Antimicrobial Stewardship - Establishing Effective Programs For Australian Hospitals
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,232,361.00
Summary
This project will examine strategies to improve the use of antimicrobial drugs in Australian hospitals. It will evaluate the impact of antimicrobial stewardship programs on antibiotic prescribing practices in Victorian tertiary hospitals and determine the organisational factors associated with success. It will also examine the needs, and establish models for antimicrobial stewardship beyond the tertiary hospital setting, in private hospitals, small metropolitan and rural hospitals.
The Epidemiology And Treatment Of Infections Due To Multiresistant Gram Negative Bacteria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$274,946.00
Summary
This fellowship application deals with the treatment of infections due to antibiotic resistant bacteria. The World Economic Forum recently discussed threats to our modern way of life. The highest ranked threats were climate change, terrorism and antibiotic resistance. During this Fellowship, two large clinical trials of treatment strategies for antibiotic resistant bacteria will be supervised by Professor Paterson.
Rescuing The Last-line Therapy Colistin Against Gram-negative ‘superbugs’: Increasing The Therapeutic Index By Attenuation Of Nephrotoxicity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$498,631.00
Summary
Antibiotic resistance in Gram-negative ‘superbugs’ is presenting a significant global medical challenge. Colistin (polymyxin E) is increasingly used as the last treatment option even though the current use is suboptimal. Simply increasing the daily dose is not an option due to kidney toxicity. This project focuses on a new approach using antioxidants to ameliorate the potential for colistin-induced kidney toxicity, thereby allowing higher doses to achieve adequate bacterial kill in patients.
Targeting The Achilles' Heel Of Polymyxins: Eliminating The Nephrotoxicity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$673,420.00
Summary
The world is facing a growing threat from the emergence of bacterial 'superbugs' that are resistant to all current antibiotics except the polymyxins. However, kidney toxicity occurs in up to 60% of patients receiving intravenous polymyxins. In this project, we will examine how polymyxins cause kidney toxicity then employ the obtained mechanistic information to decrease this adverse effect. Our study targets the urgent global unmet medical need, lack of new antibiotics for bacterial ‘superbugs’.
Optimising Inhaled Polymyxins As A Vital Therapy For Pulmonary Infections: A Novel Biochemical, Molecular Imaging And Systems Pharmacology Approach
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$728,044.00
Summary
Lung infection is a leading cause of death in Australia and globally. Many bacterial pathogens are resistant to almost all current antibiotics. A class of ‘old’ antibiotics, polymyxins, are the last option for bacterial ‘superbugs’. Unfortunately, the current use of polymyxins is suboptimal and can cause severe kidney toxicity. This multi-disciplinary project will apply cutting-edge techniques to optimise inhaled polymyxin therapy for treatment of life-threatening pulmonary infections.