The People's Perspective on MedicineArticles categorized as Infection Health Concerns
Show 1407: Battling Superbugs with Nature’s Viral Warriors
Bacteriophages are nature's viral warriors. They attack bacteria and can overcome even those that have developed resistance to antibiotics.
Show 1377: Tell Me When It’s Over!
When it comes to COVID-19, lots of people just want to say: tell me when it's over! What lessons have we learned for the next time?
How Can You Avoid Norovirus 2024?
Norovirus is extremely contagious and is spiking in the US! Can you catch norovirus by breathing in viral particles? How can you avoid it?
Will You Make a Condiment to Fend Off Colds?
A reader shares the details of her condiment recipe. It is full of hot peppers and garlic, which may help people fight off colds.
What Immunity-Boosting Nutrients Are You Missing?
Vegetarian diets provide important immunity-boosting nutrients such as vitamin C or vitamin A that help people avoid infection.
Should You Lower a Fever or Leave It Alone?
How do we separate a symptom from an underlying illness? An elevated temperature is often a response to infection. Should we lower a fever?
Show 1357: Revisiting Ventilation to Avoid Airborne Germs
COVID-19 and many other diseases are caused by airborne germs. Revisiting ventilation and improving filtration of indoor air can reduce them.
Wastewater Monitoring Can Sound the Alarm Early on Infections
If scientists use wastewater monitoring carefully, it could give us advanced warning of the next pandemic or serious infectious outbreak.
Will We Have a Bad Flu Season This Year?
Influenza was virtually nonexistent for the last three years. But now we could be facing a very bad flu season. Australia is being hit hard!
Show 1274: Can We Make Sick Buildings Healthy? (Archive)
When we pay attention to fixing sick buildings, the people in them become happier, healthier and more productive.
Show 1336: How the Antiviral Gut Tackles Pathogens from the Inside Out
Dr. Robynne Chutkan describes the importance of healthy gut microbes in helping the immune system control pathogens from the inside out.
New Biomarker Technology to Diagnose Infections Quickly and Accurately
New biomarker technology uses the immune system's response to pathogens to identify the cause of an infection.
Surge in Viral Infections Linked to Shortage of Children’s Fever Medicine
With cases of several viral illnesses rising, pharmacies report shortages of children's fever medicines. Some limit purchase of these drugs.
Show 1285: The Plant Hunter’s Quest for Nature’s Next Medicines (Archive)
Dr. Cassandra Quave travels the world in her quest for nature's next medicines. Her work in ethnobotany is producing medications from plants.
Show 1313: Avoiding Germs in Bathrooms and Bedrooms
Our expert guests explain the basics of avoiding germs, along with some surprising finer points. Which rooms are most likely to be germy?
Show 1244: Life-Saving Lessons for COVID-19 from the Ebola Epidemic (Archive)
In Memoriam: Dr. Paul Farmer, co-founder of Partners In Health responded to the Ebola epidemic of West Africa. He died far too young.
Can You Use Oil of Oregano With Confidence?
A reader wonders whether oil of oregano is contaminated with heavy metals as the dried herb often is. We too would like to know.
How Plants Like Thyme and Oregano Make Cancer-Fighting Compounds
Plants like thyme and oregano produce compounds that give them their special smell and taste. They also have medicinal uses.
Show 1283: What We Should Learn About the Coming Plague
Laurie Garrett, author of The Coming Plague, describes the failure of international systems that should have contained COVID-19.
Babies Fed Formula Have Less Healthy Gut Bacteria
Newborn babies fed formula have less diverse intestinal microbiota. Bacteria they host are more likely to have antibiotic resistance genes.
Will Drug-Resistant Germs from Pig Farms Make You Sick?
Drug-resistant germs could cause untreatable infections. Scientists find they may spread from pigs to humans.
Show 1239: How Can We Prevent Diagnostic Disasters?
Getting a timely, accurate diagnosis is crucial for treatment. What questions should a patient ask to prevent diagnostic disasters?
Show 1234: How Microbes Evolve to Become Enemies or Allies
Dr. Paul Ewald describes how microbes evolve and interact with our immune systems to become more or less virulent.
Can Melatonin Help Overcome COVID-19?
Noting President Trump's list of medications, readers wonder: can melatonin help in treating the coronavirus? It can help with sleep.
Does Low Vitamin D Make People Vulnerable to COVID-19?
