Category AMS strategy
Ciprofloxacin and other fluoroquinolones: should you think twice about prescribing?
Fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin, moxifloxacin and norfloxacin) (FQ) are essential agents for directed treatment of certain types of resistant aerobic Gram negative bacterial species where FQ susceptibility has been proven. They are best avoided as empirical therapy or where there is an alternative due to these potential serious side effects:
Recognising and treating skin conditions in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
The 2016 Northern Territory Healthy Skin Workshop proceedings are available here and have great relevance for all practitioners in other regions (especially Hunter New England) who care for similar patients. The workshop aimed to develop a framework to enable a coordinated approach to Healthy Skin in the Top End. The proceedings highlight many useful resources and describe […]
More Choosing Wisely recommendations released today
Choosing Wisely Australia is an organisation that aims to improve the quality of healthcare provided to Australians by urging healthcare providers to reconsider tests, procedures or treatments where the evidence suggests no benefit or may lead to harm in some cases. Today the organisation released 50 new recommendations from 12 new Australian professional bodies to […]
Clinical Pharmacist led antimicrobial stewardship
Clinical pharmacists in all settings play important roles in antimicrobial stewardship. They are uniquely placed to provide medicines advice to both prescribers and patients, spreading the message of appropriate and safe antimicrobial use.
AIMED- dedicated to better use of antibiotics
AIMED stands for five essential principles that seek to optimise patient treatment with antimicrobials (antibiotics). Antimicrobial stewardship 101 – excellent overview from McKenzie, Rawlins and Del Mar in Australian Prescriber.
Sparing meropenem 101 – treatment of ESCPM species and AmpC betalactamases unpacked
Guest post: Patrick Harris, Staff Specialist in Microbiology, Central Laboratory, Pathology Queensland, Brisbane Infectious disease and microbiology trainees diligently learn about organisms that have a type of broad-spectrum beta-lactamase (i.e. an enzyme that can inactivate betalactam antibiotics) called ‘AmpC’. These enzymes are encoded by a gene that is usually located on the chromosome of many Gram-negative […]
Antimicrobial prophylaxis, quinolone resistance and prostate biopsy safety
Guest post: Patrick Harris, Staff Specialist in Microbiology, Central Laboratory, Pathology Queensland, Brisbane Overseas travel and prostate biopsies: a key risk-factor for infectious complications with multi-drug resistant bacteria Given an ageing population and the current reliance upon PSA testing to screen for prostate cancer, patients are increasingly being referred for trans-rectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsies. Millions […]
New CDC resources for antimicrobial stewardship in residential aged care
Antimicrobial stewardship is as important in nursing homes or any residential aged care facility as a hospital. A recent study of MRSA epidemiology in the Hunter New England region indicates a significant association between residential aged care residence and first detection of MRSA in the community associated group with no contact with healthcare over previous […]
Appendicitis and antibiotics unpacked
Guest posting: Dr Celia Cooper, Paediatric Infectious Diseases & Microbiology, South Australia Pathology, Adelaide Dr Cooper’s recent presentation to the Australian New Zealand Paediatric Infectious Diseases Interest Group in November is provided with her permission. Her presentation highlights important messages: Post-operative antibiotics for patients with non-perforated appendicitis who have acute surgery are unnecessary (refer to IDSA Guidelines […]
Let’s stop using antibiotics for uncomplicated diverticulitis
Guest posting : Dr Daniel Isacson, local GP (ex Swedish researcher) The evidence is out and there is no proven benefit in recovery or complication rates in treating these patients with or without antibiotics, but still many GPs and surgeons prefer to use antibiotics. How do we get the word across?
AIMED - Let's talk about antibiotics 