Blood culture tutorials: May 2020 PRIDA course

Posted on May 6, 2020 by mdjkf

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Quality microbiological diagnostics and antimicrobial susceptibility testing explained

Posted on February 29, 2020 by mdjkf

Our recent ‘Lessons from the Field’ paper is now (freely) available via the Western Pacific Surveillance and Response journal It is focused on implementation of quality testing in Pacific Island nations. 

Clinicians and others may be interested in the answers to these questions which are seldom explained:

  • How does quality microbiological culture and AST enable better patient care?
  • What are the meanings of minimum inhibitory concentration and clinical breakpoints?
  • How is AST usually performed?
  • What challenges occur with AST?
  • What are recent AST data from Pacific Nations showing about AMR?

Ferguson JK, Joseph J, Kangapu S, Townell N, Duke T, Manning L, et al. Quality microbiological diagnostics and antimicrobial susceptibility testing, an essential component of antimicrobial resistance surveillance and control efforts in Pacific island nations. Western Pac Surveill Response J. 2020 Feb;11(1). doi:10.5365/wpsar.2018.9.3.004

Posted in A/m resistance, Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, Journal, Module-basic microbiology and AMR | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Local production of alcohol hand rub for hospital use (WHO guidance)

Posted on February 24, 2020 by mdjkf

Here is excellent straightforward WHO guidance required to set up a cost-effective production facility within an LMIC hospital. Commercial product will usually cost 5-10 times the price.

Hand hygiene by staff before and after every patient interaction is one of the key ways in which to save lives from hospital acquired infection.  If you need to know more, read about Ignaz Semmelweis, the father of infection control who first demonstrated that disinfecting hands saved lives in 1840s Vienna or see one of the references below.

References

 

Image credit : Donskey et al, NEJM.  Hand contaminated with MRSA after examining an abdomen (A), and after use of ABHR (B).

 

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Epidemiology and surveillance 101 – tutorial notes

Posted on February 10, 2020 by mdjkf

Epidemiology and surveillance 101 Ferguson 2019  From the John Hunter Hospital 2019 Infectious Diseases tutorial program.

References 

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Artemisinin derivatives for malaria – tutorial notes from Dan Lennon

Posted on December 6, 2019 by mdjkf

Guest posting from Dr Dan Lennon, Microbiology Registrar.

Here is another excellent overview of important antimalarials.  Artemisinin Derivatives Lennon 2019.

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Staphylococcus aureus complex – S. argenteus – bug of the week

Posted on October 9, 2019 by mdjkf

Guest posting from Dr Dan Lennon, Microbiology Registrar, Pathology North.

This species is increasingly recognised now that MALDITOF  mass spectrometry is widely used for bacterial identification. Here is a useful short summary : S argenteus Lennon 2019 Sept. These species should be regarded as clinically equivalent to S. aureus.

Here is a beautiful  photo taken by Dan. Staphylococcus argenteus on the left. S. aureus on the right. Chocolate agar.

 

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Cryptocococcal infection bibliography – PNG and Cambodia

Posted on September 26, 2019 by mdjkf

I have assembled bibliographies of Cryptococcal literature relevant to:

Two PNG PhD theses of relevance date from the 1990s – summaries here – the authors published several papers that are within the collection above:

Rapid testing of serum and CSF using the current ICT card tests is a reliable diagnostic measure for both C. neoformans and C. gattii.  See also – https://idmic.net/2016/04/02/saving-lives-by-routine-cryptococcal-antigen-screening-and-pre-emptive-fluconazole-in-patients-with-advanced-hiv/

I have not located literature relevant to other Western Pacific Nations. Please let me know if anything is located.

Posted in Fungi, Module-Mycology | Tagged | 1 Comment

Overview of mycology

Posted on September 12, 2019 by mdjkf

Thanks Josh Davis for this excellent two page summary. Study it to walk the fungal talk!

Davis overview of fungi and diseases 2014

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CDC Lab training videoclasses – easy instructions on accessing

Posted on August 24, 2019 by mdjkf

There are a large number of valuable training classes available via CDC.  The access process is a little complicaed and i have unpacked it in this document: ACCESSING THE CDC LAB COURSES

The set of 5 basic microbiology elements are excellent and are recommended within the PRIDA microbiology diploma.

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Video masterclass : respiratory plate reading

Posted on July 8, 2019 by mdjkf

Guest posting: Dr Chris Ashhurst-Smith, Pathology North. Another excellent class from Chris. This was previously sitting at the end of the faeces reading video.

Part 5: Respiratory culture plate reading.  Video Felix Ferguson. 18 minutes.

 

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