The global spread of multi-resistant bacteria, particularly gram-negative bacteria, is a risk for patients. When this type of germ is detected in a hospital, the traditional strategy of “screening, isolation and eradication” usually takes effect. But does evidence prove that this method really is the most effective? A team of researchers asked themselves this question and came to astonishing conclusions.
A newly discovered antibody could be used to treat several bacteria simultaneously - including hospital germs that are resistant to many antibiotics. This has been reported by a recent study.
A newly discovered class of lipopeptide antibiotics fights multi-resistant bacteria. Scientists at the TU Berlin are working on translating their findings into new drugs.
As antibiotic-resistant bacteria continue to spread, calls for new therapeutics are getting louder. In response, the World Health Organization (WHO) has drawn up a list of the twelve most important bacteria for which new drugs urgently must be developed.
Every year more than 30 million patients worldwide suffer from healthcare-associated sepsis. To prevent avoidable infections and improve patients’ safety, every year on the 5th of May, the World Health Organization calls upon healthcare facilities to sign up for its campaign SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands. This campaign encourages healthcare professionals to take concrete actions and use hand hygiene best practices. Three useful facts.
Staff shortages and poor organisation put a strain on nursing teams in the operating theatres of German clinics. However, many hospitals are already optimising their organisational processes and eliminating hygiene deficiencies.
Consistent hand hygiene reduces the monthly mortality rate in nursing homes, particularly during influenza peaks. The use of antibiotics also declines. These are the findings in a study published in the American Journal of Infection Control.
For hygienic hand disinfection, residual substances in alcoholic hand disinfectants are no longer recommended. This advisory has been in effect since the KRINKO guideline “Hand Hygiene in Health Care Facilities" was published in autumn 2016. The benefit of residual active ingredients for surgical hand disinfection was still unclear at the time of publication of the directive. A recent study has now closed this gap.
The number of infections caused by multi-resistant pathogens in hospitals is rising. That’s why researchers are intensely looking for new antibiotics that are effective against the resistant germs. 15-year-old-student Simon Meehan joined the search, and found an antibiotic agent in blackberry plants.