New research from Spain and Chicago indicates that people with very low vitamin D levels are more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection.
What Are the Risks and Benefits of MMR for Adults?
Can you prevent COVID-19 with a shot of MMR for adults? A new study will help answer this question, but we don't yet know.
Show 1170: What Makes Your Immune System an Elegant Defense? (Archive)
You might imagine your immune system as an army fighting off invaders. What if it behaved more like a peacekeeping force to maintain harmony?
Most Americans Are Still Vulnerable to COVID-19
A study of SARS-2 antibodies in blood tests shows many more people were infected than tested. Yet the vast majority of us are still vulnerable to COVID-19.
When Will Herd Immunity Stop the Pandemic?
How many people need to have antibodies to COVID-19 to offer herd immunity to others in their communities? We still have no answer to that question.
Show 1155: Can Bacteriophages Save Your Life? (Archive)
Our guests turned to bacteriophages to save a desperately ill, comatose patient infected with bacteria resistant to every known antibiotic.
Surprise! Hydroxychloroquine Worked in New Michigan Study
A new study in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases says hydroxychloroquine worked. It saved lives! No, this wasn't a placebo-controlled trial.
Experts Warn of Possible Pandemic Yet to Come
A new H1N1 influenza virus from pigs can infect humans. Infectious disease specialists worry that this G4 virus could be a possible pandemic.
Show 1217: Natural Ways to Keep Your Immune System Strong
Dr. Tieraona Low Dog offers advice on vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements you can use to help keep your immune system strong and healthy.
Is It Risky to Flush the Toilet During the Pandemic?
When you flush the toilet, fine droplets become airborne. To reduce the risk that they will lead to infection, we all need to learn to close the lid.
Should You Wear a Face Mask? Yes, According to Hamsters
A study of hamsters demonstrates that face masks can reduce transmission of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19.
Can You Boost Your Resistance to COVID-19?
Adequate sleep and taking several specific supplements could help you boost your resistance to infection. Don't overlook the probiotics.
Quality Problems Prompt FDA Recall of Tetracycline
Have you heard about the FDA recall of tetracycline made by Avet Pharmaceuticals? The capsules fail to dissolve as they should.
How Our Obsession With Pills Made Us Poorly Prepared for a Pandemic
Focusing on for-profit health care rather than basic public health measures has left the US poorly prepared for a pandemic.
Hand-Washing as a Survival Skill
Proper hand-washing is critical in protecting you against a wide range of microbes, including C diff bacteria and COVID-19 viruses.
Are People Delaying COVID-19 Care with Unproven Treatments?
The WHO declared that the coronavirus spread has become a pandemic. People are panicking. The FDA is going after companies advertising unproven treatments.
How Will We Manage COVID-19 in the US?
Public health authorities acknowledge that it will be difficult to manage COVID-19. They urge us to prepare for significant disruption.
Is Hand Sanitizer Better Than Soap and Water?
Cleaning your hands well is a crucial step in avoiding infection. Is hand sanitizer better for this purpose, or simply more convenient?
What Is the News on the Coronavirus from Wuhan?
More cases of the coronavirus from Wuhan have been reported in the US. The center of the epidemic remains in China, though.
Can a Mask Help Protect You from Flu?
Wearing a face mask may help protect you from flu. What helps even more is for infected people to wear a mask if they can't stay at home.
FDA Cracks Down on Claims for Hand Sanitizers
The FDA objects to unproven claims that Purell hand sanitizers can disable dangerous viruses.
New Virus Threatens Health Around the World
Public health experts are paying close attention to the spread of a new virus from Wuhan, China. It has already spread to many countries around the world.
Show 1192: How a Scary Fungus Is Threatening the World
Candida auris was virtually unknown a decade ago. Now it has acquired resistance to many antifungal medications and has caused infections around the world.
What Is the Impact of Herbal Treatments for Cough?
Herbal treatments for cough can help avoid overuse of antibiotics and prevent antibiotic resistance. Have you tried sage for sore throat & thyme for cough?
A Completely New and Unexpected Statin Side Effect
A surprising statin side effect has just been reported. How is it possible that after more than three decades we are still discovering statin side effects?
Show 1186: What Happens When Doctors Make Diagnostic Errors?
No one knows quite how many diagnostic errors doctors make each year, but the number is high. Some have serious or deadly consequences.
