It takes a village to raise a child- A multidisciplinary approach to promoting paediatric health literacy in cystic fibrosis.

Background: In Northern Ireland, approximately 550 people with cystic fibrosis (PwCF) attend the regional paediatric and adult centres within the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. This autosomal recessive chronic condition necessitates regular clinical monitoring and a high treatment burden, as well as time implications for the maintenance of respiratory devices. Development of health literacy skills at an early age and promoting children with CF (CwCF) to take an active role in their healthcare has many advantages relating to their long-term self-care in preparation for transition from paediatric to adult care, decision-making and partnership engagement with the CF-multidisciplinary team (CF-MDT).

Improving health literacy and stakeholder-directed knowledge of One Health through analysis of readability: a cross sectional infodemiology study.

Background: The One Health approach involves collaboration across several sectors, including public health, veterinary and environmental sectors in an integrated manner. These sectors may be disparate and unrelated, however to succeed, all stakeholders need to understand what the other stakeholders are communicating. Likewise, it is important that there is public acceptance and support of One Health approaches, which requires effective communication between professional and institutional organisations and the public.

Improving Biomedical Science Literacy and Patient-Directed Knowledge of Tuberculosis (TB): A Cross-Sectional Infodemiology Study Examining Readability of Patient-Facing TB Information.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) continues be the leading cause of death globally due to an infectious agent. There is a paucity of data describing the readability of patient-facing TB information for service users. The aim of this study was to calculate the readability of multiple global TB information sources.

Lack of correlation between surface water area and infection with and the non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTMs) in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF).

Background: People with cystic fibrosis (CF) may develop clinically significant chronic respiratory infections with (PA) and non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Open water has been suggested to be an important source for continuous or intermittent exposure to these pathogens. To date, there has been a paucity of studies examining the relationship between chronic PA and NTM infection in CF patients and surfaces waters, including blue spaces.

Readability of Patient-Facing Information of Antibiotics Used in the WHO Short 6-Month and 9-Month All Oral Treatment for Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis.

Objectives: Readability of patient-facing information of oral antibiotics detailed in the WHO all oral short (6 months, 9 months) has not been described to date. The aim of this study was therefore to examine (i) how readable patient-facing TB antibiotic information is compared to readability reference standards and (ii) if there are differences in readability between high-incidence countries versus low-incidence countries.

Methods: Ten antibiotics, including bedaquiline, clofazimine, ethambutol, ethionamide, isoniazid, levofloxacin, linezolid, moxifloxacin, pretomanid, pyrazinamide, were investigated.

Case Report: The Conundrum of What to Pick? Antibiotic Susceptibility Variability in in Cystic Fibrosis: Implications for Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing and Treatment.

Within cystic fibrosis microbiology, there is often mismatch between the antibiotic susceptibility result of an isolated bacterial pathogen and the clinical outcome, when the patient is treated with the same antibiotic. The reasoning for this remains largely elusive. Antibiotic susceptibility to four antibiotics (ceftazidime, meropenem, minocycline and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole) was determined in consecutive isolates ( = 11) from an adult cystic fibrosis patient, over a 63 month period.

Carriage of Neisseria meningitidis (meningococci) in the sputum of people with cystic fibrosis (CF): occupational health risks and mitigating interventions for physiotherapists.

Objectives: To estimate the carriage of Neisseira meningitidis (meningococci) in expectorated sputum from people with cystic fibrosis (CF) and to evaluate potential ramifications of such carriage for the health and (NM) wellbeing of physiotherapists performing airway clearance techniques.

Design: Descriptive observational study.

Main Outcome Measures: Meningococcal carriage rate, CFTR mutation type and time to first meningococcal culture were determined.

Attitudes to cross infection, nebuliser hygiene and antimicrobial resistance in people with cystic fibrosis: Results of an international survey.

Background: Respiratory infection is a major cause of disease severity in people with cystic fibrosis (PwCF). This project aimed to establish the CF community's opinion regarding cross infection (CI), nebuliser hygiene, antimicrobial resistance, personal impact of microbiological findings and the role of the microbiology laboratory.

Methods: A questionnaire was completed anonymously (n = 280; PwCF (n = 128), parents (n = 123); friends/family/carers/charity personnel (n = 29)) from 13 countries.

Improving health literacy of passengers of cruise ships: readability of passenger-facing COVID-19 information provided by commercial cruise lines-an infodemiology study.

Readability of COVID-19 information from 35 cruise lines was examined. Mean Flesch Reading Ease and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level scores (±standard error of mean) were 46.6 ± 1.

Group Assessments to Help Build Online Learning Communities in Biomedical Science Distance Learning Programmes.

Biomedical Science distance learning courses offer flexibility in study while in employment. Asynchronous and self-learning approaches are common within such courses and often student-student interaction is limited. The aims of this study were to establish learning communities, develop confidence in participating in online teamwork and foster an appreciation of transferable skills including digital capabilities through remote group activities.

