An antibiotic already in use in Europe to treat pneumonia controlled deadly bloodstream infections with Staphylococcus aureus bacteria just as effectively as the most powerful antibiotic currently in use, according to data from a late-stage trial. Ceftobiprole from Swiss drugmaker Basilea Pharmaceutica appeared to be equally effective as the older drug daptomycin in the roughly one-in-four patients who had particularly difficult to treat methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infections, researchers reported on Wednesday in The New England Journal of Medicine.
The study reveals high levels of antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in ready-to-eat foods across 25 provinces in China, posing a serious public health risk. The findings emphasize the need for stronger food safety measures, as the MRSA strains identified were resistant to multiple antibiotics and exhibited various virulence factors.
Researchers in New South Wales, Australia, used genomic sequencing to trace an outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections following ear piercings to a specific batch of aftercare solution. The study led to a recall of the product and improvements in manufacturing standards, successfully reducing the number of infections.