The study, published in Cell and led by Yale University’s Ruslan Medzhitov, PhD, involved infecting two groups of mice with either an influenza virus or with Listeria monocytogenes, which causes food poisoning. Then, researchers force fed some mice in each group with food, while giving the other mice in each group saline. The results were covered by The Economist.
According to the coverage, every mouse with a bacterial infection that was force fed died, but half survived when given saline instead of food. In the viral infection group, 77.8 percent of mice survived if given food, while just 10 percent of the mice given saline survived.
The study’s results would have to be validated in humans, but could have an effect on human care. “What it shows is that if we understand the infection, there might be simple ways that we can improve the outcome,” David Schneider, PhD, a microbiologist and immunologist with Stanford University, told Stat.
More articles on bacteria and viruses:
After common dental procedure, 7 children hospitalized in Orange County with bacterial infections
Ice maker, sinks linked to UW Medical Center Legionnaires’ outbreak; 2 dead
FSU sees outbreak of hand, foot, mouth disease
