Health Library

Antibiotics are medicines used to kill bacteria. Over time, certain groups of these germs may adapt to these medicines. They may change in such a way that antibiotics can't kill them. This is called antibiotic resistance.

Metabolic syndrome is a condition that includes the presence of a cluster of risk factors specific for cardiovascular disease. Metabolic syndrome greatly raises the risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, stroke, or all three.

Antibiotics have been called "wonder drugs," because of their ability to treat bacterial infections that were once deadly. Antibiotics have saved countless lives since they were first introduced 60 years ago. But over use of these drugs has allowed some bacteria to become resistant to them.

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are a type of bacteria. They can cause infections. These infections can be hard to treat.

Two types of diabetes can occur during pregnancy—pre-existing diabetes, which will continue after pregnancy, and gestational diabetes, which will go away after the baby is born. Diabetes is a condition in which your body doesn’t make enough insulin or you can’t use it correctly. This video offers details on how these two types diabetes can affect a pregnancy.

Detailed information on the use of antibiotics and children

Cellulitis is a spreading skin infection. It may affect the upper skin layer. Or it may affect the deeper skin and layer of fat under the skin. When cellulitis affects the upper skin layer, it may be called erysipelas. This type of infection is more common in children.

This blood test looks at the genetic makeup of a strain of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The test can be useful in planning your treatment for HIV.

Impetigo is a skin infection. When it affects just the surface, it’s called superficial impetigo. Impetigo can also affect deeper parts of the skin. This is called ecthyma. It may occur on healthy skin. Or it may occur where the skin was injured by a cut, scrape, or insect bite.

Pseudomembranous colitis is an inflammatory disorder of the colon associated with antibiotic use. Bacteria such as Clostridium difficile, which are usually present in the colon, can flourish when antibiotics are taken. This video explains how this disorder develops and what treatment is recommended.

Pneumonia is a type of lung infection. It can cause breathing problems and other symptoms. In community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), you get infected in a community setting. It doesn’t happen in a hospital, nursing home, or other healthcare center.

Impetigo is an infection of the outer layer of the skin. It's most often caused by certain bacteria. Impetigo is much more common in children, but adults can get it too. Learn details about causes, symptoms, and treatment.

Detailed information on microbiology and the most common microbiology tests.

MRSA is an infection that can be life-threatening if it spreads from the skin to the lungs, the bloodstream, or other organs. MRSA infection can be hard to treat.

If the bandage or dressing over your incision gets wet or soiled, here’s what to do to replace it with a fresh one.

The immune system works to keep germs out of the body and destroy any that get in. It is made up of a complex network of cells and organs.

Many people with diabetes need to change their treatment plan at some point. There are benefits to this. For instance, taking insulin can make it easier to manage your blood sugar. Read on to learn more.

Metabolic syndrome is marked by higher levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. That's also a sign of prediabetes.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Sports Medicine now say that strength training is fine for kids, as long as they're supervised and don't try to lift too much weight. Read on