Infectious diseases, epidemiology, and social networks at the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, NUS
Hsu Li Yang is Associate Professor at the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, where he leads the Antimicrobial Resistance Programme. In the first of a series of blog posts for World Antibiotic Awareness Week, he talks about the progress and challenges of controlling MRSA in Singaporean hospitals. I was…
The WHO’s Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance, has specific recommendations to educate the public about antimicrobial resistance and to introduce this issue into the educational curriculum. As part of the second World Antibiotic Awareness Week (November 14-18, 2016), we organized a two-day event at Jurong Regional Library over the weekend to teach children about…
In anticipation of World Antibiotic Awareness Week (November 14-18), we will be running a series of activities at Jurong Regional Library to teach children about bacteria, antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. Come join us at the library on Saturday Nov 12th and Sunday Nov 13th between 10am and 4pm!
When we first decided to join the World Antibiotic Awareness Week (WAAW) launched by the WHO, there were exactly 3 weeks left to prepare. On our list were a journal club, a movie screening, a seminar session, an online quiz, posters, badges, blog posts, three bug costumes, one pill costume, helium balloons and a booth.…
The potential use of penicillin as a medical treatment was only realized years after its discovery. Although known as the ‘miracle drug’ in medicine, it has also proven to have some ‘miraculous’ benefits in the animal husbandry industry. In the early 1940s, food shortage became an increasing concern. With the discovery of penicillin, the livestock…
We now know that the warning that Sir Alexander Fleming gave during his Nobel Laureate speech in 1945, about Mr. and Mrs X’s self-medicating practices contributing to resistance of the bacteria with low dose penicillin, has indeed become a reality. Over the past 70 years, we have created an antibiotic resistance issue that is described…
When we think of the discovery of antibiotics, we commonly think of Sir Alexander Fleming’s discovery of penicillin in 1928. The first time it was used for medical treatment was years later in the 1940s, after which it changed the face of modern medicine. The period between then 1940s and 1960s is often referred to…
Before jumping in on the flurry of hashtags, smiley faces, or any ice-bucket challenges that may come from the anticipated excitement of the first World Antibiotic Awareness Week between November 16th and 22nd, we wanted to explore some important facts about antibiotic resistance and why it requires more of our attention. The word “antibiotic” means…
The first World Antibiotic Awareness Week takes place between November 16th and 22nd. To mark the occasion, we have designed two posters. The first is adapted from a poster that is currently being used in the UK’s Antibiotic Guardian campaign. We liked the simple design and bold colours, but wanted to add some key messages for…