(September 20, 2007 - Insidermedicine) From Chicago - Thousands of researchers are gathering at the meeting of the American Society for Microbiology to debate the effects of global warming on infectious diseases. Global warming is expected to increase the number of those infected with malaria and extend the duration of the flu season. The issue of inadequate hand-washing among doctors and nurses -- a practice that is responsible for millions of infections in hospitals -- will also be discussed.

From St. Louis - Crib bumpers may not be as safe as you think. According to a study published in the Journal of Pediatrics, researchers have traced 27 deaths to suffocation from the bumpers or their ties. Finding no way to mitigate the risk, the researchers have recommend that crib bumpers no longer be used.

Back to Chicago - Good news from the meeting of the American Society for Microbiology: adding the drug moxifloxacin to a tuberculosis treatment cocktail can significantly lower treatment times. Over 8 million people develop TB annually, and 2 million die from it every year.

And finally, from Maryland - The FDA has approved FluMist, the nasal influenza vaccine, for the prevention of infuenza in healthy children between 2 and 5 years of age. FluMist, which contains a weakened version of live flu virus, is sprayed into the nose as opposed to being administered by injection.

For Insidermedicine in 60, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.