Garlic for Yeast Infections? Probably Best To Skip It
This Rare Bacterial Infection Triggers Pus-filled Sores In The Lungs And Brain
Disease name: Nocardiosis
Affected populations: Nocardiosis is a rare but potentially deadly infectious disease caused by bacteria in the genus Nocardia. Nocardiosis is an opportunistic infection, meaning it doesn't typically affect healthy people but may seize the chance to infect people with weakened immune systems, such as people with cancer or HIV/AIDS, as well as organ transplant recipients who are taking immunosuppressive drugs.
However, around 20% to 30% of patients with nocardiosis have no known pre-existing conditions, so the infection doesn't exclusively affect people with immune deficits. People over the age of 40, especially men, are also more likely to develop the disease than other demographics.
Between 500 and 1,000 new cases of nocardiosis are reported in the United States every year.
Related: Scientists have found a secret 'switch' that lets bacteria resist antibiotics — and it's been evading lab tests for decades
Causes: Nocardia bacteria are found in soil, standing water and decaying plant material. Around 100 Nocardia species have been identified so far, of which 12 are known to infect humans.
People may become infected with Nocardia bacteria when they inhale dust containing the microbes or they have a cut or scrape that comes in contact with contaminated soil or water.
Nocardiosis is not known to spread from one person to another; people pick it up directly from the environment.
Symptoms: The symptoms of nocardiosis vary depending on which part of the body is infected by Nocardia bacteria.
Most cases of nocardiosis start out as lung infections, in which pus-filled cavities, or abscesses containing the bacteria, form in the lungs. This can cause symptoms such as chest pain, a cough (including coughing up blood), sweats, chills and general weakness.
Image 1 of 2
(Image credit: CDC/ Dr. Libero Ajello via CDC PHIL)Skin ulcers on the arm of a patient infected with nocardiosis.
Nocardia bacteria can then travel in the bloodstream and form abscesses in other regions of the body, including the brain, kidneys and intestines. Infections of the brain can cause headache, weakness, confusion and seizures.
Approximately one-third of all patients infected with nocardiosis develop skin ulcers or sores, instead of an internal infection. These skin lesions typically form across the hands, chest wall or buttocks. They may look like open wounds or bumps under the skin.
Without treatment, nocardiosis can rapidly lead to death, often by causing organ failure or sepsis, a dangerous body-wide immune reaction. Between 16% and 40% of patients with nocardiosis die as a result of their infection. If the disease spreads to the brain, death rates jump to more than 80%.
Treatments: Nocardiosis can be treated with common antibiotics, although these bacteria are normally resistant to penicillin. The antibiotic treatment usually takes between six and 12 months to complete, and some patients may need to take antibiotics for even longer to prevent the disease from coming back.
Surgery may sometimes also be required to remove specific abscesses from the body, especially if a patient is not responding to antibiotic treatment.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to offer medical advice.
Bacterial Vaginosis Might Be Sexually Transmitted After All
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is one of the most common vaginal infections, yet many women have never even heard of it. It affects about one-in-three women globally, making it more common than yeast infections and trichomoniasis combined. Despite this, BV often flies under the radar, dismissed as a minor issue. But a new study is shaking things up, revealing that BV might not just be a random imbalance — it could actually be sexually transmitted. This means treatment might need a major update.
Think of the vagina as a well-balanced ecosystem, where "good" bacteria (mostly lactobacilli) keep things running smoothly. When BV strikes, these good bacteria get overwhelmed by other bacteria, leading to an imbalance. The result — a fishy odor, unusual discharge, and sometimes discomfort. However, around half of women with BV don't notice any symptoms at all.
BV isn't just an inconvenience; it has been linked to an increased risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), pregnancy complications, and even fertility problems. The worst part — BV is notorious for coming back — almost half of women treated for BV experience a recurrence within six months.
For decades, doctors believed BV wasn't sexually transmitted, so only women were treated. But a groundbreaking study in The New England Journal of Medicine has challenged that thinking. Researchers from Monash University in Australia studied 164 couples where the woman had BV. Half of the couples followed the standard treatment (only the woman received antibiotics), while the other half had both partners treated.
Women who were treated alone had BV return 63% of the time, while those whose male partners were also treated had a much lower recurrence rate — just 35%. The difference was so striking that researchers stopped the study early, concluding that treating both partners was significantly more effective.
Is BV a sexually transmitted infection (STI)?
