Author Chandana Balasubramanian , 25-Jul-2023 A urinary tract infection or UTI is a very common bacterial infection, impacting approximately 150 million individuals worldwide annually. Each year, in the United States, UTIs contribute to over 10 million office visits, surpass 2 million emergency department visits, and result in 100,000 hospitalizations. As…

Author Chandana Balasubramanian , 01-Aug-2023 Melioidosis is a rare but deadly disease caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, a bacterium found in soil and water in tropical regions. Symptoms include fever, coughing, soreness in the chest area, and loss of body mass. …

Author Chandana Balasubramanian , 08-Aug-2023 Rinderpest, also known as the “cattle plague,” is related to countless deaths since the Roman era, leading to agricultural losses, famine, and disease. The disease is caused by the rinderpest virus (RPV), a negative-strand RNA virus belonging to the Morbillivirus genus in the Paramyxoviridae family. …

Author Chandana Balasubramanian , 15-Aug-2023 The chain of infection is a concept that tells us how infections spread, just like a chain reaction. Understanding the chain of infection is crucial in combating the transmission of diseases. As an example, imagine you eat a lovely salad, but a few hours later…

Author Chandana Balasubramanian , 22-Aug-2023 A biofilm is a layer of microbes that grows on a surface or structure. The simplest example of one is plaque, the sticky layer of bacteria that grows on our teeth. In general, some biofilms are more problematic than others. When biofilms form on medical…

The global pandemic caused by COVID-19 has rightly taken center stage in media and scientific journals but overshadowed other concerning outbreaks that could do with some attention. GIDEON co-founder Dr. Stephen A. …

by Dr. Jaclynn Moskow Leprosy is a chronic and progressive disease that primarily affects the skin and peripheral nervous system. The disease has been with us for thousands of years. There is evidence of the disease as far back as 4000 BC, in ancient Egypt. [1] In 1873, Norwegian physician…

by Dr. Jaclynn Moskow Waterborne diseases are contracted through exposure to contaminated water including drinking water, water used in food preparation, and swimming water. They can be caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Below is a partial list of waterborne disease pathogens, their microbial classification, and their resulting illnesses.

As the festive season approaches, the temptation of treating yourself to a dinner in your favorite eatery could become too much. But before you give in to your cravings, be sure to heed the advice of our co-founding doctor, Dr. …