Article on Clostridium difficile-associated disease : Professor Ian Poxton
Image courtesy of P Fineron
The IDRN, who organised the UK CRC workshop in London on 2 May 2007 to discuss priority areas in HAIs and Anti-Microbial Resistance, have prepared a report on the event, with copies of some of the presentations. These can be found at: http://www.idrn.org/challenge_workshop.php
- Copies of most of the presentations and notes from the Stirling event held on Friday 5 October 2007 are now available. We hope to have film of the presentations available shortly.
The Wellcome Trust Strategic Translation Awards in Seeding Drug Discovery – call for proposals
Seeding Drug Discovery is a five-year, £91m initiative which aims to bridge the funding gap in early-stage drug discovery, assisting researchers within academia or the biotechnology industry to establish and advance drug-like small molecule based therapeutic projects in areas of unmet medical need. Previous awards have been made to projects tackling obesity, cancer, MRSA and multiple sclerosis. The next deadline for preliminary applications is 9 November 2007. Applications are welcomed from across all therapeutic areas. [More]
- Expressions of Interest in a Study of Isolation Strategies for control MRSA and CDAD
Would you be interested in participating, in a questionnaire, site visits, focus meetings or pilot studies for the above study? [More]
- Inov8 are now finalising a national research project (for which they have national COREC approvals) to measure reductions in airborne and surface bio-burden in wards and side rooms or treatment rooms, in comparison with control wards or rooms. To do that, daily or twice weekly air samples and surface swabs are taken, usually by someone employed or remunerated by them. The effect on infection rates is indicated by differences in patient's temperatures, taken on a non-identifiable basis. The assumption is that a temperature rise following a period of stable normal temperature is broadly indicative of a nosocomial infection. The first of the hospitals involved has now started the programme and they are keen to include at least one Scottish hospital.
Atmospheric disinfection background information
Any hospital staff, public health staff and others involved in the provision of health care interested in becoming involved in this project should contact David MacDonald at dmacdonald@inov8.com (01280828500).
- An Iatrogenetic CJD Study Day, organised by the Scottish TSE Network, will be held in Glasgow on 12 February 2008.
- The NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme is seeking research proposals into the effectiveness and broader impact of health technologies in the topic area of Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI). Information now available. Application closing date: Wednesday 23 April 2008.
Respiratory Meeting, 30 April 2008, Infection and Immunity Section, University of Glasgow Dental School & Hospital.
- Research during outbreaks and incidents: Getting through the mud - A framework to guide practitioners in the field to undertake research. The IDRN, North Tyneside NHS Primary Care Trust, Health Protection Agency and University of Newcastle are collaborating on this event which will be held in the University of Newcastle on 14 May 2008 from 11am until 4pm. A charge of £30 per person includes lunch and pre and post-workshop refreshments.
- International workshop: Lymphocyte kinetics in health and disease. Organised jointly between the UK Infectious Disease Research Network and St Georges University of London, Imperial College London and University of Utrecht to be held on 19 - 20 May 2008 at the Regents Park Conference Centre, London.
- Infectious Diseases: Problems and Challenges - symposium to provide informed, contemporary and relevant information on some areas of current interest in infectious diseases. 18 June 2008. Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, Edinburgh
Four Sub-Groups have been formed in: Antibiotic Prescribing, Clostridium Difficile, MRSA and Pneumococci.If you aren't a member of the Network, please register and we will ensure that you are kept up to date with any developments in these areas.
Have you completed the SIRN Research Survey?
For us to address the increasingly worrying problem of Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs) in Scotland, it is vital that we concentrate our resources on areas where research is most required. With this in mind, we have designed a brief anonymous questionnaire to help us form a picture of HAI-related research in Scotland. We intend to use the information obtained from this survey to try to focus future research on specific areas of weakness and inform Scottish policy development accordingly.
If you have been involved in research in the last 12 months, or are currently involved in research (either funded or unfunded), it would be helpful if you could please take a few moments to provide us with details via the brief questionnaire below. Please complete the questionnaire for each research project. We hope to publish the results on the site shortly.
Antibiotic use: making the best of what we have
Presentations from the symposium on 2 June 2008 are now available.
