Synopsis

This Grand Round will provide an overview of the current status on the use of antimicrobials in Australia, using a One Health perspective. Professor Thursky will describe the challenges facing prescribers and health care organisations in ensuring the judicious use of antimicrobials, and will showcase some of the research underway by the National Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship.

Speaker

Professor Karin Thursky is the Deputy Head of Infectious Diseases at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre; Director (CIA) of the NHMRC CRE National Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship, which takes a One Health approach to antimicrobial stewardship across all human and animal sectors; Director of the Guidance Group at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity; and principal fellow in the Department of Medicine at the University of Melbourne and the Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology. An infectious diseases physician, Prof Thursky is a leader in the design and implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programs, with particular expertise in the use of computerised systems to support better antibiotic prescribing. The Guidance program, which supports clinical teams in hospitals to monitor the appropriateness and safety of antibiotic use, is being implemented in over 60 hospitals across Australia. The National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey, delivered by her team, is a core component of the National Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy. Her multidisciplinary team of clinician and health service researchers is working to establish and implement antimicrobial stewardship programs across animal and human health sectors.