Category Guidelines
Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection epidemiology (2022) – Hunter New England Health
Case load, mortality and relapse Healthcare-associated cases Community acquired cases N=83 (0.9 / 10,000 inpatient bed-days) 8% MRSA 9% Age-adjusted 30-day mortality (c.f. 9% in 2018) Relapse within 15-90 days (2019 – 2022): – 1.8% of adult events – 0% of paediatric events N=264 (2.8 / 10,000 population) 12% MRSA 7% Age-adjusted […]
Prosthetic joint surgery – HNE Health infection prevention protocols
Updated 25/1/24 Preoperative evaluation and perioperative care Screen for MSSA or MRSA carriage with a single nose swab culture (repeat if surgery delayed > 1 month) Carriers of MSSA or MRSA have staphylococcal load reduction performed in the week prior to surgery Preoperative urine cultures are NOT indicated Shower on day of surgery (normal soap) […]
Piperacillin+tazobactam shortage – recommended alternatives – HNELHD
SITUATION Due to a global shortage, many Hunter New England Local Health District sites have low supplies of piperacillin+tazobactam with shortages likely until after September. It is essential that further use of this agent is conserved as below. Amoxycillin+clavulanate is now available in a parenteral form and is a suitable option in many circumstances, contingent on local […]
IV amoxycillin+clavulanate available – uses in intra-abdominal infection – new guideline
We’ve previously counselled against augmentin overuse in a number of conditions which did not, however, include intra-abdominal infection where the new availability of an IV preparation offers us a way of reducing the use of the workhorse antibiotic piperacillin+tazobactam. Here is our freshly minted guideline which also provides more explicit advice about short or no […]
Choosing Wisely: Antibiotic prophylaxis for prevention of infective endocarditis
For many years, antibiotic prophylaxis was routinely administered before dental and other procedures to patients with cardiac conditions that carry a high lifetime risk of infective endocarditis. However due to the infrequent occurrence of endocarditis, prophylaxis prevents very few cases. Infective endocarditis is more likely to result from bacteraemia associated with daily activities (e.g. tooth […]
AIMED - Let's talk about antibiotics 
Essential clinical care of Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection (SAB)
Updated 8/5/20. A. Healthcare-associated events (2018, HNE LHD ) 60 healthcare-associated SAB cases occurred with 7% due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and age-adjusted 30 day mortality of 9%. SAB relapse within 15-90 days occurred in 2.1% of adult events 7% of paediatric events. Principle sites common: ● Vascular access device (e.g. intravenous cannula, central […]