily lives of people and their surroundings, in health and conservation, both here and around the world. (more)

The human body has a natural block to keep out bacteria that would cause infections: skin. But when the skin gets burned, it’s not only painful, it’s bad for the body. Burned skin cannot keep the bacteria out, so infections are common. That’s why doctors who treat burn victims have to look out for the slightest sign of dangerous infection. (more)

Scientists from the Carol Yu Centre for Infection at the University of Hong Kong examined Escherichia coli bacteria responsible for causing human urinary tract infections (UTIs) and bacteria in faecal samples from humans and food-producing animals. They found an identical gene for antibiotic resistance was present in all the samples in similar proportions and locations, suggesting that the gene is likely to be transferred between bacteria residing in different hosts. (more)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A jury in Las Vegas ordered two drug companies to pay a combined $500 million in punitive damages in the first of hundreds of civil cases stemming from a hepatitis C outbreak two years ago. (more)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal investigators are looking at a farm in Yuma, Ariz., as a possible source of a widespread E. coli outbreak in romaine lettuce, according to the distributor. (more)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Actor Corey Haim had traces of several prescription and over-the-counter drugs in his system when he died two months ago, but that’s not what killed him, the Los Angeles County coroner concluded. (more)

A just-released Polish study has dealt another blow to the idea that childhood immunizations are linked to autism. This new study, which found no evidence that children who received measles vaccinations are more likely to contract autism, comes on the heels of the recent revelation that the British health paper, The Lancet, has officially retracted a 1998 article it had published that purported to link autism to childhood vaccines. While hundreds of articles have now reported on The Lancet’s retraction and the anti-vaccine movement’s dangerous impact on childhood diseases, there has been precious little discussion of the threat that anti-vaccine fears pose to our ability to fight bioterrorism. In fact, the dangers in this area may be even greater, and our responsiveness to potential acts of bioterror will depend in part on the ability of homeland security officials to address the challenges posed by the vaccine-autism link. (more)

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigerian health officials are reporting the first swine flu-related death in the West African country. (more)

LITHONIA, Ga. (AP) — Georgia Congressman Hank Johnson says he will run for re-election even though he is still being treated for hepatitis C. (more)

DETROIT (AP) — A Detroit woman who claimed in a video posted online that she infected more than 500 people with HIV has admitted it was a hoax, police said Friday. (more)

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — British Columbia’s top court on Friday rejected an attempt by the Canadian government to close North America’s first safe injection site for drug users. (more)

ATLANTA (AP) — A new government estimate says swine flu has sickened about 55 million Americans and killed about 11,160. (more)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumers should not use certain beef dog treats distributed by Merrick Pet Care because the pet food might be contaminated with salmonella, health authorities warned on Thursday. (more)

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — In a story Jan. 11 about Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. and its hepatitis C drug, The Associated Press misstated when the company will seek regulatory approval for the drug. Approval will be requested in the second half of 2010, not 2009. (more)

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haitians piled bodies along the devastated streets of their capital Wednesday after a powerful earthquake flattened the president’s palace, the cathedral, hospitals, schools, the main prison and whole neighborhoods. Officials feared thousands — perhaps more than 100,000 — may have perished but there was no firm count. (more)

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haitians piled bodies along the devastated streets of their capital Wednesday after a powerful earthquake flattened the president’s palace, the cathedral, hospitals, schools, the main prison and whole neighborhoods. Officials feared thousands — perhaps more than 100,000 — may have perished but there was no firm count. (more)

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haitians piled bodies along the devastated streets of their capital Wednesday after a powerful earthquake flattened the president’s palace, the cathedral, hospitals, schools, the main prison and whole neighborhoods. Officials feared hundreds of thousands may have perished but there was no firm count. (more)

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbia’s health officials say they will stop the purchase of swine flu vaccines from a Swiss pharmaceutical company because of the lack of demand. (more)

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico — the epicenter of last year’s swine flu outbreak — has received less than half of the 30 million vaccine doses it ordered last year, the country’s health secretary said Tuesday. (more)