Strategies that address the role of antibiotic use in animals to drug resistance.

Strategies that address the role of antibiotic use in animals to drug resistance. The first involves a global regulation that would cap the use of antimicrobials at 50 mg per population correction unit (PCU), which could reduce 64% of consumption by 2030. 

 The second strategy is to limit global meat intake to 40 g per day, which is the equivalent of one fast-food burger per person. This would reduce 66% of antimicrobial consumption in food animals by 2030. 

 The third strategy is to impose a 50% user fee of the current price on veterinary antimicrobials, which could reduce 31% of global consumption. This policy would generate yearly revenues of $1.7 billion to $4.6 billion. 

Alternative user fee rates of 10% or 100% could reduce 9% or 46% of global consumption while generating $0.4 billion to $1.2 billion or $2.8 billion to $7.5 billion in revenues. more

Researchers propose limiting meat intake to keep antibiotics effective.

Researchers propose limiting meat intake to keep antibiotics effective.Researchers said that capping drug use in animals, imposing a user fee on the price of veterinary antimicrobials or limiting meat intake could reduce up to 80% of antimicrobial use worldwide by 2030. According to Ramanan Laxminarayan, PhD, director of the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy (CDDEP), and colleagues, inappropriate use of antimicrobials in animals is a leading cause of drug resistance in both humans and animals. The researchers estimated that 131,109 tons of antimicrobials were used in animals globally in 2013. If left unchecked, this number is projected to increase to 200,235 tons by 2030. In a recent report published in Science, the researchers proposed three strategies that address the contribution of antibiotic use in animals to drug resistance. The first involves a global regulation that would cap the use of antimicrobials at 50 mg per population correction unit (PCU), which could reduce 64% of consumption by 2030. more

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.