Doctors Resist Removing White Coats and Ties
Would you be upset if your health professionals didn't wear white coats? Should they ditch their ties and jewelry? What about sterilizing the stethoscopes?
Show 1164: Will We Win the Race Against Emerging Superbugs?
Drugs can't kill off many emerging superbugs. How can we protect ourselves from these lethal infections? Dalbavansin holds promise.
Drug-Resistant Infections Will Kill Millions
The widespread development of antimicrobial resistance may lead to ten million deaths from drug-resistant infections by 2050.
Do Drug-Resistant Germs Hide Out in Hospitals?
Privacy curtains, computer keyboards, soap dispensers and nebulizers could all be hiding places for drug-resistant germs like MRSA or Candida auris.
How to Get Germs Off Your Hands
Good news–a three-step technique that takes 15 seconds works as well to get germs off hands as a 30-second six-step hand sanitizer routine.
Will Probiotics Help You Recover from Antibiotics?
Antibiotics can disrupt the balance of bacteria in the digestive tract. Will you recover from antibiotics more quickly if you take probiotics?
How Can Viruses Fight Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria?
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria pose increasingly serious problems for health care providers. Some are turning to bacteriophage viruses to overcome them.
Should You Worry About Zombie Deer?
According to the CDC, chronic wasting disease (aka zombie deer disease) is spreading across the US. No human cases have been reported yet.
What Is the Link Between Infection and Celiac Disease?
Norwegian scientists found a connection between infection and celiac disease among childre with genetic susceptibility to this autoimmune condition.
Do Antibiotics Interact with Oral Contraceptives?
An unplanned pregnancy is life-changing. Why aren't women warned that antibiotics may interact with oral contraceptives? When 1+1=0 and 3!
How Serious Is the Problem of Inappropriate Antibiotics?
An analysis of patient records demonstrates that perhaps a quarter of antibiotic prescriptions in the US are for inappropriate antibiotics.
Could Herbal Tea Overcome Your Nasty Cough?
Respiratory syncytial virus can cause a nasty cough. We don't have drugs to treat this problem, but research indicates tea from Japanese honeysuckle helps.
Is There Flu Near You?
Flu season has begun and there will soon be flu near you. CDC advises vaccinations, and there are also medications that can help.
FDA Warns About Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics and Aortic Aneurysm!
At last the FDA is warning doctors and patients about a life-threatening side effect: fluoroquinolone antibiotics and aortic aneurysm. Did it take too long?
Did the Maker Recall Ibuprofen for Your Baby?
Dosage variation prompted a manufacturer to recall ibuprofen for treating infants' fevers.
Why Are Children Suffering Acute Flaccid Myelitis?
According to the CDC, 90 cases of the polio-like illness called acute flaccid myelitis have been confirmed so far in 2018.
Should You Be Worried About Polio-Like Illness?
The CDC calls it acute flaccid myelitis (AFM). Others call it polio-like illness. That's because it can lead to paralysis. For personal reasons I'm worried.
Security Line Is the Germiest Spot in the Airport
Trays in the security line at the airport may be handled by hundreds of people an hour. A study shows they are loaded with viruses, so wash your hands before and after screening.
Can You Fight Bacteria with Viruses?
Bacteriophages, viruses that fight bacteria, may help physicians reduce the burden of antibiotic resistance by offering an alternative to overcome infection.
What Are the Best Drugs for a Desert Island Adventure?
What would you do if your were stranded on a desert island? What about if the power went out for several months? What are the best drugs in such extreme situations?
How Clean Is the Endoscope Your Doctor Will Use?
Even hospitals that follow disinfecting protocols scrupulously cannot guarantee that every endoscope is free from bacterial contamination.
How Common Are Antibiotic-Resistant “Nightmare Bacteria”?
The CDC is recommending infection control measures to keep nightmare bacteria like Klebsiella from spreading resistance to the antibiotic carbapenem.
Can Kefir Help You Recover from an Infection?
Studies suggest that drinking the fermented milk product kefir can benefit the immune system and help you recover from an infection more rapidly.
What Is Lurking in Hospital’s Plumbing?
An extensive microbial study found "a vast, resilient reservoir" of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in wastewater pipes beneath a hospital.
Should Your Doctor Know You Are Not Sleeping?
