The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is taking the first steps toward phasing out non-treatment-based uses of antibiotics …
antibiotics
A New Leash on Infections: Dog That Sniffs Out a Deadly Superbug
Beagles are known as good hunters. So why not send them in search of deadly bacteria?
Prescriptions for Kids: ADHD Meds and Birth Control Pills Are Up, Antibiotics Are Down
The FDA reports that drug prescriptions for kids have dropped overall since 2002, but while the use of certain drugs like antibiotics fell, prescriptions for others, including ADHD meds, increased significantly.
For Some Appendicitis Cases, Antibiotics May Do the Trick
A new study finds that using antibiotics as an initial treatment is safe, effective and can help some appendicitis patients avoid surgery.
For Sinus Infection, Don’t Bother with Antibiotics
Sinus infections are drippy and painful — an all-around headache, quite literally. When symptoms arise, patients often rush to the doctor for a prescription, usually an antibiotic, to put an end to the suffering.
Tainted Chinese Honey May Be on U.S. Store Shelves
Millions of pounds of tainted Chinese honey are likely making their way onto U.S. store shelves, according to an investigation by Food Safety News (FSN). The online daily news site reports that Chinese honeymakers are laundering …
Despite Research, Doctors Still Recommend Cranberries for Bacterial Infection
Cranberries are a healthy food choice—full of possible cancer-fighting antioxidants—but what other benefits does the bittersweet bog berry hold? Some studies have shown that cranberries are as effective as antibiotics in …
Why the German E. Coli Outbreak Was So Deadly
The German E. coli outbreak has slipped from the news recently, as the rate of new cases and deaths has slowed. But it’s not over yet. On Thursday federal health officials announced that the death of a man in Arizona from a …
Q&A: Can We Protect Ourselves from the ‘Superbug’ MRSA?
You’re going to want to wash your hands after you read this post. Author Maryn McKenna, or “Scary Disease Girl,” as she’s known to her colleagues, talks about MRSA — a potentially lethal bug that has jumped from hospitals into …
Study: Treatment Success for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) has always been a bit of a mystery.
Why You Need to Worry About NDM-1: Not a ‘Superbug,’ But Still a Threat
Antibiotic-resistant bugs have been around almost as long as antibiotics, and health officials have long warned about the looming danger of superstrains — bacteria that are impervious to all of our available antibiotic medications.
Seagull Droppings in Drug Development? Why Not!
Researchers have all kinds of sophisticated ways of tracking antibiotic resistant bacteria. Like biological CSI investigators, they use the bugs’ genetic fingerprints and knowledge of their favorite host haunts to learn more …