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> October 1, 1999:
Hour One: Microbiology Update
| Antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria are cropping up all around the world, researchers announced this week at the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy meeting in San Francisco.
From Indonesia to Israel, antibiotic resistance seems to be on the rise. |
SEM of vancomycin-resistant enterococci. CDC/Janice Carr
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Patients taking antibiotics in inappropriate situations - or not taking prescribed antibiotics properly - can help breed bacteria that don't succumb to ordinary antibiotics. This week, researchers at the meeting presented findings about an entirely new class of antibiotics that they had invented to help deal with the growing problem of drug resistance. Because the new drug, called Zyvox, works through a different mechanism, researchers say that it may be used even after current drugs of last resort fail. We'll talk about the problem, and about possible solutions.
Other research presented at the meeting included new work on xenotransplantation (transfer of organs from animals into humans), the tracking of infectious diseases around the world, bioterrorism, and other public health issues. We'll give a rundown of the meeting on this hour of Science Friday.
Guests:
Michael Osterholm
Chief Executive Officer
Infection Control Advisory Network, Inc.
Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Gail Cassle
Vice President for Infectious Diseases Research
Eli Lily and Company
Indianapolis, Indiana
Dr. Abdul Rao
Director-Cell Transplantation
Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Clarence J. Peters
Branch Chief
Special Pathogens Branch
Viral and Rickettsial Diseases
National Center for Infectious Diseases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Atlanta, Georgia
Books/Articles Discussed:
Related Links:
- American Society for
Microbiology
39th
ICAAC - 1999
SciFri:
August 8, 1997, Hour 1, second half: Antibiotic Resistance Update
Whyfiles:
Antibiotic resistance
WARN
CDC: Bioterrorism
Preparedness and Response
Report
of the Cross-Species Infectivity and Pathogenesis Meeting, 1997
SciFri:
January 23, 1998, Hour 1, First Half: Xenotransplant Update
Nature
Medicine: Xenotransplantation Focus
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- This segment produced by:
Annette Heist
Web producer:
Charles Bergquist
Site Editor
Brad Kloza
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