Tag Archives: Antimicrobial stewardship
Revisiting #SaveTheScript 2015 – short film meets AMS
In 2015 NPS MedicineWise partnered with Tropfest, to launch a short film competition to raise awareness about antibiotic resistance. Here are our picks of the 15 finalists– definitely worth a revisit! First prize – “The Pick Up” of the not-so lovely Ms Gonorrhoea! “Antibiotic man” “Pills“ The #savethescript judging panel included: Dr Andrew Rochford, Seven Network Health Editor […]
The post-antibiotic era: A case study
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 […]
Sparing meropenem 101: what alternatives exist for the treatment of ESBL-producers?
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’). […]
What is the best way to treat skin abscess?
Skin (staphylococcal) abscesses (boils) are often treated with antimicrobials, but are they really needed? The New England Journal of Medicine recently presented a case vignette and asked prescribers to weigh in on whether they thought antibiotics were needed or if incision and drainage alone were enough.
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 […]
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.
Do you care for patients with Cystic Fibrosis?
A new HNE LHD Guideline for antibiotic use in cystic fibrosis lung disease is now available.
Are you ready for Antibiotic Awareness Week?
Antibiotic Awareness Week runs from the 16-22th of November. It is a time for all hospital staff and patients to think about the importance of antibiotics and what a difference they have made to our lives. Antibiotic Awareness Week is an international initiative that is supported locally by the CEC. This years theme is “Preserve […]
An everyday tragedy: treating asymptomatic bacteruria with antibiotics
Act 1 of a common tragedy that sets the scene for antibiotic resistance – an elderly female resident of a nursing home complains of minor dysuria or perhaps just has urine that appears cloudy or smelly. The nurse collects some urine and performs a urinalysis that shows presence of white cells and nitrite. The urine is sent […]
Infectious diseases 101
Some personal thoughts : Know well important bacterial pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Know your antibiotics and again, know a lot about the few that you will commonly use. Aminoglycoside and vancomycin dosing and administration require particular focus – Therapeutic Guidelines: Antibiotic , […]
AIMED - Let's talk about antibiotics 