Publications by authors named "Sara Boyd"
Online availability of antibiotics from within the UK: shifting patterns from 2016 to 2023.
J Antimicrob Chemother
December 2024
Article Synopsis
- - This study investigates the current legality and practices of online pharmacies selling antibiotics in the UK, noting a shift from mostly consumer-driven decisions in 2016 to more regulated practices now.
- - The research involved analyzing 20 online pharmacy websites for evidence of registration, prescription requirements, and information provided to consumers regarding their health before purchasing antibiotics.
- - Findings show that while all analyzed pharmacies require a prescription and are registered in the UK, there are still significant variations in how consumer-driven these choices are, presenting a need for better regulations and guidelines in online antibiotic sales.
Article Synopsis
- - The study aims to explore a telehealth intervention combining motivational interviewing and home self-collection for STI screening, specifically targeting gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men living with HIV (GBMSM-LWH).
- - Participants will undergo a pretest MI-guided session, followed by self-collection of specimens (urine, throat and rectal swabs, and blood) for testing bacterial STIs like gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis.
- - After testing, participants will have a posttest MI session to help them understand their results and create personalized action plans for future health management.
Article Synopsis
- South Asian gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) in the U.S. are often neglected in HIV research, prompting this study to explore their HIV knowledge and stressors, especially comparing American-born and immigrant individuals.
- The study surveyed 112 participants, finding that while both groups exhibited similar sexual risk behaviors, immigrants demonstrated significantly lower HIV-related knowledge and risk perception, and were less likely to disclose their sexual identity.
- The findings highlight the necessity for tailored HIV prevention programs that take into account the unique cultural and social factors affecting South Asian GBM in the U.S.
Article Synopsis
- The BIOFIRE Joint Infection (JI) Panel uses multiplex-PCR testing to identify microorganisms in synovial fluid from patients suspected of septic arthritis and prosthetic joint infections.
- A study over 34 clinical sites in Europe and the Middle East indicated that the JI Panel showed 88.4% agreement in diagnosing septic arthritis and 85% for prosthetic joint infections when compared to traditional synovial fluid cultures.
- The JI Panel not only detected more positive samples, especially anaerobic bacteria, but also provided results in about one hour, improving patient management and treatment decisions.
Article Synopsis
- Conservationists aim to create conservation strategies that benefit both people and biodiversity by focusing on the empowerment of communities through inclusive discussions and processes.
- Empowerment is a complicated concept that operates on various levels—psychological, political, and social—making it difficult to define and evaluate in conservation efforts.
- A review of 121 influential conservation articles reveals that most studies focus on communities in the Global South, use qualitative methods, but lack a clear definition or application of empowerment theories, potentially undermining the true benefits for local and Indigenous communities.
Rapidly detecting and identifying pathogens is crucial for appropriate antimicrobial therapy in patients with sepsis. Conventional diagnostic methods have been a great asset to medicine, though they are time consuming and labor intensive. This work will enable healthcare professionals to understand the bacterial community better and enhance their diagnostic capacity by using novel molecular methods that make obtaining quicker, more precise results possible.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHuman conflict, such as the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, is an important driver of antimicrobial resistance. Here, we describe the challenges when addressing this problem during an ongoing conflict and the opportunities available to reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Septic arthritis is a severe illness often diagnosed through culture, but the recently approved BioFire® Joint Infection Panel (BJIP) offers a rapid alternative using synovial fluid.
- A study in the UK and Ireland showed that BJIP had a higher detection rate of positive results (98 vs 83) compared to routine cultures, with a positive percent agreement (PPA) of 91.6% and negative percent agreement (NPA) of 93%.
- The multidisciplinary team (MDT) discussed the BJIP's additional benefits, such as identifying antibiotic resistance and influencing treatment choices, while noting that it should complement standard methods and may have limitations regarding untested organisms.
Article Synopsis
- * A study analyzed data from 139,158 POP surgeries conducted between 2010 and 2019, revealing an overall GUTI rate of 1.10%, with the majority being ureteral injuries.
- * Key risk factors for GUTI included adhesiolysis, blood transfusion, low-volume surgeons, non-urology or gynecology specialties, and use of uterosacral suspension, indicating the importance of surgeon experience.
OXA-48-Like β-Lactamases: Global Epidemiology, Treatment Options, and Development Pipeline.
Antimicrob Agents Chemother
August 2022
Article Synopsis
- Modern medicine faces a serious threat from antimicrobial resistance, particularly with Gram-negative bacteria, where β-lactamases, such as TEM penicillinases and CTX-M, limit the effectiveness of antibiotics like penicillin and cephalosporins.
- The emergence of the OXA-48 carbapenemase and its relatives has become a major concern in Europe and surrounding regions, leading to underreported low-level resistance and treatment failures.
