Evaluating the Effect of a Web-Based E-Learning Tool for Health Professional Education on Clinical Vancomycin Use: Comparative Study.

Background: Internet-based learning for health professional education is increasing. It offers advantages over traditional learning approaches, as it enables learning to be completed at a time convenient to the user and improves access where facilities are geographically disparate. We developed and implemented the Vancomycin Interactive (VI) e-learning tool to improve knowledge on the clinical use of the antibiotic vancomycin, which is commonly used for treatment of infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Impact of an antimicrobial stewardship intervention on appropriateness of prescribing for community-acquired pneumonia in an Australian regional hospital.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is the second commonest indication for antibiotic use in Australian hospitals and is therefore a frequent target for antimicrobial stewardship. A single-centre prospective study was conducted in a regional referral hospital comparing management of adult patients with CAP before and after an educational intervention. We demonstrated a reduction in duration of therapy and reduced inappropriate use of ceftriaxone-based regimens for non-severe CAP.

Design and Implementation of a Novel Web-Based E-Learning Tool for Education of Health Professionals on the Antibiotic Vancomycin.

Background: Traditional approaches to health professional education are being challenged by increased clinical demands and decreased available time. Web-based e-learning tools offer a convenient and effective method of delivering education, particularly across multiple health care facilities. The effectiveness of this model for health professional education needs to be explored in context.

Outcomes of multisite antimicrobial stewardship programme implementation with a shared clinical decision support system.

Background: Studies evaluating antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs) supported by computerized clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) have predominantly been conducted in single site metropolitan hospitals.

Objectives: To examine outcomes of multisite ASP implementation supported by a centrally deployed CDSS.

Methods: An interrupted time series study was conducted across five hospitals in New South Wales, Australia, from 2010 to 2014.

The effect of chronic tobacco smoking on arterial stiffness.

Aims: Cardiovascular disease caused by smoking is related to the pathophysiological burden placed on the vascular endothelium. We studied the effect of chronic cigarette smoking on arterial wave reflection (study 1) and smoking cessation on pulse wave analysis (study 2).

Methods: Fifty smokers and 50 age- and sex-matched nonsmokers participated in study 1.

Prostaglandin E2 activates EP2 receptors to inhibit human lung mast cell degranulation.

The prostanoid, PGE2, is known to inhibit human lung mast cell activity. The aim of the present study was to characterize the EP receptor that mediates this effect. PGE2 (pEC(50), 5.

Coronary risk versus cardiovascular risk for treatment decisions in mild hypertension.

Background: British guidelines recommend treatment for mild hypertension at a cardiovascular (CVD) risk threshold of 20% over 10 years. However, treatment is targeted at the equivalent coronary (CHD) risk of 15% over 10 years. We examined the relationship between CHD and CVD risk in men and women with mild hypertension and assessed the accuracy of using a 10-year CHD risk threshold of 15% to identify patients at a 10-year CVD risk > or = 20%.

Should we treat high-normal blood pressure?

Objectives: To examine the risk of cardiovascular disease associated with high-normal blood pressure in English adults and estimate the proportion of these individuals who are at high cardiovascular risk.

Design And Setting: Cross-sectional survey of England in 1998.

Participants: Nationally representative sample of 12,341 individuals aged 18-80 years living in private households in England.