Of the 133 million prescriptions for antibiotics given out each year, about one-half are unnecessary, according to the American College of Physicians. Using antibiotics inappropriately is linked to the rise in bacterial infections that are...
MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a strain of staph resistant to antibiotics. Most of the time, this type of infection is passed from one person to the next through skin-to-skin contact. It’s also spread when someone...
Hand washing is perhaps the single most important weapon in fighting the spread of infection. Whether to use plain soap, antibacterial soap or alcohol-based hand sanitizers remains open for debate. The effectiveness of the product to clean and...
Widespread use of antibiotics has provoked the development of resistance to specific antibiotics among certain strains of disease-causing bacteria. Bacterial strains known as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, stand as hallmark...
Evolution occurs as a result of the application of the "survival of the fittest" concept. Changing the living conditions causes some individuals from a population to thrive and pass along their DNA, leading future generations to adapt to the...
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, also known as MRSA, is a dangerous bacterial pathogen. This strain of bacteria, which is resistant to the antibiotic methicillin, may also be resistant to other antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance most...
MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, which is a kind of bacteria. Because methicillin is a type of antibiotic that is commonly used to treat this kind of bacteria, these MRSA bacteria are resistant to antibiotic treatment....
Manuka honey, made by bees that feed on manuka bushes, is most commonly exported from New Zealand. Honey has long been a folk treatment for a variety of conditions and is now being used to treat conditions such as Methicillin-resistant...
Poultry products, and chickens in particular, continue to be a favorite element of the human diet. Chickens can be used for both their meat and their eggs, and they have even become a popular type of domestic pet in some urban environs. However,...
A bladder infection is most commonly caused by a type of bacterium called Escherichia coli, or E. coli. These bacteria can travel from outside of the body into the urethra, a narrow tube that normally transports urine out of the body from the...
Acne, a skin condition caused by blocked pores, typically results from excessive oil production, especially during adolescence. It commonly leads to inflamed pustules that may develop into nodules of inflammation called acne cysts. This is a...
If you've accumulated makeup over the years, and never seem to throw any away, it may be time for an out with the old, in with the new moment. One of the reasons is that old makeup--especially previously used makeup--is associated as a breeding...
Fresh and dried herbs, while most commonly used for flavoring your favorite dishes and culinary applications, also offer healing properties and have medicinal benefits. Some of the most popular and commonly used herbs, including basil, oregano and...
Known in the medical community as pharyngitis, a sore throat can leave a person feeling miserable. Its common characteristics include dry scratchiness and painful swallowing, while its most common cause, according to the Mayo Clinic, is the cold...
Probiotics are defined by Drugs.com as "substances secreted by one micro-organism which stimulates the growth of another." The "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," or AJCN, describes probiotics as live bacteria that cause a health benefit a...
Most people can manage mild or moderate acne with over-the-counter products. But if your acne fails to respond to benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, two well-known medications for pimples, you may need to try a prescription antibiotic. Some...
Cystitis is the infection of the bladder, and according to Medline Plus, the symptoms of the disease include painful and frequent urination, fever, nausea and vomiting. MedlinePlus also reports that cystitis usually occurs in sexually active women...
In addition to being high in vitamin C and often fortified with calcium, cranberry juice is commonly used to prevent cystitis, or urinary tract infections, in women. Cranberries are also being studied for their possible role in fighting arterial...
MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphyloccus aureus) is a bacteria that resides on the skin or in the nose. This bacteria is resistant to antibiotic drugs such as penicillin, amoxicillin, methicillin, and other drugs typically used to treat staph...
The emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance is a great public health concern. The role of inappropriate and excessive antibiotic use has been clearly demonstrated in the development of drug resistant bacteria. In contrast, studies...
Cystic acne represents the most stubborn, difficult to treat acne. These bumps are large and deep, having a diameter of 5mm or more, and are filled with pus. In addition to their unsightly appearance, they can be painful and cause scarring....
In the fight against acne, pharmaceutical companies continuously try to improve on available medications. Topical benzoyl peroxide has successfully treated pimples for decades, but it also can irritate skin. Dermatological products company...
Physicians use oral antibiotics to treat acne, and patients prescribed those antibiotics have dutifully popped their pills three or four times each day. However, some patients forget a dose, which can result in their acne growing resistant to the...
Essential oils are volatile natural compounds produced by plants. Once extracted, people use these aromatic oils for a variety of purposes, including cooking, perfumery and aromatherapy. Each oil contains dozens of different chemicals, many of...
Mercer disease is actually an incorrect name given to MRSA disease, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, derived from the direct pronunciation of the acronym. MRSA occurs when Staphylococcus aureas bacteria that have become resistant to...
Cleocin is the brand name for the antibiotic clindamycin. Clindamycin is available orally in the forms of tablets, but it can also be administered via intravenous or intramuscular injection. It can also be administered as a topical cream or as a...
Diarrhea, the occurrence of loose, watery stools, affects everyone periodically. Diarrhea occurs when something interferes with the normal functions of the small and large intestines. The intestines work to remove excess fluids as well as...
Fresh and dried herbs, while most commonly used for flavoring your favorite dishes and culinary applications, also offer healing properties and have medicinal benefits. Some of the most popular and commonly used herbs, including oregano and...
Chancroid is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that is common in some developing countries but far more rare in the United States and other western countries. It is usually limited to participants in the sex trade, but there have been some...
Flesh-eating disease, or necrotizing fasciitis is a rare condition caused by a bacterium that has become resistant to antibiotics. Learn more about the symptoms and treatments of flesh-eating bacteria in this health video.
Staph infections cover a variety of skin infections, some more dangerous than others. Learn more about staph infection in this health video.
Respiratory infections are any infection of the lungs and respiratory tract. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and treatments for respiratory infection in this health video.
