First, let's talk about Iceland. A land known for its breathtaking landscapes and a unique wildlife. Amidst this beauty, Iceland has been facing a surprising issue. Icelandic horses, once free to share fields with their sheep friends, are now grappling with a never-before-seen health problem. A stubborn infection, caused by bacteria known as Clostridium septicum, has...
Why do we worry about infectious diseases in young people? After all, kids are pretty resilient. First, lets talk about what these kids know. They've heard about germs, and they understand that they can get sick. But the knowledge is basic and somewhat vague they know germs are out there, but do not know the specific details. Even so, these young pe...
The world of medicine is constantly evolving, always striving to understand and combat infectious diseases. A decade ago, a journal was born to help in this mission. It was designed to be a beacon of excellence, a place where scientists could share their cutting-edge research and findings. Infectious disease is a broad category. This includes illnesses like the com...
Have you ever pondered who's really behind the big discoveries in infectious diseases? Surprise! Many of these breakthroughs are driven by women. A recent special issue of ACS Infectious Diseases highlights the work of female scientists who are like chefs, cooking up chemical recipes to fight diseases. But why is this such a big deal? Because it shows that women are ...
Peccaries, including collared peccaries (CP) and white-lipped peccaries (WLP), are vital for food and income in Amazonian rural communities. Since the 1980s, researchers have noticed that WLP populations in the Amazon region sometimes disappear without a clear explanation. This is a big deal because it affects both the species' survival and the food security of local...
You might think that nurses just show up during a big disease outbreak, like a pandemic, and work tirelessly to help patients. But what about all the challenges they face while doing their jobs? Let's dive into how the media in South Korea has covered nursing issues during four major infectious disease crises. First, let's set the scene. When a new disease threatens...
In the world of science, six years might seem like a blink of an eye. But in the realm of infectious diseases and clinical microbiology, it's a significant milestone. The journal IDCM has been around for six years now, and it's time to take a peek at what they've achieved. First, let's talk about the germs. IDCM has been digging deep into the world of bacteria, viru...
Imagine you're in a big classroom, and the teacher wants to know if anyone has a cold. Instead of checking each kid one by one, the teacher groups them and tests the whole group. This is called group testing, and it's a smart way to save time and money when checking for diseases. Now, what if the teacher also wants to know how long it takes for a kid to catch a cold ...
Did you know that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently recommended that adults aged 50 and above should get a shot to protect against pneumococcal disease? This decision was made by a scientific panel and then approved by the CDC. This disease is caused by a type of bacteria that can lead to serious illnesses like pneumonia. The aim is to...
When we think about the COVID-19 pandemic, our minds often wander to the daily struggles and sacrifices we've all made to stay safe. But have we forgotten about the most vulnerable among us? The elderly, the immunocompromised, and those with pre-existing health conditions are still at a high risk of serious illness, hospitalization, or even death if they contract the...