Antibiotic-resistant bacteria in hospital infections have been identified by the World Health Organization as one of the biggest threats to modern medicine. Antibiotic resistance threatens innovative modern treatments such as organ and bone marrow transplantation and surgical procedures including joint replacement, graft and burns surgery.

Head of Department, Associate Professor Tom Gottlieb has long been involved in the national and international policy response to the global threat of antimicrobial resistance, being strongly involved in the Australian Group for Antimicrobial Resistance (AGAR) and Australian Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (ASTAG).

The Laboratory contributes to national surveillance studies for bacterial resistance, such as AGAR, OrgTrx and CARalerts. The Department includes foundation members of these key national reporting organisations, and has been instrumental in preparation and ongoing data contribution to these important programs. These studies allow us to understand the extent of the problem for both the medical community and the public.

A major focus of our research is the rapid detection and early treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This requires unique screening methods in the laboratory, and specialised testing of antibiotics. We have also focused on detecting contamination of the hospital environment with these 'multi-resistant' bacteria, and designing interventions to combat this bacteria. Infections in critical areas like the Statewide Burns Service, the Intensive Care Unit, Haematology (bone marrow cancer and transplant) and renal dialysis units are closely monitored. A core research project is ongoing, with genomic analysis of MRSA (an antibiotic-resistant type of Staphylococcus) in patients from the Burns Unit to show whether there has been patient-to-patient transmission.

Quality in antimicrobial susceptibility testing is a focus for the department and recent efforts have been directed at Haemophilus influenzae, an organism with notorious difficulties for laboratory detection of penicillin resistance, with Dr Shelanah Fernando doing nationally recognized work in this area.

We are actively involved in efforts to improve the utilisation of antibiotics (a service known as Antimicrobial Stewardship) by the Department's involvement in antibiotic prescribing education, and advocacy for better usage at local and national levels. The Department has a strong research stream in this area, with active engagement in national conferences. There is a focus on engagement of clinical teams, and better resource utilisation and quality use of antimicrobials, rather than a narrow focus on restricting the use of broad-spectrum antimicrobials. Much work has been done in collaboration with the Health Informatics Unit to develop tools utilizing the power of eMeds to increase the efficiency of interventions in this space. There is potential to share this work with hospitals nation-wide.