Evaluating student understanding of pharmacodynamics core concepts.

Pharmacodynamics is an essential subdiscipline of pharmacology that underpins safe and effective prescribing and therapeutic decision-making, as well as drug discovery and development. The exponential increase in the number of therapeutic drugs has prompted members of the pharmacology educator community to question existing pharmacology curricula focused on individual drugs and move toward a curriculum focused on conceptual understanding. A first step towards conceptual understanding is to establish what students currently know about pharmacodynamic core concepts.

Refractory fungal infection: Three case reports highlighting good practice.

Refractory invasive fungal disease is a significant clinical problem, with high morbidity, mortality and costs. The complex causes of refractory infection include breakthrough infection due to antifungal resistance (both innate and acquired), suboptimal therapy and impaired immune responses in critically ill or immunocompromised patients. This case series details three reports on the identification and management of refractory fungal infections, two cases of azole resistance and one case of resistant candidiasis, highlighting the importance of accurate diagnosis, monitoring, implementation of biomarkers (serological markers, PCR), antifungal susceptibility testing and antifungal stewardship to optimise management and minimise risks of emergence of drug resistance.

Orthopaedic Adult Reconstruction Fellowship Match Rates: How Do Degree and Sex Affect Match Success?

Background: Discrepancies have previously been identified in terms of sex and medical degree throughout orthopaedic education. The purpose of this study was to evaluate trends in the degree type and sex of applicants to adult reconstruction fellowships.

Methods: The San Francisco (SF) match data from 2012 to 2023 was analyzed.

Antifungal stewardship in the UK: where are we now?

Background: Antifungal stewardship (AFS) is the judicious use of today's antifungal agents with the aim of improving patient outcomes and preserving their future effectiveness. Antifungal resistance (AFR) is increasing globally, with more patients at risk of Invasive Fungal Disease (IFD), highlighting the urgent need to standardize AFS practices in the UK. The aim of this position paper is to understand the current AFS landscape in the UK.