Fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and moxifloxacin) have serious potential side effects, and are best used only for directed therapy of serious multi-resistant Gram negative infections where no other safer alternatives are available. 14 of our 32 hospital facilities in HNELHD overuse these agents with 2016 average FQ usage above our current benchmark of 30 defined daily doses per 1000 patient-days. […]
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:
Here is an example comment from Pathology North which is added to positive blood culture reports when a Gram negative coliform species ( Enterobacteriacae eg. E. coli) has been isolated: The comment’s rationale is to promote short course treatment and also to prompt oral antibiotic switching in a timely manner. It also prompts consideration of source […]
This unfortunate 27 year old pregnant woman collapsed at home with a seizure and then died soon after. She had a disseminated W135 serotype infection – this serotype has been associated with a number of recent severe cases in Hunter New England. Neisseria meningitidis case presentation Dr Rexson Tse May 2016 Perhaps there were no preventable […]
Originally posted on Microbiology and Infectious Diseases postgraduate teaching (PRIDA):
Guest posting: Dr Leah Clifton, NEWCASTLE DEPARTMENT OF FORENSIC MEDICINE, Forensic Pathology Registrar Kawasaki disease is characterized with acute systemic vasculitis, occurs predominantly in children between 6 months to 5 years of age. Patients with this disease recover well and the disease is self-limited in most cases…
Published in the latest issue of the MJA is a case study of a Victorian patient diagnosed with a carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. The patient, from rural Victoria, had no history or recent overseas travel and no hospital contact for the last 15 years. He was transferred to a metropolitan hospital for intensive care for severe […]
Guest post: Patrick Harris, Staff Specialist in Microbiology, Central Laboratory, Pathology Queensland, Brisbane In a previous post we looked at bacteria that produce AmpC-type beta-lactamases, such as Enterobacter spp. Perhaps a more familiar, and increasingly common, problem is presented by species such as E. coli or K. pneumoniae, which have acquired extended-spectrum beta-lactamase enzymes (or ‘ESBLs’). […]
While we spend a lot of time talking about reducing antibiotic resistance it can difficult to get a feel for the size of the problem. The team at BioMerieux have put together some facts and figures that help quantify the problem.
An 8 year old child with a history of cough for 2 weeks +. The GP tested the child by throat swab and PCR which was positive. A 7 day course of erythromycin was prescribed. Reviewed then and patient complaining that the cough worsening. Q & A : The cough is worsening – does he […]
AIMED - Let's talk about antibiotics 
Microlab comment: beta-haemolytic streptococci isolated from blood
Here is another one used for uncomplicated bloodstream infection events: Infections due to these species of streptococci are usually rapidly responsive to appropriate antibiotic therapy which can be of short duration with no minimum IV requirement as endocarditis is not a usual consideration. Penicillin resistance has not been documented and flucloxacillin is just as active (see […]