Infectious Disease

If Social Distancing is Key, Why Aren’t Our Leaders Role-Modeling It?

By Erik Goldman, Editor in Chief

Watch a clip or look at a photo of Donald Trump at any of his recent COVID-19 press conferences.

There he is, flanked tightly by a phalanx of dutifully stone-faced cabinet members, advisors, and health experts—all within a sneeze of each other. All apparently unconcerned about catching or transmitting the very pathogen that is tanking the global economy and throwing turmoil into millions of peoples’ lives.

Mercury & Adjuvant-Free, A New Flu Shot Offers Cleaner, Greener Option

By Erik Goldman, Editor in Chief

This flu season, practitioners have a new adjuvant-free option to offer people who’ve been reluctant to take conventional flu shots. The new vaccine, called Flublok, delivers up to three times as much antigenic protein as other flu shots, without additives like thimerosal or aluminum. And, no chicken eggs are involved in its production.

Honeybees Are Allies in Fight Against MRSA

By Kristen Schepker | Assistant Editor

Swedish researchers recently discovered 13 unique lactic acid bacteria in fresh honey and in the honey-producing organs of bees that are strongly active against several virulent human pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

What to Do When Patients Demand Unnecessary Antibiotics

By Erik Goldman | Editor in Chief

It’s a common clinical scenario—especially this time of year.

A patient comes in with a respiratory infection—most probably viral—and requests–make that demands–a Z-Pak, saying that he cannot afford to be absent from work, and that antibiotics have “always worked” well in the past.

New T-Cell Test a “Game-Changer” for Lyme

By Erik Goldman - Vol. 14, No. 3. , 2013

A new test that measures T-cell response Borrelia burgdorferi has the potential to vastly improve Lyme disease diagnosis—especially in the early phases. Physicians who’ve used the test say it’s a game-changer.

 

The Pneumonia-Obesity Connection

By Erik Goldman

Exposure to Chlamydia pneumoniae, the most common pathogen causing human pneumonia, correlates strongly with overweight especially in women. The increased risk was independent of the other common risk factors for obesity, and may reflect the effects of long-term chronic inflammation triggered by the pathogen.