HPR volume 12 issue 4: news (2 February)
Updated 21 December 2018
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Public Health Research and Science Conference 2018, 20 to 21 March
The full programme for PHE’s Public Health Research and Science Conference 2018 has been published, covering latest developments in scientific research relating to the protection and improvement of public health, with particular reference to the work of the NIHR Health Protection Research Units.
The conference comprises five parallel streams of scientific presentations running through two days, with plenary sessions at the beginning and end of each day, and poster presentation sessions each lunchtime. The programme includes a late-breaker poster presentation session, for which the abstract submission deadline is Friday 16 February.
Venue: Ramphal Building at the University of Warwick.
Conference website: www.phe-events.org.uk/phrsc18.
RSM conference on whole genome sequencing in TB control, 22 March
The UK is the first country in the world to implement whole genome sequencing (WGS) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates for routine diagnosis, antibiotic resistance profiling and disease surveillance.
A one-day conference, hosted by the Royal Society of Medicine, will focus on clinical, epidemiological and logistical advantages and implications of WGS and report on recent progress made in implementing WGS across the UK [1].
The programme covers: the interpretation of both microbiology laboratory reports and data produced by WGS; the broader context of national TB strategy implementation; how WGS had affected clinicians’ and TB nurses’ practice; and the resource implications and health economic case for WGS.
Venue: RSM, London W1G 0AE.
Conference website: https://www.rsm.ac.uk/events/rmk02.
WHO publishes first global AMR report
The World Health Organization has published a first release of surveillance data on antibiotic resistance generated by its Global Antimicrobial Surveillance System (GLASS), set up in 2015 [1,2]. The data reveals the extent of antibiotic resistance to serious bacterial infections among 500,000 people across 22 high- and low-income countries.
The most commonly reported resistant bacteria were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae, followed by Salmonella spp. Among patients with suspected bloodstream infection, the proportion with bacteria resistant to at least one of the most commonly used antibiotics ranged dramatically between different countries – from zero to 82%. Resistance to penicillin, used for decades worldwide to treat pneumonia, ranged from zero to 51% among reporting countries, while between 8% to 65% of E. coli associated with urinary tract infections presented resistance to ciprofloxacin, commonly used to treat this condition.
Country data presented in the GLASS report vary widely in quality and completeness with some countries facing major challenges in building national surveillance systems. WHO is supporting countries to set up national antimicrobial resistance surveillance systems that can produce reliable, meaningful data and to standardise how data is collected.
References
- WHO (29 January 2018). Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance system (GLASS) Report: Early Implementation 2016-2017.
- “High levels of antibiotic resistance found worldwide, new data shows.” WHO news release, 29 January.
NICE guideline on antimicrobial prescribing for acute sore throat
A new NICE guideline sets out an antimicrobial prescribing strategy for acute sore throat that aims to limit antibiotic use and reduce antimicrobial resistance. Acute sore throat is often caused by a virus, lasting for about a week, with those affected usually recovering without antibiotics. Withholding antibiotics rarely leads to complications, according to the NICE.
New published are:
- NICE Guideline NG84 [1]
- a two-page visual summary [2].
References
- NICE (January 2018). Sore Throat (acute): Antimicrobial Prescribing [Guideline NG84].
- Guideline NG84 two-page visual summary.