urinary tract infections

(University of Michigan Health System) A new University of Michigan Health System and VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System study shows a no-payment rule may not be enough to encourage hospitals to combat hospital-acquired infections.

Prevention of catheter-associated urinary tract infections lags behind practices to prevent other hospital-acquired infections, but there are actions patients can take to stay safe.

(MedPage Today) -- The success of imatinib in cancer treatment could spill over to treating tuberculosis. Also in Lab Notes this week, designer peptides for hypertension and sugar for urinary tract infections.

(Indiana University School of Medicine) Analysis by Indiana University researchers of ten years of studies has resulted in changes in American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations for how initial urinary tract infections in infants and toddlers are diagnosed and treated.

Historically, cranberry fruits and leaves were used for a variety of problems, such as wounds, diarrhea, diabetes, stomach ailments, and liver problems.

Most notably, cranberry products have been used in the hope of preventing or treating urinary tract infections.

The berries are used to produce beverages and many other food products, as well as dietary supplements in the form of extracts, capsules, or tablets.

(Infectious Diseases Society of America) Drinking cranberry juice has been recommended to decrease the incidence of urinary tract infections, based on observational studies and a few small clinical trials.

However, a new study published in the Jan. 1 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases suggests otherwise.

(Worcester Polytechnic Institute) Revealing the science behind the homespun advice, researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) have identified and measured the molecular forces that enable cranberry juice to fight off urinary tract infections.

The data is reported in a paper published online, ahead of print, by the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research.

The research illuminates the basic mechanics of E. coli infections, which has implications for developing new antibiotic drugs and infection-resistant materials for invasive medical devices.

Researchers have found that similar antibiotic resistance to E. coli is found in both humans and animals -- signifying that these resistant bacteria may be transmitted from animals to humans.

Urinary Tract Conditions: Examining the Evidence on Cranberry and Saw Palmetto
Patients with urinary tract infections often ask health care providers about using complementary and alternative medicine to relieve symptoms or prevent recurrences.

Also Featuring: NCCAM's 1st Decade of Discovery and Achievement; An Interview With Wendy Weber, N.D., Ph.D., M.P.H.; North American Research Conference on CAM/Integrative Medicine; New Survey Details Americans' Spending on CAM; and other stories

Long-term prophylaxis with oral antibiotics produced a modest decrease in the number of recurrent urinary tract infections in children, a randomized trial showed.

Painful urinary tract infections may be less common if vaccine studies in mice pan out, researchers said.