Antibiotics for dental procedures linked to C. difficile infection.

Antibiotics for dental procedures linked to C. difficile infection. Researchers in Minnesota identified a potentially overlooked source of Clostridium difficile infection: antibiotics prescribed by dentists. Antibiotics can kill microbes that protect against infection in the gastrointestinal tract, potentially leading to C. difficile infection (CDI), which the CDC has designated as one of three “high-consequence” antibiotic-resistant threats requiring urgent public health attention. Antibiotics prescribed by dentists may contribute to the problem, according to study findings summarized here by Stacy Holzbauer, DVM, MPH, epidemiology field officer for the CDC and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Holzbauer and colleagues studied the antibiotic history of over 1,600 patients in Minnesota with community-acquired CDI and found that 15% had taken antibiotics for dental procedures over a 6-year period. Most of these patients — 85% — had taken antibiotics only for dental reasons, Holzbauer said. And for many, the prescriptions did not appear in their medical records, which Holzbauer said illustrates “a disconnect between dental and medical providers.” Dentists have often been overlooked as major partners in programs that promote appropriate antibiotic use, and it’s critical that they are included in efforts to improve antibiotic prescribing,” Holzbauer said during a news conference at IDWeek. “Antibiotics are not harmless medications. C. diff is a known complication.more

Mastercard trials biometric bank card with built-in fingerprint sensor.

Mastercard trials biometric bank card with built-in fingerprint sensor.South Africa is testing bank cards that have both Chip and Pin technology and biometric sensors. Although Apple is credited with making the technology go mainstream, the first mobile to include a fingerprint scanner was released 10 years ago. Since the Toshiba Portégé G500, things have advanced considerably and it is almost commonplace for all new devices to feature biometric technology. As well as phones, buildings, schools, and airports have adopted fingerprint recognition technology. The latest development? Bank cards..Mastercard trials biometric bank card with built-in fingerprint sensor.

'School-in-a-box' tech is helping teach children in Asia and Africa.

'School-in-a-box' tech is helping teach children in Asia and Africa. This Nairobi-based startup provides pre-school and primary-level education to 100,000 children in 400 schools and nurseries in developing markets across Africa and Asia. The for-profit was launched by former financial analyst Shannon May and her husband Jay Kimmelman in 2009, and has attracted funding from investors including Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates and the Omidyar Network. more

With extra sugar, leaves get fat too.

With extra sugar, leaves get fat too.Scientists tip balance of plant metabolism to increase oil content in leaves with aim of making biofuels and related useful chemicals. Eat too much without exercising and you'll probably put on a few pounds and plant leaves do something similar. A new study shows that retaining sugars in plant leaves can make them get fat too. In plants, this extra fat accumulation could be a good thing. It could help turn plants into factories for making biofuels and other useful chemicals.

Olive mill wastewater transformed: From pollutant to bio-fertilizer, biofuel.

Olive mill wastewater transformed: From pollutant to bio-fertilizer, biofuel. Olive oil has long been a popular kitchen staple. Yet producing the oil creates a vast stream of wastewater that can foul waterways, reduce soil fertility and trigger extensive damage to nearby ecosystems. Now scientists report on the development of an environmentally friendly process that could transform this pollutant into 'green' biofuel, bio-fertilizer and safe water for use in agricultural irrigation. During processing, olives are crushed and mixed with water in mills. The oil is separated out of this mixture, and the dirty water and solid residue are discarded. In Mediterranean countries, where 97 percent of the world's olive oil is produced, olive mills generate almost 8 billion gallons of this wastewater annually. Disposing of it has become problematic. Dumping it into rivers and streams can potentially contaminate drinking water and harm aquatic life. Pumping it onto farm land damages the soil and reduces crop yields. Some researchers have tried burning the wastewater with mixtures of solid waste from the mills or waste wood. But these approaches have either been too costly or have produced excessive air pollution. Mejdi Jeguirim and colleagues took a different approach. They wanted to see if they could convert olive mill wastewater (OMW) from a pollutant into sustainable products for practical use.

New report gives the lay of the land on grazing livestock's climate impact.

New report gives the lay of the land on grazing livestock's climate impact.An international research collaboration has shed light on the impact that grass-fed animals have on climate change. Its new study adds clarity to the debate around livestock farming and meat and dairy consumption. The newly published report dissects claims made by different stakeholders in the debate about so called 'grass-fed' beef, the greenhouse gases the animals emit, and the possibility that, through their grazing actions, they can help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. It evaluates these claims and counterclaims against the best available science, providing an authoritative and evidence-based answer to the question: Is grass-fed beef good or bad for the climate? "Grazed and Confused? Ruminating on cattle, grazing systems, methane, nitrous oxide, the soil carbon sequestration question -- and what it all means for greenhouse gas emissions" is written by Dr Tara Garnett of the Food Climate Research Network at the University of Oxford, Cécile Godde at Australia's national science agency the CSIRO and a team of international experts. The report finds that while grazing of grass-fed animals can boost the sequestration of carbon in some locally specific circumstances, that effect is time-limited, reversible, and at the global level, substantially outweighed by the greenhouse gas emissions they generate. more

Faster Salmonella test boosts food safety for humans and animals.

Faster Salmonella test boosts food safety for humans and animals. A new test allows accurate, rapid testing for Salmonella, a bacteria that is one of the leading causes of food-borne illness across all regions of the world. Salmonella can infect animals as well as people, with commonly reported cases of people falling sick after handling pets and livestock.A new test allows accurate, rapid testing for Salmonella, a bacteria that is one of the leading causes of food-borne illness across all regions of the world. Tests that used to take days now take 24 hours, with a hundredfold improvement in detection for at least one type of Salmonella -- called Salmonella Dublin -- that is an emerging concern and is difficult to grow in culture, making diagnosis difficult. The new method, first developed for automated food safety testing and then adapted by Cornell scientists for a wider range of sample types, can detect the bacteria from environmental and clinical samples, including swabs, feces, milk and blood. more