SMS Clinical Microbiology Symposium
The Scottish Microbiology Society is holding a one day symposium with a clinical microbiology theme at the Wolfson Medical School, University of Glagow on 27 August 2008.
Developing Scottish Priorities for MRSA Research
The MRSA research priorities which were identified at the workshop on 29 April are available as a mind map.
Would you like to win a place on the Nexxus Life-Sci Visions 2009 Calendar?
As part of the West of Scotland life science related Organisation Listing SIRN is eligible to submit entries for the calendar.
Submissions should comprise a visually interesting image (or images) relating to SIRN's activities together with a maximum of 50 words describing it's activities. The closing date is Friday 3 October. Further information: http://www.nexxusscotland.com/news/life-sci_visions_competition
If you wish to make a submission, please send your entries to sirn@bio.gla.ac.uk for submission to Nexxus on behalf of SIRN.
Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in Scotland: the way forward
Thursday 18 September 2008
Edinburgh
SIRN will be hosting a one day meeting open to all academics and healthcare staff to share views on CDI in Scotland, and to plan how we can make improvements in patient care.
The morning and early part of the afternoon will consist of presentations reviewing the national and international CDI scene, but concentrating largely on Scotland. Representatives from Health Protection Scotland, the reference laboratory, local health boards and universities will give the latest information available on CDI, including the views of an infection control doctor and nurse. The major part of the afternoon will consist of four workshops: infection control, antibiotic stewardship, diagnostics and epidemiology of CDI. These should highlight the problems and suggest potential solutions from a Scottish viewpoint. The final session will obtain feedback from the workshops and a list of research priorities particular to Scotland will be agreed.
The event will be free, however places are limited so registration is essential. Further information and registration is available via the SIRN website.
Design Bugs Out
This is an exciting competition organised by the Department of Health, NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency and the Design Council.
Their challenge to the UK’s design and manufacturing community is to design and prototype new furniture, equipment or services for hospital wards to help reduce Healthcare Associated Infections. Further information is available from their website. The closing date is: 10 October 2008
Research During Outbreaks
Presentation by Ms Evonne Curran, Nurse Consultant Infection Control, at the SIRN Steering Group Meeting on 2 July now available.
Clostridium Difficile infection in Scotland: the way forward
Presentations and other information from the event held in Edinburgh on 18 September are now available.
QCMD 2008 Clostridium difficile Pilot External Quality Assessment (EQA) Programme
This programme is due for distribution to registered participants in October 2008. Further details on the programme, plus information on how to register for it, can be found here: QCMD
Quality Control for Molecular Diagnostics is an international not-for-profit organisation that specialises in the provision of External Quality Assessment programmes for the molecular diagnostics community Worldwide. It is endorsed by the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, and the European Society for Clinical Virology. It works closely with key experts in the design of the EQA panels. Professor Ian Poxton (University of Edinburgh) and Dr Alistair Sutherland (Glasgow Caledonian University) have designed the pilot EQA panel for C. difficile.
Please visit QCMD at http://www.qcmd.org and register to find out more information about the EQA programmes.
SIRN Research Grant Awards 2008 - Call for Proposals
Closing date for applications: 31 October 2008
SIRN invites applications for research projects that address one or more of its priority research questions in the field of HAIs. These priority areas of research include:
- Patient safety, practice and culture
- Education
- Surveillance, information and audit
- Diagnostic technologies
- Implementation of new guidance and standards
- Physical environment
- Alert organisms
Infection Control Study Day
Cleaning up on infection control – spreading good practice
Thursday 20 November 2008
Organised by the University of the West of Scotland in conjunction with Lanarkshire Infection Control Nurses Group. Further information
IPS Scottish Branch Study Day - “Every picture tells a story”
Tuesday 25 November 2008
How can audit and surveillance influence practice and be used to control and prevent infection? Further information.
