What are the factors driving antimicrobial resistance? Perspectives from a public event in London, England.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance is driven by multiple factors. Resolving the threat to human and animal health presented by drug-resistant infections remains a societal challenge that demands close collaboration between scientists and citizens. We compared current public views about key contributing factors to antimicrobial resistance with those expressed by experts. METHODS: Overarching factors contributing to antimicrobial resistance were identified following a review of literature. The factors were then described in plain language and attached to ballot boxes at a public engagement event organised by a university. Responses to each factor were counted at the end of the event. RESULTS: Four hundred five responses were received from 3750 visitors (11 % response rate). Nearly half of responses (192/405, 47 · 4 %) considered the misuse/overuse of antibiotics in humans as the main determinant of antimicrobial resistance. The misuse of antibiotics in animal health obtained 16 · 3 % (66/405) responses. However, the lack of quick tests to diagnose infections received 10/405 votes (2 · 47 %), and the lack of effective vaccines received one vote (0 · 25 %). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of responses ascribed the emergence of drug-resistant infections to the misuse of antibiotics in human and animals. Suboptimal dosing, availability of diagnostics and environmental contamination were considered less influential on the development of antimicrobial resistance. The growing recognition of broader multifaceted drivers of drug resistance by experts is not yet echoed in the public mind

Unravelling hybridization in Phytophthora using phylogenomics and genome size estimation

The genus Phytophthora comprises many economically and ecologically important plant pathogens. Hybrid species have previously been identified in at least six of the 12 phylogenetic clades. These hybrids can potentially infect a wider host range and display enhanced vigour compared to their progenitors. Phytophthora hybrids therefore pose a serious threat to agriculture as well as to natural ecosystems. Early and correct identification of hybrids is therefore essential for adequate plant protection but this is hampered by the limitations of morphological and traditional molecular methods. Identification of hybrids is also important in evolutionary studies as the positioning of hybrids in a phylogenetic tree can lead to suboptimal topologies. To improve the identification of hybrids we have combined genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) and genome size estimation on a genus-wide collection of 614 Phytophthora isolates. Analyses based on locus- and allele counts and especially on the combination of species-specific loci and genome size estimations allowed us to confirm and characterize 27 previously described hybrid species and discover 16 new hybrid species. Our method was also valuable for species identification at an unprecedented resolution and further allowed correct naming of misidentified isolates. We used both a concatenation- and a coalescent-based phylogenomic method to construct a reliable phylogeny using the GBS data of 140 non-hybrid Phytophthora isolates. Hybrid species were subsequently connected to their progenitors in this phylogenetic tree. In this study we demonstrate the application of two validated techniques (GBS and flow cytometry) for relatively low cost but high resolution identification of hybrids and their phylogenetic relations.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

summary of ethnographic observations and interviews conducted.

<p>summary of ethnographic observations and interviews conducted.</p

Additional file 1: of Development of a patient-centred intervention to improve knowledge and understanding of antibiotic therapy in secondary care

Topic guide used during workshop 1. (DOCX 52 kb

Flow chart of participants.

<p>Flow chart of participants.</p

Data from: Unravelling hybridization in Phytophthora using phylogenomics and genome size estimation

The genus Phytophthora comprises many economically and ecologically important plant pathogens. Hybrid species have previously been identified in at least six of the 12 phylogenetic clades. These hybrids can potentially infect a wider host range and display enhanced vigour compared to their progenitors. Phytophthora hybrids therefore pose a serious threat to agriculture as well as to natural ecosystems. Early and correct identification of hybrids is therefore essential for adequate plant protection but this is hampered by the limitations of morphological and traditional molecular methods. Identification of hybrids is also important in evolutionary studies as the positioning of hybrids in a phylogenetic tree can lead to suboptimal topologies. To improve the identification of hybrids we have combined genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) and genome size estimation on a genus-wide collection of 614 Phytophthora isolates. Analyses based on locus- and allele counts and especially on the combination of species-specific loci and genome size estimations allowed us to confirm and characterize 27 previously described hybrid species and discover 16 new hybrid species. Our method was also valuable for species identification at an unprecedented resolution and further allowed correct naming of misidentified isolates. We used both a concatenation- and a coalescent-based phylogenomic method to construct a reliable phylogeny using the GBS data of 140 non-hybrid Phytophthora isolates. Hybrid species were subsequently connected to their progenitors in this phylogenetic tree. In this study we demonstrate the application of two validated techniques (GBS and flow cytometry) for relatively low cost but high resolution identification of hybrids and their phylogenetic relations

