Flinders University

FRIDAY, Aug. 30, 2024 -- Senior residential homes are breeding grounds for antibiotic-resistant bacteria, due to overprescription of antibiotics, a new study says. Stool samples provided by Australian senior home residents contained bacteria with a wide range of genes linked to antibiotic resistance , researchers report in the Journal of Infection . “Commonly used tablet antibiotics in the elderly increase many types of resistance bacteria carried in the gut and these so called ‘superbugs’ can increase resistance to other important life-saving antibiotic drugs,” lead researcher Sophie Miller , a doctoral student at Flinders University in Australia, said in a news release. “High rates of antibiotic prescriptions in aged care settings are likely to be contributing to the proliferation of these bugs,” she added. The World Health Organization considers antibiotic resistance one of the biggest threats to global health, researchers noted. A growing number of infections – pneumonia, tuberculosis, gonorrhea, salmonella – are becoming harder to treat because antibiotics are less and less effective against them. For the study, researchers analyzed stool samples from 164 people living at one of five long-term senior care facilities in South Australia. Three of five (61%) residents had been prescribed antibiotics at least once in the prior 12 months, researchers said. The stool analysis revealed more than 1,100 unique antibiotic resistance genes conferring resistance against 38 different classes of antibiotics. These included 20 antibiotic resistance genes of high clinical concern. Overuse of the antibiotic doxycycline appeared to be the biggest contributor to antibiotic resistance. Prescription of doxycycline increased the odds of finding high levels of antibiotic resistance genes by nearly 15-fold, researchers report. “We discovered that an antibiotic commonly prescribed to aged care residents was strongly associated with an increase in resistance to other antibiotics the resident had not been prescribed,” Miller said. Alarmingly, nearly all the seniors carried these resistant genes without displaying any symptoms of infection, researchers noted. “Our findings suggest that even antibiotics that are not typically associated with major modifications in gut bacteria can significantly escalate the presence of resistance genes,” Miller said. The results indicate that senior care facilities need to be more prudent in their use of antibiotics, said senior researcher Geraint Rogers , a fellow of medicine and public health at Flinders University. “As the population ages and life expectancy extends, the implications of our findings emphasize the importance of a holistic approach to antibiotic management in long-term aged care settings,” Rogers said. “There are concerns that practitioners may be over prescribing antibiotics, potentially increasing the risk of resistant bacterial infections, and this study’s findings suggest a need for extra caution when prescribing them for older patients,” he added. Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.

THURSDAY, June 27, 2024 -- Want to reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes? Avoid bright light at night, a recent study suggests. More exposure to light at night, between 12:30 a.m. and 6 a.m., is linked to a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes , researchers found. That’s likely because light affects sleep patterns, which are important for maintaining healthy insulin sensitivity and stable blood sugar levels, researchers said. “Light exposure at night can disrupt our circadian rhythms, leading to changes in insulin secretion and glucose metabolism,” senior researcher Andrew Phillips , an associate professor of medicine and public health at Flinders University in Australia, said in a news release. “Changes in insulin secretion and glucose metabolism caused by disrupted circadian rhythms affect the body's ability to regulate blood sugar levels, which can ultimately lead to the development of type 2 diabetes,” he continued. For the study , researchers analyzed data from about 85,000 healthy people without diabetes. The participants wore devices on their wrist for one week that tracked their light exposure levels day and night, collecting about 13 million hours of light sensor data. The team then tracked the participants for nine years to see whether they went on to develop type 2 diabetes. They found a higher risk of type 2 diabetes for people exposed to light at night, even after accounting for other factors like lifestyle, sleep patterns, shift work, diet and mental health. What’s more, the effect was dose-dependent – higher levels of brighter light caused diabetes risk to increase more. “Our findings suggest that reducing your light exposure at night and maintaining a dark environment may be an easy and cheap way to prevent or delay the development of diabetes,” Phillips said. The new study was recently published in The Lancet Regional Health-Europe . Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.

Seasoned medical professional brings over a decade of expertise to The Wound Pros LOS ANGELES, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Wound Pros is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Richard Park as a Medical Director. Dr. Park brings a wealth of experience in internal medicine and hospital care to the company, which specializes in treating and managing non-healing wounds in long-term care facilities. Continue Reading Dr. Richard Park Dr. Park earned his medical degree from Flinders University School of Medicine in Australia and completed his Internal Medicine residency at Good Samaritan Hospital, affiliated with Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, where he also served as Chief Resident. He is also certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and has been practicing as a hospitalist since 2010. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Park is the co-founder and partner of Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles and Advantage Hospitalists, Inc. in Oxnard, California. He previously worked as a Physician Advisor at MedManagement LLC, providing clinical expertise and guidance to the organization. He is currently the CEO and medical director of Park Internal Medicine in Granada Hills, California. Dr. Park also served as a physician at the Vista Del Mar Behavioral Healthcare Hospital and California Forensic Medical Group. Dr. Park's extensive experience in hospital settings and dedication to quality patient care aligns with the company's mission to enhance wound care management through AI-driven insights and robust documentation. As a medical director, he will oversee the company's clinical operations, collaborate with clinical teams to develop and implement evidence-based treatment protocols, and ensure that the highest standards of care are maintained across partnering facilities. About The Wound Pros The Wound Pros is a biotech company that leverages artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and augmented reality to revolutionize wound care management. By harnessing these cutting-edge technologies, The Wound Pros aims to standardize wound care, improve healing rates, and ultimately save lives. Central to its innovative approach is RITA, an AI-enabled wound care management system. RITA features a range of powerful tools, including an automatic wound measurement tool that utilizes AI for precise wound assessments and tissue segmentation. This ensures healthcare providers have accurate data for effective treatment planning. RITA offers a durable medical equipment (DME) algorithm that guides providers in ordering the appropriate DME supplies, considering factors such as wound assessment, size, and tissue segmentation. Additionally, The Wound Pros' AI-powered system also offers a healing rate prediction feature that forecasts healing timelines by analyzing wound progress over a 30-day period. These capabilities enable providers to adjust treatments and proactively enhance patient satisfaction. Looking forward, The Wound Pros is developing an ICD-10 automation tool to streamline and ensure the accuracy of Medicare and insurance claim submissions, reducing administrative burdens on healthcare providers. Furthermore, the company is launching an AI-driven medical records system to enhance providers' quality of life by automating medical documentation. The Wound Pros conducts intensive research as the nation's largest wound management company and a major DMEPOS (Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies) supplier. It leverages its extensive database to evaluate the performance of various skin substitutes and advanced wound dressings, driving data-informed clinical decision-making. The Wound Pros is a privately held company. Media Contact: Michael Washington (323) 425-4838 [email protected] SOURCE The Wound Pros, LLC