Improving health literacy of antibiotic use in people with cystic fibrosis (CF)-comparison of the readability of patient information leaflets (PILs) from the EU, USA and UK of 23 CF-related antibiotics used in the treatment of CF respiratory infections.

Background: Antibiotic adherence is poor amongst people with cystic fibrosis (CF). Low-quality patient information leaflets (PILs), which accompany prescription antibiotics, with poor readability may contribute to poor antibiotic adherence, with the potential for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) development. The aim of this study was to examine the readability of antibiotic PILs used to treat CF lung infections.

Improving health literacy of antifungal use-Comparison of the readability of antifungal medicines information from Australia, EU, UK, and US of 16 antifungal agents across 5 classes (allylamines, azoles, echinocandins, polyenes, and others).

Adherence to antifungals is poor in high endemic regions where antifungal resistance is high. Poor readability of prescription/over-the-counter (OTC) antifungals may contribute to poor adherence, due to the patient not fully understanding the purpose, importance, and dosage of their antifungal medicine. As there are no reports on the readability of antifungals, this study examined the readability of patient-facing antifungal information.

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has now emerged as a chronic public health problem globally, with the forecast of 10 million deaths per year globally by 2050. AMR occurs when viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites do not respond to antimicrobial treatments in humans and animals, thus allowing the survival of the microorganism within the host. The prominent cause contributing to the current crisis remains to be the overuse and misuse of antimicrobials, particularly the inappropriate usage of antibiotics, increasing the global burden of antimicrobial resistance.

Time-to-first-isolation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in cystic fibrosis (CF): An underutilised metric in infection control?

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has emerged as a significant pathogen in people with cystic fibrosis (PwCF). There is a paucity of reports on MRSA infection dynamics within CF. It was the aim to examine the utility of Time-To-FirstIsolation (TTFI) metric and to correlate this with patient gender and CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) mutation type.

Embedding Scientific Communication and Digital Capabilities in the Undergraduate Biomedical Science Curriculum.

Scientific communication, particularly the dissemination of research findings to both the scientific community and the general public, are skills required of graduates embarking on post-graduate studies and employment within the biomedical sciences sector. The aims of this action research project were to i) co-design an online scientific communication and digital capabilities resource, constructively aligned to the learning objectives of a final year undergraduate investigative research project; ii) ensure resource flexibility for future adaptation by others iii) embed authentic scientific communication learning assessments, namely, the preparation of a lay summary and visual abstract and iv) promote students' awareness of developed digital capabilities and transferable skills through written reflection. Student engagement, self-efficacy, experiences and performance and staff perceptions ( = 15) were evaluated by a mixed methods approach.

Infection Dynamics of Aspergillus fumigatus in Adults with Cystic Fibrosis (CF).

Objective: Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) has emerged as a significant pathogen in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and currently is within the top five isolated organisms reported in several international CF patient registries. A.

What is the Perceived Role of the Dietitian Amongst People with Cystic Fibrosis? Results of an International survey.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a chronic condition requiring continued input from the CF dietitian as an integral part of the CF multidisciplinary team. In recent years, the longer life expectancy experienced by people with CF (PwCF) means that nutrition advice and therapy are evolving from a focus on nutrition support to prevention and management of comorbidities. Little has been reported regarding the perceived role of the CF dietitian amongst PwCF.

Cystic fibrosis: Infection prevention & control recommendations for universities, colleges and institutes of further and higher education - A practical guide.

Background: The avoidance of cross-infection remains of critical importance to prevent the transmission of cystic fibrosis (CF)-related microbial pathogens to persons/people with cystic fibrosis (PwCF). To date, there has been a paucity of infection prevention and control (IPC) guidance relating to infection risk at higher educational institutions. With improvements in treatments, more PwCF are now attending universities/colleges and educational institutions now seek CF-specific guidance on IPC from clinical CF teams/centres.

Polymyxin Resistance and Heteroresistance Are Common in Clinical Isolates of Species and Correlate with Modifications of the Lipid A Moiety of Lipopolysaccharide.

The genus includes opportunistic pathogens that can cause chronic infections in immunocompromised patients, especially in people with cystic fibrosis (CF). Treatment of infections is complicated by antimicrobial resistance. In this study, a collection of clinical isolates, from CF and non-CF sources, was investigated for polymyxin B (PmB) resistance.

Using plain language to communicate with clinical trials participants: Comparison of readability calculators.

It is important that patient-facing clinical trial information is easily understood by potential trial participants, active trial participants, family members, friends and carers. The readability of a document refers to its typographic and linguistic characteristics that allow the text to be read and comprehended and it is recommended that healthcare providers aim that all information disseminated to the lay public be at a suitable readability level. Whilst there are established readability calculators for literature, there is no standard for health information.