Treatment and Outcomes of Infections Caused by Diverse Carbapenemase-Producing Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales

10.3389/fcimb.2020.579462Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology1057946

Empowerment of nurses in antibiotic stewardship: a social ecological qualitative analysis

Background: Inappropriate antibiotics use and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are increasingly becoming global health issues of great concern. Despite the established antibiotic stewardship programmes (ASPs) in many countries, limited efforts have been made to engage nurses and clearly define their roles in ASPs. Aim: An exploratory qualitative study was conducted to understand the facilitators and barriers that impact nurses' involvement and empowerment in antibiotic stewardship. Methods: Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with purposively sampled nurses from three major public hospitals in Singapore. FGDs were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed using Applied Thematic Analysis and interpreted using the Social Ecological Model. Findings: At the intrapersonal level, nurses felt empowered in carrying out their roles in antibiotic administration. They saw themselves as gatekeepers to ensure that the prescribed antibiotics were administered appropriately. However, nurses felt they lacked the knowledge and expertise in antibiotic use and AMR prevention. At the interpersonal level, this deficit in knowledge and expertise in antibiotic use impacted how they were perceived by patients and caregivers as well as their interactions with the primary care team when voicing outpatient safety concerns and antibiotic administration suggestions. At the organizational level, nurses relied on drug administration guidelines to ensure appropriate antibiotic administration and as a safety net when physicians questioned their clinical practice. At the community level, nurses felt there was a lack of awareness and knowledge on antibiotic use among the general population. Conclusion: These findings provide important insights to harness the contributions of nurses, and to formally acknowledge and enlarge their roles in ASPs

MR1-Restricted T Cells with MAIT-like Characteristics Are Functionally Conserved in the Pteropid Bat Pteropus alecto

10.1016/j.isci.2020.101876iScience231210187

Performance of population pharmacokinetic models in predicting polymyxin b exposures

10.3390/microorganisms8111814Microorganisms8111-Ju

Human MAIT cell cytolytic effector proteins synergize to overcome carbapenem resistance in Escherichia coli

10.1371/journal.pbio.3000644PLoS Biology186e300064