Words matter. Images matter. The Scientific Inquirer needs your support. Help us pay our contributors for their hard work. Visit our Patreon page and discover ways that you can make a difference. http://bit.ly/2jjiagi
Antibiotic stewardship is a major strategy in the fight against antibiotic resistance. The correct usage of antimicrobials is paramount. However, there’s a gray area when it comes to the practice of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP). Obviously, the chances of infection increase when a patient is cut open. The process needs very specific guidelines. A recent study conclusded that, “Interventions should aim to increase surgeon engagement, enhance the prioritisation of and accountability for SAP, and address the underlying social factors involved in SAP decision-making, such as professional hierarchy and varied perceptions or risks and fears.” http://bit.ly/2RcP44n
Nutrition and health studies often juxtapose so-called “traditional” ways of eating (which tend to be considered healthier and more sustainable) and so-called “modern” habits. Unfortunately, there’s no consensus as to what each entails. A BMC Public Health paper took a closer look at the phenomenon and concluded, “focusing only on single facets of traditional and modern eating is an oversimplification of this complex phenomenon. Instead, the multidimensionality and interplay between different facets should be considered to gain a comprehensive understanding of the trends, consequences, and underlying factors of traditional and modern eating.” http://bit.ly/2OJCpEv
Finally, we’ll end on a positive note today. There’s hope for people infected by the Ebola virus. The results from a clinical trial of four Ebola therapies has yielded promising results. As per STAT news, “Findings of the PALM trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Wednesday, show that two treatments based on Ebola antibodies led to a survival rate of about 65% in treated patients, compared to 33% in the outbreak overall.” http://bit.ly/360zddr
IMAGE SOURCE: Creative Commons