Not in the traditional sense. Unlike STIs such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea, BV isn't caused by a single bacteria. It's a shift in the balance of bacteria, which can be influenced by sex. The study suggests that male partners might be carrying BV-related bacteria and unknowingly passing them back to their partners, making reinfection common.
Some cases of BV only occur when a woman is with a particular partner and disappear when that relationship ends. This strongly suggests a sexual link.
BV's high recurrence rate has puzzled doctors for years. Standard treatments, like metronidazole and clindamycin, work well in the short term, but they don't always restore the good bacteria needed to keep BV away. This study suggests another reason — if male partners aren't treated, they might be reintroducing the bacteria every time the couple has sex.
Previous research has found BV-related bacteria in the skin folds of uncircumcised men, in semen, and even in urine samples from men whose partners had BV. This supports the idea that men can unknowingly contribute to reinfection.
Treatment
For years, women have shouldered the burden of BV treatment alone. But this study suggests that male partners should be included in treatment plans to reduce the chances of BV coming back. Currently, official guidelines don't recommend treating male partners, but experts believe that might change soon.
Dr. Christina Muzny and Dr. Jack Sobel, who wrote an editorial about the study, say that doctors should start informing women that their male partners might play a role in BV recurrence. More research is needed, but the evidence is strong enough to rethink treatment strategies.
If these findings lead to new treatment guidelines, women might finally have a better shot at getting rid of BV for good. For decades, women have been stuck in a frustrating cycle of treatment and recurrence, but this research offers a hopeful way forward.
Of course, more questions remain. Should all men be treated, or just those whose partners have recurrent BV? How can doctors prevent unnecessary antibiotic use? And what role do other factors like smoking, douching, or using certain lubricants play in BV's persistence?
This study is one of the most significant breakthroughs in BV research in over 40 years. If the findings are confirmed in future studies, treatment could finally shift in a way that benefits women more effectively.
For now, experts recommend that women with recurring BV discuss these findings with their doctors and consider whether their partners should be evaluated as well. After all, if BV is partly a shared problem, it makes sense that the solution should be shared too.
As Dr. Catriona Bradshaw, one of the study's lead researchers, puts it, "This could be the beginning of a new era in BV treatment and prevention."
Wisp Unveils Male Bacterial Vaginosis Partner Treatment
Traditionally thought of as a women's issue, new evidence supports that bacterial vaginosis can be sexually transmitted between men and women. Recognizing this, Wisp, a women's telehealth company, is now offering a male bacterial vaginosis (BV) partner treatment, it announced Tuesday.
New York City-based Wisp is a direct-to-consumer company offering treatments for different sexual and reproductive health needs, including birth control, sexually transmitted diseases and hormonal health. BV is Wisp's largest category, according to the announcement. The condition occurs when natural bacteria levels are out of balance and can cause vaginal pain and discomfort.
The new treatment is for patients assigned male at birth who are in an active sexual relationship with a partner assigned female at birth, and whose partner is either receiving prescription treatment for or has a confirmed current diagnosis of BV. They are prescribed 500 milligrams of oral Metronidazole twice daily for seven days, along with 2.5 grams of 2% Topical Clindamycin cream applied to the external penile skin twice daily for seven days. Both are intended to be taken at the same time.
The male BV treatment costs $99, according to Wisp's website.
Research shows that 60% of BV cases return within a year. This is likely because male partners have not traditionally been tested nor treated for the condition, leading to the infection being passed back and forth between partners, according to Wisp.
"For too long, BV, a condition that affects one in three women, has been viewed and treated as a women's-only issue," said Monica Cepak, Wisp CEO, in an email. "Now, with new evidence supporting what many of us already knew, which is that it actually affects both female and male partners, the conversation around BV and women's vaginal health in general is opening up.
"As the one-stop-shop for all women's sexual and reproductive healthcare needs, it was important for us to lead that conversation, which is why we're launching the first-ever Male BV Partner Treatment, so our patients, and their partners, can better and more effectively treat this stubborn and very common infection," she continued.
Other digital health companies that offer treatment for BV include Dr. B and Hey Jane. However, these companies don't appear to offer male treatment like Wisp does.
By providing the male BV partner treatment, Wisp hopes to offer couples "quick and easy access to discreet OTC and Rx solutions that are not only affordable, but are also highly effective," Cepak noted.
"In doing this, we're removing the stigma too often associated with women's everyday health needs," she said. "Beyond that, we want to provide options for the couple, instead of only focusing on women as the problem. This new treatment does just that."
Thai Noipho, Getty Images
Comments
Post a Comment