- There are challenges in detecting these enzymes, but potential treatment solutions are being explored, including new agents like ceftazidime-avibactam and cefiderocol, as researchers work to tackle this growing problem in antibiotic resistance.
Article Synopsis
- Clinical metagenomics (CMg) could enhance antimicrobial treatment and infection control, especially highlighted by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, which increased risks of infections from drug-resistant pathogens in ICUs.
- A study involving 43 respiratory samples from intubated COVID-19 patients showed that an 8-hour CMg workflow was 92% sensitive and 82% specific in identifying bacteria, while also detecting antibiotic-resistant genes that could change treatment plans.
- CMg testing allows for timely pathogen detection and resistance predictions, suggesting it could transform infection management in ICUs and warrants further clinical evaluation for broader implementation.
Article Synopsis
- A study examined the rates and types of co-infections in critically ill COVID-19 patients in seven ICUs in England, analyzing data from 254 patients.
- The findings revealed that only a small percentage had early co-infections, but the rate of acquired bacterial infections increased significantly with longer ICU stays, especially with Gram-negative bacteria, and patients with co-infections had higher mortality rates.
Article Synopsis
- The Singapore GSDCS score helps predict the risk of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacilli infections in critically ill patients and was validated in a UK intensive care setting.
- A study matched 110 patients with RGNB infections to 110 patients with sensitive Gram-negative infections, demonstrating the score's effectiveness with a receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.75.
- The score effectively categorized patients into low, medium, and high-risk groups for RGNB infections, aiding in timely and appropriate antimicrobial therapy in the ICU.
Metallo-β-Lactamases: Structure, Function, Epidemiology, Treatment Options, and the Development Pipeline.
Antimicrob Agents Chemother
September 2020
Article Synopsis
- - The rise of antibiotic resistance, particularly from Gram-negative bacteria and Metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) enzymes, poses a major threat to modern medicine, especially in Asia where these strains are common.
- - MBLs not only show multiple drug resistance but might also be less effective against carbapenem antibiotics when zinc is limited, creating a potential opportunity for therapy.
- - The unique structure and function of MBLs complicate drug development, as they resist current β-lactam inhibitor treatments; however, promising new therapies and inhibitors are in progress.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to assess the correlation between radiologist reports mentioning "mastoiditis" and actual physical exam findings of mastoiditis in patients who underwent imaging tests for non-ear, nose, and throat issues.
- The retrospective review involved 160 patients, revealing that only 8.8% showed clinical signs of ear disease, while 11.3% received unnecessary consultations with otolaryngology and antibiotic prescriptions despite normal physical exams.
- Results suggest that many cases of mastoid opacification are clinically insignificant, indicating that non-otolaryngology physicians can effectively interpret these findings to reduce unnecessary healthcare costs.
Quantifying drivers of antibiotic resistance in humans: a systematic review.
Lancet Infect Dis
December 2018
Article Synopsis
- To tackle antibiotic resistance, it's important to analyze the quality and quantity of data linking various sources—human, animal, and environmental—that contribute to the issue.
- A systematic review using a One Health approach found 88 key risk factors, with previous antibiotic exposure, underlying diseases, and invasive procedures showing the strongest links to resistance.
- Uniform quantification of these risk factors will enhance researchers' understanding of how antibiotic resistance develops in human infections, particularly through food and water transmission.
Article Synopsis
- Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and microdialysis are leading methods for measuring how much antibiotics reach the lungs, especially in pneumonia treatment.
- Understanding the amount of drug at the infection site is crucial for ensuring that the right dosages lead to effective clinical outcomes for different types of pneumonia.
- Despite limited studies on the intrapulmonary effects of antibiotics, newer technologies like MALDI-MSI and PET imaging could improve future research and the antibiotic development process for pneumonia.
Article Synopsis
- A study analyzed the quality and legality of online pharmacies selling antibiotics in the UK, especially in light of increased internet use and antibiotic stewardship efforts.
- Out of 20 online pharmacies reviewed, only 5 required a prescription and were properly registered, while others had unclear practices regarding prescription requirements and safety measures.
- The findings indicate significant variations in antibiotic purchasing practices online, raising concerns about patient safety and the need for stricter regulations and better education for both suppliers and consumers.
Information provision for antibacterial dosing in the obese patient: a sizeable absence?
J Antimicrob Chemother
December 2016
Article Synopsis
- * A study of 42 commonly prescribed antibiotics in the UK found that 83% had no dosing guidance for obese adults, raising concerns about treatment effectiveness and the risk of antibiotic resistance.
- * There's an urgent need for more research and guidelines on antibiotic dosing in obese populations to improve healthcare outcomes and combat growing antibiotic resistance.