Category Hospital practice
Can I safely delabel a patient with a penicillin “allergy” history? The HNE PEN-fast scoring approach
Further to Professor Jason Trubiano’s instructive post last year concerning penicillin allergy and its risks of recurrence, here is the HNE approach to using the PEN_fast score (that his team developed and validated). This approach is increasingly used across Australia and the world to screen patients and determine whether an allergy alert can be safely […]
Therapeutic Guidelines: Antibiotic (eTG) update from March 2025 – my practice-changing take homes
Guess posting from Dr Catherine Berry, Antimicrobial Stewardship Physician, Hunter New England Health, Staff Specialist, Infectious Diseases, John Hunter Hospital, Conjoint Lecturer, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Newcastle . This update has been a big one – the first substantial update since 2019. There is a lot to take in and a comprehensive […]
Non-pharmacological prevention of UTI for older people: what is the evidence base?
Guest posting: Dr Penny Webster, Staff Specialist Geriatric Medicine, Hunter New England Health Hydration Increasing fluid intake (by 1.5 litres per day) was shown in an RCT to reduce the incidence of urinary infections in premenopausal women (Hooton et al 2018 JAMA Int Med). The effect size was considerable – during the 12-months, the mean […]
Top 10 Infectious Diseases Papers 2024 – Prof. Josh Davis
Guest posting: Professor Joshua Davis, University of Newcastle, Menzies School of Health Research and John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, NSW, Australia Again, here is his thought-provoking survey of the medical ID literature. These were the criteria for his (personal) choice: COVID papers excluded Published during 2024 Deal with diagnosis or treatment of infectious diseases Relevant to […]
Preoperative nasal screening for Staph. aureus carriage and load reduction (HNE LHD) 2024 update
Indications for preoperative screening for Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA or MRSA) nasal carriage and preoperative staphylococcal load reduction (HNE LHD): Open cardiac and valve procedures Shoulder, hip or knee joint total arthroplasties: primary or revision procedures Aortic work (stent and open) and all lower limb open surgery for vascular reconstructions (bypass, endarterectomy). Iliac stents (as they […]
2023: Essential clinical care of Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection (SAB)
HNELHD_CG_23_44_Staphylococcus_aureus_bacteraemia_Mgmt Key clinical care required for all patients with SAB 1. Commence intravenous (IV) high dose flucloxacillin AND vancomycin (unless allergies) immediately, pending results of S.aureus PCR testing or susceptibilities. 2. Remove any removable foci of infection (change IV lines, drain abscesses). 3. Evaluate for complicated SAB using the criteria defined below (section 2.3). 4. […]
Top 10 Infectious Diseases Papers 2023 – Prof. Josh Davis
Here is Josh‘s regular survey – well worth a look! Top ID papers of 2023 Davis
Antimicrobial resistance awareness week 2023 – short presentations
Presented between November 18-24th : Oral is the New IV presented by Professor Josh Davis and Ms Kristi Kozierowski (AMS pharmacist, John Hunter Hospital): Oral is the New IV_JHH Davis 2023 Oral is the new IV – 2023 – KK Antibiograms presented by Dr Rob George (Microbiologist, Pathology NSW) Are we looking after our antibiotics in Hunter […]
Updated overview of approaches to CRE/ CPE treatment
Guest posting from Professors Josh Davis (Hunter New England Health) and Patrick Harris (UQ). AMBLER CLASS Class A Class B Class D Key characteristic Serine group enzyme Metallo-betalactamase OXA-type Key example(s) KPC, GES IMP, NDM, VIM OXA-48. (OXA-181, OXA-232 emerging) Susceptiblity features R to all b-lactams R to all b-lactams except Aztreonam May harbour other […]
Top 10 Infectious Diseases papers 2022 – Prof Josh Davis
Here is Josh’s eclectic selection of top non-COVID papers for 2022! Top ID papers of 2022 Davis Happy New Year all from AIMED.
AIMED - Let's talk about antibiotics 