Antimicrobial resistance

Your dog’s poop might be a dangerous source of bacterial superbugs. In a new study, researchers in China detail evidence that dogs experiencing diarrhea are commonly carrying multi-drug resistant strains of Escherichia coli—around 50%, in their study.Prepping the Sandworm Scenes in Dune: Part TwoThe research was led by scientists at Sichuan Agricultural University. According to lead author Zhijun Zhong, an increasing number of studies have found that dogs can be a reservoir of E. coli superbugs, including strains…

Today is Christmas and, as expected, most businesses and governments have shut down for the day and people are enjoying a holiday. Yet artificial intelligence developments have found a way to emerge even today. In a shocking development, the parent company of Paytm, One97 Communication, has fired more than 1000 employees. The underlying reason behind the Paytm layoff is reported to be the AI advancement of the company that has caused a few positions to be surplus to requirements. This and more in today's AI roundup. Let…

The long-running saga over a Washington woman’s refusal to get treated for tuberculosis might finally be drawing to a close. The woman was released from a local jail late last week, under the condition that she stay isolated at home and complete her course of antibiotics. Should she fail to do so, she could be arrested yet again.Are Big Consumer Facing Tech Companies Redeemable? The Tacoma-Pierce County resident—identified only as V.N. in court documents—has been knowingly infected with the bacterial disease for quite…

Illustration of Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria, the namesake cause of tuberculosis. Image: Kateryna Kon (Shutterstock)A Washington woman who refused to treat her tuberculosis for at least two years has finally been taken into custody, local health officials reported this week. The woman repeatedly ignored court orders to seek treatment and stay away from others, even visiting a casino earlier this year. She is now being detained in a jail room specially equipped for isolation and treatment and will remain there for…

A Washington woman with acute tuberculosis remains free despite having an arrest warrant filed against her. She was diagnosed over a year ago and has continued to refuse treatment or to isolate herself from others while contagious. Local health officials are expected to once again obtain a court order on Friday.Mental Health Apps Are a Privacy NightmareThe saga became public this January, when Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department officials alerted the public to the woman’s ongoing case of tuberculosis. At the time, they…

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Experts with the World Health Organization have issued a dire warning about our never-ending battle against dangerous bacteria: The pipeline of new antibiotics, particularly those that can handle drug-resistant bacteria, isrunning dry. Only around two dozen candidates meant to treat important infections are currently thought to be in clinical trials, with even fewer potential drugs that can reliably take on superbugs in development.Mental Health Apps Are a Privacy NightmareThe new WHO report was presented at a special…

Photo: Shutterstock (Shutterstock)Officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are sounding the alarm over a diarrhea-causing superbug. The CDC’s data shows a noticeable rise in extensively drug-resistant strains of Shigella bacteria over the past half-decade. Though these infections are typically not severe, antibiotics are needed to prevent and treat life-threatening cases, and the bacteria can pass on their resistance genes to other troublesome germs.Shigella is one of the most common sources of…

More attention must be paid to the role pollution plays in the…

For a senior citizen like Gopalakrishnan, AMR could prove to be fatal. The professor was surprised for he had faced no hurdle in obtaining the antibiotic drug from a local pharmacy, whenever he wanted to. Gopalakrishnan represents a vast majority of Kerala’s educated population that purchases antibiotics over the counter (OTC), quite unaware that it is illegal to do so. Now, the government of Kerala intends to put an end to the practice. Last month, it decided to curb OTC sale of…