Revenge of the gram negatives
9 December 2008
Early evening meeting in the University of Glasgow allowing Dr David Livermore, Director of the Antibiotic Resistance Monitoring & Reference Laboratory, to discuss the issues surrounding antimicrobial resistance, therapeutic options and, in particular the alarming scenario of carbapenem resistance. This event is sponsored by AstraZeneca Uk Ltd. If interested & for further information, please contact Dr N.Khanna at Nitish.Khanna@ggc.scot.nhs.uk.
SIRN Antimicrobial Pharmacist Issues event
Monday 19 January 2009
Registration now closed
Information
MRSA-the superbug Crunch
Cafe scientifique, Glasgow 2 February 2009. Professor Sir Anthony Coates, St Georges, University of London, will discuss whether the human species will survive the emergence of MRSA and superbugs which are resistant to our antibiotics. He will describe the origins of antibiotic resistance, the current crisis and our future. http://www.cafescientifique.org/glasgow.htm
Infectious Disease Research Network
The IDRN is seeking leaders in infectious disease research, from a range of disciplines and organisations, to join the IDRN steering group. The closing date for applications is Thurs 30 April 2009. Further information.
Free medical statistics training for non-statisticians
Organised by the Robertson Centre for Biostatistics, University of Glasgow. Participants should either be part of NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde or one of the Glasgow Higher Education Institutions (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Caledonian, or Paisley). Further information: Medical Statistics for Non-statisticians May 2009
Reference Community for the General Medical Council (GMC)
Registered medical practitioners and members of the public with an interest in health care are needed to participate in a GMC.
The Reference Community will be formed of 25 public members and 25 registered medical practitioners from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and it is designed to help inform and influence the policies and decisions of the GMC. While members will not be asked to make policy decisions, they will be asked for their personal and professional opinions on a range of topics, such as:
- the ethical guidelines that doctors are required to follow;
- the GMC website to make sure it is clear and easy to use, especially for the public;
- the process by which a doctor is regularly appraised.
There are a variety of ways to contribute, including commenting on draft publications, replying to a poll or questionnaire, and attending occasional meetings that can fit around personal or professional commitments. Ideally, each member will give around 20 to 30 hours per year, but this could vary according to individual circumstances.
People from a wide variety of backgrounds, locations, and medical specialisms are needed. Since the GMC already has ways to engage with professional bodies and interest groups, members should bring only their own opinions and not represent those of a particular organization.
For more information, visit www.gmcappointments.org.uk. The deadline for applications is 18 May 2009.
Scottish Health Innovations Ltd
Scottish Health Innovations Ltd, working with NHS Scotland to bring ideas to life.....
Throughout NHS Scotland people are continually coming up with new ideas for improving patient care. Scottish Health Innovations Ltd (SHIL) works alongside NHS Scotland to protect and develop new innovations that come from health care professionals.
By developing these ideas, SHIL creates new products and technologies that will improve patient care and generate financial income for NHS Scotland.
SHIL services include:
· Project management
· Market research
· Sourcing of funding
· Intellectual property protection
· Sourcing of development partners
· Spinout set up
· Advice
For further information please contact Helen Corner, Head of Central Marketing on helen.corner@shil.co.uk or visit our website www.shil.co.uk
Is your phone bugged?
Congratulations to Mr Richard Brady, MRC Human Genetics Unit, Edinburgh, on having his image 'Is your phone bugged? Imprint of a doctor’s mobile phone on tryptone soy agar' accepted for publication in the 2009 Nexxus Life-Sci Visions calendar. The winning entries and information on the images can be found on the Nexxus website:
http://www.nexxusscotland.com/news/life-sci_visions_competition/life-sci_visions_2009_entries
Nexxus 2010 Life-Sci Visions Calendar
Submit your images now! Your images could be decorating the walls of Scotland's offices, laboratories and homes next year. Last year Dr Richard Brady from the MRC Human Genetics Unit, Edinburgh, whose image 'Is your phone bugged?' had been submitted on behalf of SIRN, was chosen for the 2009 calendar. Entries should be submitted to sirn@bio.gla.ac.uk (not direct to Nexxus please) in advance of the 16 October 2009 deadline.
