Med Talks - Superbug Series UQ Faculty of Medicine

In September 2019, Australia began to burn like it's never burned before. Every state and territory, except Western Australia and the Northern Territory, went up in flames, with the mega fire's epicentre in the most populated state, New South Wales.

So far, 33 people have died, an estimated 1.25 billion animals have been decimated, and nearly 11 million hectares of land have been burned.

It's now the summer of 2020, and the fires are still burning in South-East Australia.

In this podcast four experts from The University of Queensland’s School of Public Health discuss the impact of the mega fires on Australia’s food, water, environment, air quality and ultimately the health of the nation.

How can we stop the microscopic arms race from escalating? It's a complex problem, but part of the solution lies in developing new antibiotics, diagnostic tools and investing in antimicrobial stewardship programs.
Panel guests: Professor Mieke van Driel, Dr Mark Blaskovich and Dr Suzanne Parker
Hosted by Anthony Frangi.
Recorded live at the 2019 National Antimicrobial Resistance Forum.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has spread to every corner of the globe and has given rise to an army of pugnacious pathogens resistant to our only defence – antibiotics. So, what does this mean for humanity? Infectious disease specialists are at the forefront of this question; helping to develop new treatment approaches, educate the community and find innovative ways to combat these resistant strains of bacteria.
Panel guests: Dr Krispin Hajkowicz, Professor Sara Cosgrove, Dr Kathrum Daveson, Professor Jason Roberts
Hosted by Anthony Frangi.
Recorded live at the 2019 National Antimicrobial Resistance Forum.

Beating bacteria is no small feat for doctors, but what does it feel like to be the one fighting the infection? Matthew Ames was just 39 years old when what started as a sore throat ended in the loss of both his arms and legs. He had contracted streptococcal that resulted in toxic shock. Against all the odds, Matthew survived and now shares his story to help raise awareness about antibiotic resistance and highlight the importance of research. He spoke with world-leading infectious diseases specialist and Director of UQ's Centre for Clinical Research Professor David Paterson about his experience with antimicrobial resistance.
Hosted by Anthony Frangi.
Recorded live at the 2019 National Antimicrobial Resistance Forum.

There is no denying health is complex and interconnected, which is why our response to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) should be too. A ‘One Health’ approach is about spanning lifeforms, disciplines and practice to coordinate efforts and solve AMR at a macro-level. As Professor Karin Thursky and Associate Professor Simon Reid explain, this remains a challenge around the world.
Panel guests: Professor Karin Thursky and Associate Professor Simon Reid
Hosted by Anthony Frangi.
Recorded live at the 2019 National Antimicrobial Resistance Forum.

Microscopic in size but forceful in nature, ‘superbugs’ are able to outsmart the toughest antibiotic defences. We delve into how doctors and veterinarians take on these strains of mutated bacteria in the clinical setting. What’s in their arsenal of antibiotics and how dire can it get when a patient or animal fails to respond to any form of treatment?
Panel guests: Dr Trent Yarwood, Dr Hugh Wright, Professor Glenn Browning and Dr Laura Hardefeldt
Hosted by Anthony Frangi.
Recorded live at the 2019 National Antimicrobial Resistance Forum.