News & Insights
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October 14, 2024Posted: October 14, 2024Read MoreRecent studies have shown that many tattoo inks contain dangerous chemicals and potentially infectious bacteria. Despite their cultural popularity and potential hazards, the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate the tattoo industry. The FDA considers tattoos and permanent makeup as cosmetics, so they do not regulate inks used for the purpose of injection into skin; they do not...
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October 08, 2024Posted: October 08, 2024Read MoreCarbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) refers to a group of bacteria within the Enterobacterales order that have developed resistance to carbapenem antibiotics. Carbapenems are a class of broad-spectrum antibiotics used as a last-resort treatment for serious infections caused by multi-drug-resistant bacteria.
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October 07, 2024Posted: October 07, 2024Read MoreDengue cases in the Americas surged threefold in the first three months of this year compared to the same period last year, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay are the most severely affected countries. PAHO officials warn that this outbreak has the potential to be the worst the Americas have faced to date.1
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August 12, 2024Posted: August 12, 2024Read MoreA primary objective in the development of vaccines and therapeutics is to stimulate the body to produce antibodies that block pathogen entry into cells and tissues. Vaccines emulate infections by presenting an antigen to our immune system. This antigen may be a weakened or inactivated virus or bacteria, components of their outer surface, or genetic material. As part of the adaptive immune response...
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July 15, 2024Posted: July 15, 2024Read MoreFor a human pathogen with no known environmental reservoir, Mycobacterium tuberculosis has honed the art of survival and has persisted in human communities from antiquity through modern times. Tuberculosis is a preventable and treatable infectious disease. Having said that, it is still one of the major contributors to morbidity and mortality in developing countries where there is less-than-adequate...
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July 11, 2024Posted: July 11, 2024Read MoreAs we navigate through 2024, the avian flu, or H5N1, continues to make headlines around the globe. Recent reports indicate an alarming spread of the virus, with new human cases anticipated, highlighting the urgent need for robust surveillance and diagnostic measures. At Hardy Diagnostics, we are committed to supporting the global healthcare community in the fight against infectious diseases with our...
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July 01, 2024Posted: July 01, 2024Read MoreWe’re all familiar with this ever-present dichotomy. Antibiotics are life-saving, until they’re not; until the delicate balance shifts, causing the oh-so-inevitable resistance. While antibiotic stewardship programs are becoming more and more prevalent, what does one do when working with a patient with a chronic condition in which daily, long-term antimicrobial treatment is the norm? How do we address...
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June 19, 2024Posted: June 19, 2024Read MoreThe Massachusetts man at the center of an infamously deadly 2012 national meningitis outbreak, Barry Cadden, pleaded no contest to 11 counts of involuntary manslaughter in Michigan and was sentenced last month to at least ten years in prison for his part in the deaths of 11 Michigan residents....
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May 21, 2024Posted: May 21, 2024Read MoreThe CDC attributes the rise in C. auris cases during the height of the pandemic as a result of inadequate staffing, supply shortages, the increased number of seriously ill patients, and changes in infection prevention and control practices. The CDC encourages all U.S. laboratories that identify C. auris to notify their state or local public health authorities. ...
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March 07, 2024Posted: March 07, 2024Read MoreThroughout history, women have played a crucial and indispensable role in advancing the field of microbiology. Their unwavering dedication and pioneering discoveries have paved the way for countless scientific breakthroughs that continue to shape and impact our lives in profound ways. Join us as we celebrate five of these exceptional women: Fanny Hesse, Ruth Ella Moore, Jessie Isabelle Price, Rebecca...
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December 13, 2023Read MoreAs 2023 draws to a close, many people begin to think about new goals and intentions for the New Year ahead. The most common New Year’s resolution is to improve health, which often involves better food alternatives and eating healthier. One of the most popular plant-based sweetener alternatives used in the food and beverage industry is Stevia. Stevia is a no-calorie sugar substitute made from highly...
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October 09, 2023Posted: October 09, 2023 -
May 05, 2023Posted: May 05, 2023Read MoreCase history of a brain destroying amoeba...
A 56-year old man presented with transient coma, nausea, and vomiting when he visited the local hospital. There were no visible abnormalities observed in the MRI and his CSF pressure on the second day of illness...
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April 19, 2023Posted: April 19, 2023Read MoreRising Legionella Infections and Its Prevention in Industrial Cooling Towers
Although Legionella is found naturally in freshwater environments, it becomes a health concern to the population...
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December 06, 2022Posted: December 06, 2022Read MoreWith more than 1,000 potential microbes known to cause human disease, the differential diagnosis of pathogens can be complex and challenging.
Traditional microbial culture-based methods are the most common and readily available tests for identification, but the turnaround time can be long when organisms are difficult to culture or arduous...