Further information: http://www.nexxusscotland.com/news/life-sci_visions_competitionEnvironmental and Social Ecology of Human Infectious Diseases (ESEI)
A joint initiative between the Medical Research Council (MRC), the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) as part of the Living With Environmental Change programme. This initiative aims to establish novel inter-disciplinary approaches to studying the ecology of infectious diseases. Up to £10m is available to fund high quality proposals.
http://www.mrc.ac.uk/Fundingopportunities/Calls/ESEI/index.htm
* * * Grants, money and career: what every new researcher needs to know * * *
Thanks to everyone who attended the event and those who brought along posters for display. Copies of the presentations and some notes are now available.
Note that presentations on similar topics from the Research Update & Getting Started event held in October 2007 are still available.
* * * Patients Journey - Missing Data behavioural research event * * *
Free event to be held in Perth on the afternoon of Friday 23 April 2010. The proposed outcomes for participants are:
* Identification of the contribution and benefits of behavioural research to the HAI research agenda
* Highlight methods used which could be applied in your own workplace
* Identification of opportunities which could be used in current/future research
Further information and registration
Free Statistics Training Courses
18-19 May 2010 - An Introduction to Medical Statistics for Non-Statisticians
20 May 2010 - Medical Statistics II for Non-statisticians
Organised by the Robertson Centre for Biostatistics, University of Glasgow. These courses are aimed at staff involved in clinical trials and other medical research in humans (and is not appropriate for lab-based personnel). To be eligible for free places, participants should either be part of NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde or one of the Glasgow Higher Education Institutions (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Caledonian, or Paisley).
*** ECDC call for tender ***
The European Centre for Disease prevention and Control (ECDC) has issued a call for tender for "Systematic review and evidence-based guidance on perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis" The aim of this call for tender is to identify and disseminate the most effective elements of peri-operative antibiotic prophylaxis to support its broadest possible implementation for prevention of surgical infections and minimization of antibiotic resistance development across Europe. Tasks should include performing two systematic reviews of the literature, developing expert consensus guidance on key effective intervention modalities and producing a comprehensive implementation tool kit. The deadline for submission of offers is 7 Jul 2010.
*** Pfizer Anti-Infectives Research Funding ***
Pfizer Anti-Infectives Research Foundation is looking to fund innovative research projects in the field of bacterial and fungal infections. A total of £200,000 is available to support appropriate research initiatives during 2010. It is anticipated that four awards of approximately £50,000 will be made, the awards could be greater based on the research proposal submitted. In exceptional circumstances, the maximum award limit for a single grant application is £100,000.
Further information.
Steering Group Membership
Following Dr Margaret Brown's retiral and Professor Taylor's resignation, Dr Lesley Whyte and Dr Gail Ferguson have agreed to join the Steering Group.
Dr Whyte is Programme Director for research and practice education at NHS Education for Scotland.
Dr Gail Ferguson is Senior Lecturer in the School of Medicine and Dentistry, Division of Applied Medicine, Section of Immunology & Infection, University of Aberdeen.
Patients Journey - Missing Data behavioural research event
Copies of the presentations and notes are now available.
*** 2010 Annual Nexxus Life Sciences Awards ***
The closing date for entries or nominations for Life Science Awards for Lifetime Achievement, Innovation, Young Life Scientist of the Year and Most Promising Young Life Science Company will be 3 September 2010 . Presentations will take place on 10 November 2010 in the West of Scotland and 16 November in the East.
*** European Centre for Disease prevention & Control ***
Call for tender
for "Systematic review and evidence-based guidance on organisation of hospital infection control programmes"
The aim of this call for tender is to identify the most effective and generally applicable elements of acute care hospital infection control and prevention programmes to support their broadest possible implementation for prevention of HAI and control of antibiotic resistance across Europe. The deadline for submission of the tender is 17 September 2010 at 4 pm local time.
Win a place in the 2011 Nexxus Life-Sci Visions Calendar
The calendar will showcase Scotland's life science expertise and capabilities and submissions are sought from individuals and life science related organisations, institutions and networks for consideration for inclusion. Submissions will be showcased on the Nexxus website and the final selections for the calendar will be judged by attendees at the East and West Nexxus Awards events in November 2010. Closing date now Monday 1 November 2010.