If you are not sleeping as much as you need to, your health could suffer. That's why you should tell your doctor, and look for nondrug approaches to overcome insomnia.
Severe Anemia After Treatment of Babesiosis
Even after receiving appropriate and complete antibiotic treatment, some patients recovering from babesiosis develop severe anemia.
High Prices for Generic Drugs: Are Companies Colluding?
Chances are very good that if you take any prescription medicines some will be generics. In recent years high prices for generic drugs have prompted inquiry
How Does Sunlight Boost the Immune System?
Could exposure to sunlight boost the activity of white blood cells? The blue wave lengths help T cells move more quickly to where they are needed.
Giant Generic Drug Scandal: Companies Accused of Price Fixing!
It is unseemly to say we told you so, but we have been hinting for quite a while that there was a generic drug scandal brewing. Has there been price fixing?
Are Doctors and Nurses Transporting Deadly Hospital Germs?
Infectious disease experts tell doctors and nurses to wash hands to reduce infections. How about shoes? They are also source of hospital germs
What Is Causing Polio-Like Illness in Children?
Public health officials are worried about new cases of a polio-like illness causing paralysis and even death in youngsters in Washington state.
Why Should You Worry About Cat Scratch Fever?
Cat scratch fever can result in serious illness more often than was previously appreciated. To reduce the risk, control fleas and keep kitty indoors.
Is the Five-Second Rule Any Good?
Microbiologists have done an impressive scientific study of the "five-second rule" that if food falls on the floor is grabbed immediately, it's OK.
A Medical Mistake Leads to Tragic Death
We are overwhelmed by medical statistics. Though hundreds of thousands die from health care harm it has very little impact. A story is far more compelling.
Can the Spread of Zika Virus in the US Be Halted?
The CDC has issued a travel warning for a neighborhood in Miami, Florida. The agency is trying to stop the spread of Zika virus into other areas.
Are Rehab Hospitals Hazardous to Your Health?
A new study found that rehab hospitals are dangerous places where mistakes are common. Anyone entering such a facility needs vigilance and help from family.
FDA Fails in its Job of Keeping Food Safe
The Office of the Inspector General says there is a lot of room for improvement when it comes to efficient recalls and keeping food safe.
One Third of Antibiotic Prescriptions Are Inappropriate
Don't beg for an antibiotic for a cold or sinus infection; too many antibiotic prescriptions are inappropriate and contribute to resistance.
How Should You Dry Your Hands in the Restroom?
Jet air dryers are pitted against paper towels in public facilities; which is best to dry your hands?
Will You Change Your Travel Plans to Avoid Zika Virus?
Pregnant women are being urged not to travel from the US to South American or Caribbean countries where Zika virus is prevalent.
Is Your Doctor’s Tie and White Coat Making You Sick?
Doctors love a long white coat. For many it is a way to distinguish themselves. But white coats, ties, long sleeves and jewelry can spread germs.
Nobel Prize Highlights Natural Products
The winners of the 2015 Nobel Prize for physiology or medicine were studying natural products and their derivatives that work against harmful parasites.
Public Finally Outraged At Extravagant Drug Prices
Drug prices have been out of control for years but it took the 5000 percent increase in the cost of Daraprim to wake up the American public. What changed?
Better Cleaning of Hospital Rooms Could Reduce Infections
Inadequate cleaning of hospital rooms contributes to infections being shared among patients; unfortunately, there is no consensus on how best to clean.
Health Professionals Work Even When They Are Sick
Doctors and nurses often come to work even when they are sick, exposing their patients to germs.
Do Communion Wafers Spread Germs?
Although Communion wafers could spread germs in theory, researchers have had difficulty identifying cases where this has happened.
NC Compounding Pharmacy Products to Be Pulled from Shelves
Deficiencies in sterility and stability have prompted FDA to close a compounding pharmacy in Fayetteville, NC.
Hand Washing Is Crucial to Avoid Sharing Germs
Everyone, especially those serving food or drink to the public, needs to pay close attention to hand washing.
Chewing Gum Fights Ear Infections
Xylitol-containing gum can reduce the likelihood of an ear infection and as a bonus can also lower the risk of getting dental cavities.
The Great Paper Towel Battle
Are air dryers less likely to spread germs than paper towels in a public restroom?
Doctor’s Dirty Hands Frighten Patient Away
Hand washing is not just about good hygiene, it's about infection control.
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