The Role of Hospital Inpatients in Supporting Medication Safety: A Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND:Inpatient medication errors are a significant concern. An approach not yet widely studied is to facilitate greater involvement of inpatients with their medication. At the same time, electronic prescribing is becoming increasingly prevalent in the hospital setting. In this study we aimed to explore hospital inpatients' involvement with medication safety-related behaviours, facilitators and barriers to this involvement, and the impact of electronic prescribing. METHODS:We conducted ethnographic observations and interviews in two UK hospital organisations, one with established electronic prescribing and one that changed from paper to electronic prescribing during our study. Researchers and lay volunteers observed nurses' medication administration rounds, pharmacists' ward rounds, doctor-led ward rounds and drug history taking. We also conducted interviews with healthcare professionals, patients and carers. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Observation notes and transcripts were coded thematically. RESULTS:Paper or electronic medication records were shown to patients in only 4 (2%) of 247 cases. However, where they were available during patient-healthcare professional interactions, healthcare professionals often viewed them in order to inform patients about their medicines and answer any questions. Interprofessional discussions about medicines seemed more likely to happen in front of the patient where paper or electronic drug charts were available near the bedside. Patients and carers had more access to paper-based drug charts than electronic equivalents. However, interviews and observations suggest there are potentially more significant factors that affect patient involvement with their inpatient medication. These include patient and healthcare professional beliefs concerning patient involvement, the way in which healthcare professionals operate as a team, and the underlying culture. CONCLUSION:Patients appear to have more access to paper-based records than electronic equivalents. However, to develop interventions to increase patient involvement with medication safety behaviours, a wider range of factors needs to be considered

Adaptive plasticity of bushcricket acoustic signalling in socially heterogeneous choruses

Anichini M, Rebrina F, Reinhold K, Lehmann GUC. Adaptive plasticity of bushcricket acoustic signalling in socially heterogeneous choruses. ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR. 2019;158:139-148.In many species, males produce sounds to attract a female. In a chorus, males actively adjust their acoustic production depending on the presence and number of mating rivals. Plasticity in signal features might then be advantageous as males could tune their signalling activity to the contest intensity. However, the ability to exhibit plastic behaviour might be constrained and interindividual variation in plasticity can occur. In this field study, we examined the influence of body mass and social environment on the signal expression of male bushcrickets, Poecilimon veluchianus veluchianus. We tested whether differences in signal features of rivals of different body mass and number led to changes in the competition pressure perceived by focal males and, consequently, in their acoustic responses. We used the first principal component from a principal component analysis, reflecting verse duration, duty cycle and syllable number, as a measure of acoustic output. We found that the rivals' acoustic output depended only on their number, being higher for two rivals than one. However, the response of heavy focal males depended on the rivals' body mass. Contrary to what we expected, heavy males produced shorter verses with fewer syllables when competing against two heavy rivals than when competing against one or two light rivals or one heavy rival. Facing light competitors, heavy focal males responded more to two rivals than to one. In contrast, light focal males did not vary their signal features depending on competition conditions. These results indicate that body mass and social context drive interindividual variation in the capacity of P. v. veluchianus males to adjust their signal features to competition levels. We compare these findings with those previously obtained on congeneric species and discuss the outcomes' similarities and discrepancies. Lastly, we provide suggestions for future studies of socially induced plasticity in sexually selected acoustic signal features. (C) 2019 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved