http://www.audiomedica.com/Audio Medica @ 45th Annual ICAAC - Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, December 16-19, Washington D.C.en-auAudio Medica1.1http://www.audiomedica.com/podcasting/icaac2005/bala_hota.mp3Community Associated Methicillin Resitant Staphylococcus Aureus is a growing problem worldwide. It's distinct from the hospital associated strain and researchers are finding it hard to predict its spread. BalaHota and colleagues looked at patient data from Cook County Hospital in Chicago in an effort to uncover some risk factors for the agent, and they found that public housing and jail were among the best predictors.Wed, 21 Dec 2005 01:40:06 +0200http://www.audiomedica.com/podcasting/icaac2005/hank_balfour.mp3Infectious mononucleosis, also known as the kissing disease, is caused Epstein Barr Virus, or EBV; so, can we effectively treat, and prevent its spread, with an antiviral? According to one study - with a limited number of patients - the answer might be yes. HankBalfour told us more.Wed, 21 Dec 2005 01:40:06 +0200http://www.audiomedica.com/podcasting/heather_white.mp3Have you ever been bitten by a fire ant? You would know it if you had - they are not called fire ants for nothing. But a study presented in Washington has shown that when they sting, they produce substances with some antibacterial properties. So - could they really have a use for medicine? Heather White told us more.Wed, 21 Dec 2005 01:40:06 +0200http://www.audiomedica.com/podcasting/icaac2005/john_schiller.mp3The human papilloma virus vaccine, whLatest on HPV Vaccine for Cervical Cancerich is currently being tested in the prevention of cervical cancer, is one of the most fascinating new developments in medicine, bringing together both infectious disease and cancer. JohnSchiller told the ICAAC conference about the latest data.Wed, 21 Dec 2005 01:40:06 +0200http://www.audiomedica.com/podcasting/icaac2005/joseph_blondeau.mp3Antibiotic resistance is not going to go away in a hurry, but can we at least make it as difficult as possible for bacteria to overcome the drugs they face? JosephBlondeau told the conference about his group's investigation into which of three macrolide antibiotics was the most difficult for Streptococcus pneumoniae to develop resistance againstWed, 21 Dec 2005 01:40:06 +0200http://www.audiomedica.com/podcasting/icaac2005/klaus_stohr.mp3One of the keynote speeches in Washington was on the subject of avian flu, which still loomAvian Flu: The Global Responses large on the global health horizon. KlausStohr, who is the coordinator of the World Health Organisation's influenza programme, told delegates that since the disease is certain to dtrike eventually in some form, it is imperative that we are fully prepared.Wed, 21 Dec 2005 01:40:06 +0200http://www.audiomedica.com/podcasting/icaac2005/lance_peterson.mp3Clostridium difficile, which causes diarrhea in hospital patients, is back - that was one important message coming out of the ICAAC conference in Washington. Because it's stopped displaying an easily recognisable toxin, it's become harder to detect; and what is more, there's a very agressive strain for doctors to worry about. However, as always, new developments are on the way to help us deal with the problem. I spoke to LancePeterson about all this, and he began by giving me some numbers on mortality from C. difficile.Wed, 21 Dec 2005 01:40:06 +0200http://www.audiomedica.com/podcasting/icaac2005/matt_page.mp3Vaccinating all age groups against influenza is likely to be cost effective - that's acccording to a study presented at ICAAC by MattPage. He told me that his investigation could warrant a reconsideration of policy in the United States, and that this was a question worth investigating in other countries too.Wed, 21 Dec 2005 01:40:06 +0200http://www.audiomedica.com/podcasting/icaac2005/michele_pearson.mp3MRSA is still a huge problem in many countries and despite much effort, various health systems are still struggling to control it. MichelePearson of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta told the conference about some new initiatives, and also an ongoing study, that could help the USA eventually get over the problem, and could also provide a useful experience for other countries.Wed, 21 Dec 2005 01:40:06 +0200http://www.audiomedica.com/podcasting/icaac2005/ross_davidson.mp3The use of the antimalarial chloroquine could provide the selective pressure for E.coli to develop fluoroquinolone resistance - that's according to a study presented by RossDavidson at ICAAC. He investigated this by looking at remote community from Guyana, who had access to chloroquine but not fluoroquinolones, and he began by telling Audio Medica about the link between the two.Wed, 21 Dec 2005 01:40:06 +0200http://www.audiomedica.com/podcasting/icaac2005/thomas_file.mp3Community Associated Pneumonia is a sizeable problem for health systems, and what is more, some strains of the frequent culprit - streptococcus pneumoniae - are found to be drug resistant. Thomas File told the conference about a Pharmacokinetically Enhanced regimen of Amoxicillin and Clavulanate and how it does seem to be active in patients infected with one of these resistant strainsWed, 21 Dec 2005 01:40:06 +0200