At the age of five, Robert Koch astounded his parents by telling them that he had taught himself to read with the aid of a newspaper. This feat merely foreshadowed the intelligence and tenacity which were to be so characteristic of Koch in his adult life. The son of a mining authority, Robert Koch was born on December 11, 1843 at Clausthal in the Upper Harz Mountains in the northwestern region of Germany...

The Happiest Place on Earth just made news in November for all the wrong reasons. Disneyland recently shut down two contaminated cooling towers after health officials discovered the towers had elevated levels of Legionella bacteria.

Eleven separate cases of Legionnaires’ disease have surfaced in the Anaheim area. The victims were infected sometime between late August and October. As of writing this...

On September 1, 2017, San Diego County officials declared a state of emergency due to a major outbreak of Hepatitis A in the region.  

Since November 2016, 544 infections and 20 deaths have been reported. In comparison, for the last five years, San Diego County has recorded only 28 cases annually on average. Among the recent outbreak of reported cases, the majority have been homeless individuals and/or...

In an attempt to reduce the inappropriate use of antibiotics, researchers at the University of Rochester have developed a tool that physicians can use to distinguish between a bacterial or viral infection in a patient that is suffering from an infection. Antibiotics are useless in treating viral infections; sadly, bacterial resistance is stimulated by the indiscriminate and often unnecessary use of...

In September 1620, a group of separatists seeking religious freedom of worship as well as bountiful land sailed from Plymouth, England for the New World. After a 66 day journey, the Mayflower dropped anchor off the coast of Cape Cod, nearly 200 miles north of their intended destination.  They of course, in true European fashion, named their new colony Plymouth after their departing port.

The first...

As we progress through the 21st Century, the looming threat of antimicrobial resistance and the urgent call for action have been expressed by the medical community worldwide.  Bacterial resistance mechanisms are becoming increasingly more common, especially to broad spectrum beta (β)-lactam antibiotics which include penicllins, cephalosporins, monobactams, and carbapenems.

β-lactam resistant bacteria...

Marijuana legalization has been a hot topic in the news across the United States over the past few years.  In 2012, Colorado was the first state to pass legalization of recreational marijuana use. Prior to this, many states had legal medical prescription marijuana sales and usage on the books. However, Colorado’s move to legalize recreational cannabis use is a sign that the overarching public view...

Compounding Pharmacies are specialized pharmacies able to address specific health needs in a way mass produced pharmaceuticals cannot. Compounded medications offer customized solutions for patients' unique conditions. The value of these facilities is significant for those who have experienced an enhanced quality of life or life-saving benefits from compounded medications.

Barry Cadden, an owner of...

On September 6^th, 2017, the organization known as PETA or the People for the ethical treatment of animals called out to their vegan brethren to donate their stool…for SCIENCE! [1]  For those who are unaware, Fecal Microbiota Transplants or FMT’s are a relatively new but promising treatment for individuals who have had their guts ravaged by the pathogenic bacteria Clostridium difficile.C...

Throughout history there has been an ongoing conversation about the mystical “living light” that shows up fluttering in the sky, churning beneath the ocean waves, and dancing across the forest floor. Stories have been passed down depicting this fantastical phenomenon stemming from all different cultures and histories. From ocean explorers that discovered the deep sea dwelling animals that illuminate...

My wife is eight months pregnant and her due date is creeping ever closer with each passing day. In this last month, many preparations are being made in our home. We have assembled the cradle, put away the copious amount of clothes our generous parents have given us (it's our first child), and the house has never been so clean. My wife is also making her own personal preparations. She is eating extremely...