Archive for the ‘Infectious Diseases’ Category

New technologies developed after studying shark skin will soon be appearing at a hospital near you. Scientists at Sharklet Technologies, a Florida-based biotech company, have been studying shark skin for the interesting fact that bacteria just doesn’t seen to stick to it. Under the microscope, it appears that shark skin is composed of diamond-shaped bumps that give it this unique property. Hospital tests using plastic tubing (as used in intravenous lines and catheters) printed with this shark skin pattern showed that microorganisms which can cause potentially serious harm, such as E. coli and Staphylococcus Aureus, were unable to establish colonies large enough to infect humans. The technology is currently pending FDA approval for medical use, but in the interim look out for Sharklet to appear on high-touch surfaces like restroom door handles later this year. [via Popular Science]

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Last month researchers from the US Army and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases announced the successful trial of a new HIV vaccine. However, because the study was based on very few cases, skeptics argued whether the vaccine had any effect after all. Fast forward to this week’s AIDS Vaccine 2009 meeting in Paris where researchers reviewed more data from the trial and found the claims in which the vaccine reduced HIV infection rates by 31% were sound. Additionally, it appears that the vaccine actually was even more effective during the first year of immunization, reducing infection rates by as high as 60%. “It looked like there’s an early effect that wanes with time,” said Seth Berkley, chief executive of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative. “It may be that the vaccine generates only weak antibodies against HIV, and these are only effective early on.” Although this vaccine isn’t ready for public use, the knowledge we gained from this research will certainly help in the production of new and improved HIV vaccines. [NEJM via New Scientist]

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Scientists have discovered a potential retroviral link to chronic fatigue syndrome, known as CFS, a debilitating disease that affects millions of people in the United States. Researchers from the Whittemore Peterson Institute (WPI), located at the University of Nevada, Reno, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, and the Cleveland Clinic, report this finding online Oct. 8, 2009, issue of Science. “We now have evidence that a retrovirus named XMRV is frequently present in the blood of patients with CFS. This discovery could be a major step in the discovery of vital treatment options for millions of patients,” said Judy Mikovits, Ph.D., director of research for WPI and leader of the team that discovered this association. Researchers cautioned however, that this finding shows there is an association between XMRV and CFS but does not prove that XMRV causes CFS. [Continue reading at National Institutes of Health]

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This is going to be a busy flu season, especially considering that there will be two different flu vaccines available – one for the seasonal flu and the other for H1N1 (swine) flu. There are different recommendations for both vaccines, but only the seasonal flu vaccine is currently available. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends any adult who wants to reduce their risk of becoming ill with influenza to get the vaccine. However, if you are on the fence about the decision here is an up-to-date list from the CDC of high risk groups that should not think twice about getting the vaccine:

• persons aged 50 years and older;
• women who will be pregnant during the influenza season;
• persons who have chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, cognitive, neurologic/neuromuscular, hematological or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus);
• persons who have immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by human immunodeficiency virus;
• residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities;
• health-care personnel;
• household contacts and caregivers of children aged <5 years and adults aged 50 years and older, with particular emphasis on vaccinating contacts of children aged <6 months; and
• household contacts and caregivers of persons with medical conditions that put them at higher risk for severe complications from influenza.

*If you have concerns about thimerosal or other vaccine preservatives, this year’s flu vaccine only comes in two flavors – latex-containing and latex-free. Neither contains thimerosal.

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The results of a game of historical epidemiology has been published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The question: What did Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart die of? His early death at the age of 35 has intrigued historians around the world, and now researchers from Austria and the UK believe they may have solved the puzzle. According to eyewitnesses, Mozart’s body was very swollen before he died, suggesting he had edema (swelling due to excessive fluid build up in bodily tissues). By looking at historical death records around the time of Mozart’s death, the most common cause of death during that period that would have been associated with edema is streptococcal infection that led to kidney dysfunction, otherwise known in medical speak as acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis. During an infection with strep throat, your immune system can sometimes react in such a way that causes inflammation of the kidneys, leading to kidney failure, edema and even death (if left untreated). [ via Medical News Today]

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As back-to-school time fast approaches, the CDC is bracing for another flu season that could potentially be more severe than the last. This is why they just released their latest recommendations for state and local public health officials and school administrators  on how best to prepare and survive the 2009-2010 academic year. Most of the points are common sense flu-prevention guidelines. However, the CDC is focusing less on mass school closures than on keeping sick children apart from their classmates. The most current recommendations are:

• Students should stay home when they are sick. They should remain home for at least 24 hours after they are symptom free, without the use of antipyretics.
• Ill students and staff should be isolated apart from healthy individuals until they can be sent home. Face masks should be worn by all who are presumed to have the flu.
• Wash your hands frequently and exercise good habits – always cover yourself with a tissue. Use your sleeves as a last resort.
• School staff should routinely clean areas that students and staff touch often with the cleaners they typically use. Special cleaning with bleach and other non-detergent-based cleaners is not necessary.
• Those who develop flu symptoms should speak with their school health worker as soon as possible.

Read more CDC Guidelines. Share your comments here.

This week is World Breastfeeding Week 2009. Organizations around the world are taking part in efforts to draw attention to the importance of breastfeeding, which can save so many children’s lives, especially during emergency situations such as wars and natural disasters. Breastfeeding can be a life saving intervention and protection is greatest for the youngest infants. Even in non-emergency settings, non-breastfed babies under 2 months of age are six times more likely to die. Breast milk provides all the nutrition, water, and even antibodies that a baby needs in its first year of life. Educating women and helping to support them in breastfeeding results in healthier children and improves a mother’s capacity to cope in case of emergencies. [via WBW 2oo9]

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Scientists published in this week’s Nature Medicine journal a significant finding of a new HIV strain isolated in a woman from the African nation of Cameroon. It is distinct from the currently identified three strains and is appears to be closely related to simian strains of HIV found in gorillas. Scientists speculate this new strain started out in the gorilla, or even chimpanzee, population and has jumped to humans. It’s unknown how widespread this strain is, but this discovery reminds us that HIV is a fast-evolving disease and continued efforts should be made in watching for the emergence of new HIV strains. [via Yahoo! News]

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A former employee at Northern Westchester Hospital in New York state was arrested earlier this month and accused of knowingly exposing numerous surgical patients to hepatitis C.  Kristen Diane Parker was apparently injecting herself with painkillers meant for patients, then refilling the syringes with saline solution for subsequent use, even though she knew she was infected with hepatitis C. Hepatitis C is a blood-borne disease that can cause serious liver problems, including cirrhosis and liver cancer. Northern Westchester Hospital is notifying approximately 2,800 patients who had surgery there to come in for testing. The hospital has set up a patient help line at 914-666-1902 for more information. [via CBS news]

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Even though media attention has waned on the H1N1 flu (aka Swine flu) pandemic, confirmed cases continue to rise in the United States and around the world. Many states have issued reminders to health care practitioners and institutions to remain vigilant about H1N1 flu as there are currently over 33 thousand confirmed cases and 170 deaths in the US. World wide there are almost 90 thousand confirmed cases and 382 deaths. H1N1 flu is spread the same way as regular flu – through sneezing, coughing, and touching contaminated objects and then touching your nose or mouth. Therefore, keep reminding yourself and others about hand washing and covering up when you sneeze or cough.

Read more about H1N1 and share your comments here.