In 2019–2021, the Department of Microbiology and the Faculty of Dentistry jointly organised two interdisciplinary knowledge exchange activities for healthcare workers, in particular microbiology laboratory professionals, medical practitioners, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, etc. as well as medical/dental students. Workshops on ‘Control of Antimicrobial Resistance’ were held on 31st August, 2019 and 24th May, 2021, and as many as five speakers, including Professor Patrick C. Y. Woo from the Department of Microbiology, provided great speeches in the fields of microbiology, infection control as well as pharmacy to the audience. Topics of the seminars included ‘Antimicrobial Discovery and Resistance: An Overview’, ‘Antimicrobial Resistance: Case Discussion’, ‘Control of Antimicrobial Resistance’, ‘Recent Trends in Big Gun Antibiotics Prescribing’, ‘Role of Pharmaceutical Companies on Antimicrobial Discovery and Control of Antimicrobial Resistance’ and/or ‘University-Industry Collaboration on Testing New Antimicrobials’, etc. In addition to the presentations, the workshops also included demonstrations on laboratory methods for detection of antibiotic resistant bacteria. A total of around 130 healthcare workers and students participated in the event. The event materials are available
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The main aims of the interdisciplinary knowledge exchange programme were:
| 1. | To introduce to microbiology laboratory professionals, medical practitioners and medical students, dentists and dental students as well as senior secondary school students interested in the medical/dental professions the safe and effective use of antimicrobials so as to decrease the emergence of resistance |
| 2. | To introduce and demonstrate to the target audience the current methodology used to identify previously unrecognised pathogenic microbes isolated in clinical laboratories |
| 3. | To introduce and demonstrate to the target audience the current methodology used to test for antimicrobial resistance |
| 4. | To promote to the target audience the importance of infection control so as to minimise spread of antimicrobial resistance |
| 5. | To arouse the interests of senior secondary school students |
We received a lot of positive feedback from the participants and most of them commented that the workshop was effective in helping them understand the key issues about control of antimicrobial resistance. The participants were also impressed with the wide range of speakers which were chosen from different sectors to provide their own unique insights on control of antimicrobial resistance. They also enjoyed the laboratory demonstrations a lot. Overall, the interdisciplinary knowledge exchange activity helped the participants develop an understanding on antimicrobial resistance and the critical significance of this issue to human health. It also successfully made them aware of the importance of the control of antimicrobial resistance and encouraged them to implement control measures in their professions.
| Project team members: | Professor Patrick C. Y. Woo (Co-project coordinator) Dr Kin-Hang Kok (Co-project coordinator) Dr Rory M. Watt (Co-project coordinator) Dr Chi-Ching Tsang Dr Jade L. L. Teng Professor Susanna K. P. Lau Dr Franklin W. N. Chow
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| Other contributors: | Dr Xin Li Mr Jacky Chung Ms. Eugenia Ng Dr Elaine Chan Mr James Y. M. Tang |
