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...

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....

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 bacte...

A vaginal epithelial cell infected with multiple Gram negative and positive bacterial species including G. vaginalis, indicative of Bacterial Vaginosis (BV).

Urinary tract infections are a result of bacteria entering the urinary tract through the urethra. When these bacteria arrive at the bladder, they begin to multiply, leading to an infection. In most cases, the urinary system can usually...

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...

If one antibiotic resistant bacteria that makes the news often, it is MRSA. Whether it be the recent

infection of newborns at a major clinic or the infection of a national football team due to improper cleaning of gym equipment, MRSA accrues a lot of airtime. MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Staphylococcus aureus is most commonly...

Some species of streptococci are unique in that they are classified or grouped according to the antigenic structure of their cell walls. Ever wondered how this was discovered? In this article, we will explore the history of how strep grouping came to be in common usage today.

The genus Streptococcus contains many pathogens from numerous body sites. Over 50 species of these gram-positive cocci...

Boyd Woodruff was the son of an East Coast farmer whose ground-breaking research served as a lynch pin for fellow scientists to be able to harvest a plethora of lifesaving antibiotics from every day soil.

Known simply as Boyd, he loved to read and explore the world around him. However, it was not until he was a senior in high school and had to take chemistry that he discovered his true passion...

With Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) on the rise among hospital acquired infections across America in hospitals and care facilities, infection control specialists have been scrambling to prevent the acceleration of this toxic and destructive bacterium. Where does CDI come from? Where is it going? How can we avoid it? With nearly half a million impacted yearly from this infection...