Best practice standards for the delivery of NHS infection services in the United Kingdom.

Infection expertise in the NHS has historically been provided predominantly by hospital-based medical microbiologists responsible for provision of diagnostic services and advice to front-line clinicians. While most hospitals had consultant-led microbiology departments, infectious iiseases departments were based in a small number of specialist centres. The demand for infection expertise is growing in the NHS, driven by advances in medical care, increasing awareness of the impact of antibiotic resistant and healthcare associated infections and threats from emerging infectious diseases.

A prospective surveillance study to determine the prevalence of 16S rRNA methyltransferase-producing Gram-negative bacteria in the UK.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of 16S rRNA methyltransferase- (16S RMTase-) producing Gram-negative bacteria in patients in the UK and to identify potential risk factors for their acquisition.

Methods: A 6 month prospective surveillance study was conducted from 1 May to 31 October 2016, wherein 14 hospital laboratories submitted Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates that displayed high-level amikacin resistance according to their testing methods, e.g.

Current challenges in treating MRSA: what are the options?

This review looks at the challenges facing the worldwide community with the increasing problem of methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus. The epidemiology and natural history of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and the challenge of control is discussed. Options for treatment and review of key antimicrobial agents acting against methicillin-resistant S.