Costa Rica’s Coffee Antibiotic Breakthrough.
Researchers at the University of Costa Rica have discovered that coffee mucilage, a waste product of coffee production, contains antimicrobial polyphenols that inhibit the growth of food spoilage bacteria and human pathogens like E. coli and Salmonella. Led by Dr. Carolina Chaves Ulate, the team found the mucilage did not affect beneficial gut bacteria.
The findings could enable new applications for coffee by-products, helping the $10 billion coffee industry reduce its large environmental footprint while also unlocking new possibilities for developing antibiotic medications. The researchers are continuing to explore the effects of the mucilage polyphenols on bacterial spores and possible disinfectant applications. This discovery from the major coffee-producing nation of Costa Rica could have broad implications for both the coffee industry and medicine.
Costa Rica Hospitals Buckle Under Pediatric Respiratory Surge
A surge in severe respiratory infections among children has overwhelmed hospitals across Costa Rica, leaving them without sufficient beds and resources to handle the influx of critically ill pediatric patients. The National Children’s Hospital in San José has resorted to converting offices into makeshift wards but is still unable to immediately admit every child needing urgent care. Officials warn the death toll could climb amid packed emergency rooms and ICUs exceeding capacity.
Doctors are pleading for the Health Ministry to issue an alert on the crisis fueled by the rainy season as hospitals large and small strive to provide care despite dire limitations. Officials urge vaccination and preventive measures to bolster immunity and ease the burden on Costa Rica’s health system inundated by severe pediatric respiratory infections.
New Costa Rica Tourism Brochures.
The Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) has launched the digital versions of 45 brochures from their Tourist Service Department to provide reliable information to tourists visiting Costa Rica. The updated materials are available in both English and Spanish and cover a variety of topics, such as museums, agrotourism, bird and turtle spotting, botanical gardens, cultural spheres, crocodiles, bus schedules, and more. The ICT’s Tourist Service Chief, Víctor Ramírez, noted that the resources are intended to be trustworthy and not a sales pitch. The process of refreshing the brochures began in January and included research and site visits.
Additionally, a new guide on whale and manta ray spotting was introduced. While these brochures are primarily digital, limited print versions will be produced for the main ICT information desk in La Uruca and some regional offices. The brochures are available for free on the ICT’s official website.