***Sepsis Study Day "Expect the Unexpected"***
The Infection Prevention and Control Team are hosting a Sepsis study day on 12 November 2010 (9am - 3.30pm) to raise awareness of this serious and potentially life threatening condition. The day will consist of speakers from the Scottish Government, HAI Task Force and Health Protection Scotland as well as local experts in the field of sepsis. The day is free and lunch will be provided. If you are interested, please contact Samantha Johnstone on 01324 616009 or e-mail samantha.johnstone@nhs.net.
SIRN is pleased to sponsor one of the presentations as part of its Seminar Sponsorship programme.
Lecture Theatre, Stirling Royal Infirmary
World Pneumonia Day - 12 November 2010
It surprises most people to learn that pneumonia kills more children than any other disease. That is why leading global health organizations have called for World Pneumonia Day- to call attention to the 2 million children that die each year from pneumonia and ask people to join the fight to save these lives.
This is where you step in! You can Host a World Pneumonia Day Event in your community on or around November 12th to help raise awareness about this disease and the proven solutions available to reduce child pneumonia deaths.
Your event can be big or small- you can invite family, friends, co-workers or neighbors. You can draw from any of the ideas and themes below to make your event successful or you can come up with your own original event ideas that fit you and your community!
*** World Pneumonia Day ***
Perspectives on pneumonia and pneumococcal disease
Glasgow
***Registration for this event has now closed ***
To mark World Pneumonia Day on Friday 12 November, SIRN is hosting a day of presentations on pneumonia and pneumonococcal disease, with information on new vaccine strategies and vaccine development. The event is free and open to all clinical, science, public health and lay people, but advance registration is essential.
Further information.
European Antibiotic Awareness Day
European Antibiotic Awareness Day is marked annually on 18 November. In 2010 the focus of the day is to promote prudent antibiotic use in hospitals.
*** Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Resistance ***
Seminar by Dr Camilla Wiuff*, Health Protection Scotland at 12.30pm on 15 November in the TJ Thomson Suite, Stobhill Hospital (Old Building).
Part of the SIRN Seminar Sponsorship Programme. Attendance is free and a light lunch will be provided. To register please contact Dr Claire Alexander.
*replacing Dr Anne Eastaway.
*** Grant Funding Available ***
Meningitis Research Foundation holds one grant round per year, for project grants. The charity awards project grants of up to a maximum of £150,000 per year for up to 5 years. As a guideline, the majority of grants awarded are in the region of £70,000 - £100,000 per year for up to three years, with a number of small grants of up to £30,000 per year also meeting success. Submission dates: Preliminary proposals - Monday 22 November 2010; Full Applications - Monday 20 December 2010. Further information.
*** Grant Funding Available ***
Meningitis UK is inviting applications for grant aid. The aim of these awards is to support vaccine-related studies with the ultimate aim of eradicating all forms of meningitis and associated diseases in the UK, including meningococcal, pneumococcal and streptococcal group B infections. Funding for grants up to £150,000 will be available, and applications that have been submitted elsewhere will be considered. Closing date: Monday 6 December 2010. Further information.
*** Update on Clostridium difficile pathogenesis and epidemiology ***
The PowerPoint presentation given by Professor Maja Rupnik gave as part of her seminar at the Centre for Infectious Diseases, University of Edinburgh, on 3 November 2010 is now available to view.
*** Venflon, friend or foe ***
Dr Sara Jamdar gave this PowerPoint presentation at the NHS Forth Valley Sepsis Day, "Expect the unexpected: unusual presentations of sepsis" held in Stirling Royal Infirmary on 12 November 2010.
*** Antimicrobial Prescribing - current threats ***
The powerpoint presentation from Dr Camilla Wiuff's seminar which was held at Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow on 15 November 2010 is now available to view.
***World Pneumonia Day: perspectives on pneumonia and pneumococcal disease***
Some presentations from the event on 12 November 2010 are now available to view.
4 February 2011
An Introduction to Critical Appraisal of Medical Evidence 4 February 2011 9.30am - 4.30pm
An introductory workshop teaching critical appraisal tools to improve your effectiveness in the reading of medical papers.
Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, Western General Hospital Edinburgh EH4 2XU.
***Diagnostics & Therapeutics***
An event run jointly between SIRN and the Scottish Microbiology Society will be held at the University of Glasgow on 23 February 2011.
Further information. Registration for this event has now closed.
***Diagnostics & Therapeutics***
Presentations form the event held on 23 February 2011 are now available.
*** Infection Control: Progress Under Pressure - 29 March 2011 ***
The Quincentenary Hall, Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, Despite significant achievements in infection control over recent years, the current economic environment is a threat to consolidation and continued progress. In order to achieve ambitious infection control targets within this environment, careful thought must be given to the interface between management, support services and clinical staff, with a clear view of potential patient outcomes. This Holyrood magazine one day conference will focus on how professionals from across public services can maintain and improve infection control under cost restraint.
A heavily discounted public sector rate of £75 is available. For more information please visit www.holyrood.com/infectioncontrol or email Chal Chute at chute@holyrood.com .
The Quincentenary Hall, Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh
*** Are you looking for Research Funding? ***
SIRN intends to invite applications for research funding for projects that address one or more priority research questions in Healthcare Associated Infections. Awards of up to £10,000 will be available with a (provisional) closing date of late August 2011.
Further information will be available soon.
*** SIRN Research Grant Awards 2011 - Call for Proposals ***
Closing date for applications: 29 August 2011
SIRN invites applications for research projects that address one or more of its priority research questions in the field of HAIs and would be of practical value in combating HAI at patient and staff level in Scotland. These priority areas of research include:
- Patient safety, practice and culture
- Education
- Surveillance, information and audit
- Diagnostic technologies
- Implementation of new guidance and standards
- Physical environment
- Alert organisms
Applications may be for intervention studies, or for research that will lead on to such studies by developing interventions or the theory needed to underpin them. Appropriate evaluation designs may include randomised trials, qualitative approaches, systematic reviews or studentships.
2012
Survey
For us to address the increasingly worrying problem of Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs) in Scotland, it is vital that we concentrate our resources on areas where research is most required. With this in mind, we have designed a brief anonymous questionnaire to help us form a picture of HAI-related research in Scotland. We intend to use the information obtained from this survey to try to focus future research on specific areas of weakness and inform Scottish policy development accordingly.
If you have been involved in research in the last 12 months, or are currently involved in research (either funded or unfunded), it would be helpful if you could please take a few moments to provide us with details via the brief questionnaire below. Please complete the questionnaire for each research project.
Initial results from the SIRN Research Survey are now available.
Who's Who in Healthcare Associated Infection Research in Scotland?
SIRN is compiling a ‘map’ of HAI-related research in Scotland. If you are involved in HAI-related research and would like your research and organisation to be included, please contact Lesley Frew with some brief details of who you are, where you are and of your research. It is intended that the map will highlight areas of expertise and facilitate collaboration.
The Future
SIRN has now secured funding from the Scottish Government, ensuring it's continuation until 2015.
SIRN 2011 Research Funding Round
Details of successful applications are now available.
Infectious Disease Research Network public engagement surveys
The Infectious Disease Research Network (IDRN) is carrying out a survey on public engagement (PE) within the area of infectious disease research and microbiology. There are two surveys –
1. For those who have been involved in PE, we would like to gain an idea of what types of projects you have been involved in, and how valuable you perceived the work to be for your target audience. The survey is short and should take only 5-10 minutes to complete.
2. For those who have not been involved in PE, there is an even shorter survey (2 minutes to complete) that asks some very quick questions about reasons and barriers for not taking part in PE
The aim for these surveys is essentially to find out what has been done, and how valuable the activity has been, and also the barriers to taking part in public engagement work. Your input to either survey would be very much appreciated.
2013
SIRN research funding rounds now closed
Thanks to everyone who applied for research funding.
Details of Minor research award offers.
Details of Major research award offers.
Details of Doctoral Fellowship award offers.
Patient Safety Research: A guide for developing training programmes
WHO Patient Safety has launched “Patient Safety Research: A guide for developing training programmes”, a comprehensive document that provides guidance to educators for the development of training programmes in the field of patient safety research.