The second out of three wild poliovirus strains has been eradicated. This was officially declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) on World Polio Day on 24 October. Since efforts to exterminate polio began in 1988, incidence has fallen by 99 per cent. According to WHO, today 18 million people can walk who would otherwise be paralysed.
Sink design may be an underestimated factor regarding the incidence of bacterial infections, particularly in clinical settings. A new UK study sheds light on how bacteria in hospital sinks can grow and spread. The findings also highlight the importance of hygiene measures and awareness amongst medical professionals.
The bacterium *Clostridium difficile*, the pathogen that most often causes antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, has genetically specialised in hospital survival. According to a recent study by Nature Genetics, a strain that forms resistant spores is spreading among in-patient settings.
Even remote bacterial species around the globe share genetic material – including genes that lead to antibiotic-resistant bacteria – but how is this possible? Researchers at Rutgers University have a compelling new hypothesis.
At this year's conference of the European Wound Management Association (EWMA) in Gothenburg, Sweden, two new studies on the efficient treatment of chronic wounds were presented. The participating clinicians were very satisfied with the results - but above all, the findings help patients.
Every day, patients all over the world suffer avoidable harm or risk being harmed while receiving healthcare. Providing safe care is one of the main challenges on the road to universal health coverage. The purpose of the first World Patient Safety Day on September 17th is to raise global awareness of patient safety, and make it a priority for all stakeholders.
Sepsis is one of the most common, least-recognised illnesses in both the developed and developing world. Globally, 20 to 30 million patients are estimated to be afflicted every year, with over 6 million cases of neonatal and early childhood sepsis and over 100,000 cases of maternal sepsis. Worldwide, a person dies from sepsis every few seconds. Find more facts and the official World Sepsis Declaration here:
Hygienists, microbiologists, institutions and companies have been researching and developing measures to combat postoperative wound infections (surgical site infections, SSI) for years. Despite efforts to contain SSI, they remain one of the most common forms of nosocomial infections in Europe. With the aim of slowing down this development, experts from various disciplines are now working even more closely together to break down silos.
Stethoscopes are used in nearly every patient examination, and they belong to the basic equipment of general practitioners. To prevent the transmission of germs, medical specialists should disinfect the device after each patient contact. An invention by a 16-year-old girl could simplify this hygiene measure immensely.
You might say the norovirus is the ninja of the virus world: stealthy and highly efficient. Ten virus particles are enough to infect a human being. This makes the virus one of the most infectious pathogens out there. Especially during the colder winter months, the number of gastrointestinal diseases caused by the virus rises rapidly.
