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Welcome!

Welcome to the web site of the Australian Society for Antimicrobials.

 

Since becoming an Incorporated Society in March 1999, ASA membership now covers a diverse background of professions interested in the study of antimicrobials including clinical microbiologists and infectious diseases physicians, respiratory and ICU physicians, medical and non-medical microbiologists and scientists, pharmacists, veterinarians, undergraduate and postgraduate students, and industry representatives from pharmaceutical and diagnostic/research biomedical companies.

 

Although ASA's membership is primarily based in Australia and New Zealand, it now extends to the United Staes of America, United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Singapore and Japan.

 

On this site you can access the Society's Objectives and Constitution and the Committee Members. In addition the Society's Membership Subscription Form and details of the Annual Scientific Meeting can be downloaded.

 

Members of the Society may wish to download the current and previous newsletters as well as abstracts from previous annual scientific meetings in the Members Area.

 

There are also links to many other areas and related societies.

 

If you would like to contact the Society please email info@asainc.net.au.

 


Current Newsletter:

(You must be logged in to view this newsletter.)

  • Australian New Zealand Cooperative on Outcomes in Staphylococcal Sepsis (ANZCOSS) Study
  • ASA 2010 Foundation Members
  • Australian Society for Antimicrobials 11th Annual Scientific Meeting (Antimicrobials 2010)
  • Newsletter Contributions
  • Emerging Treatment Options for Hepatitis C Virus
  • Highlights from the 49th ICAAC
  • Meeting Calendar
  • What's Happening in Susceptibility Testing
  • Picture Quiz

What's New

More news on the ASA News page.

19-Jan-2010

ASA 11th Annual Scientific Meeting "Antimicrobials 2010"

The ASA 11th Annual Scientific Meeting "Antimicrobials 2010" will be held in just FIVE WEEKS at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth Hotel in Sydney on 25 - 27 February 2010.

The scientific program for the meeting has an outstanding line up of speakers and topics and includes:

Three Plenary Sessions:
What Resistance Surveillance Tells Us (Hajo Grundmann, The Netherlands)
Peptide Ant-Infectives (Michael Yeaman, United States of America)
Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) in Hand (Pat Charles, Australia)

Five Symposia
Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci
New Understandings of Antimicrobial Resistance Mechanisms
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Invasive Fungal Infections
Antimicrobial Resistance as a Public Health Issue

Two Workshops
VRE Screening: Practical and Benchtop Tips
The Drugs and Information Technology in Antimicrobial Stewardship - Lessons Learnt?

In addition 50 proffered papers have been submitted and will be presented in three oral and two poster sessions.

Delegates are also invited to attend the six breakfast and three lunch time industry sessions that have been organised by Society's Foundation Members.

To promote discussion and interaction between delegates and the invited speakers the meeting's registration includes lunches, morning and afternoon teas and admission to the Welcome and Industry Receptions.

For complete information on the meeting's programme, meeting registration and hotel reservations please visit http://www.antimicrobials2010.com.

The ASA Committee looks forward to seeing you in Sydney.


17-Jan-2010

ASA Annual General Meeting

Financial Members of the Australian Society for Antimicrobials are invited to the Society's 11th Annual General Meeting

Time: 1730 - 1830
Date: Thursday 25 February 2010
Venue: Perth/Sydney Ballroom. Sofitel Sydney Wentworth Hotel, Sydney

The meeting's agenda and the minutes from the 10th AGM can be downloaded from the Members Area (Antimicrobials '10) of the ASA website
http://www.asainc.net.au/members/micro2010

Antimicrobials 2010
www.antimicrobials2010.com


17-Jan-2010

Antimicrobials 2010: Thermofisher (Oxoid) Breakfast Symposium

Antimicrobials 2010
ASA Annual Scientific Meeting
25 - 27 February 2010
Sofitel Sydney Wentworth Hotel, Sydney

Thermofisher (Oxoid) Breakfast Symposium
Saturday 27 February 2010

"Manage your Inbox Without it Managing You"

Facilitator:
Craig Gowan
Australian Institute of Management

Meeting Online Registration and Programme Details
www.antimicrobials2010.com


7-Jan-2010

Antimicrobials 2010: BD Breakfast Symposium

Antimicrobials 2010
ASA Annual Scientific Meeting
25 - 27 February 2010
Sofitel Sydney Wentworth Hotel, Sydney

BD Breakfast Symposium
Friday 26 February 2010

"Patients on Antibiotics....A Challenge for Blood Culture Systems?...Not Necessarily!"

Speaker:
Dr Michael Towns. Vice President - World Wide Medical Affairs, BD Diagnostic Systems

Michael Towns oversees a large clinical research group based in Baltimore, MD that conduct clinical trials worldwide for BD Diagnostic System’s infectious disease diagnostic tests. He has extensive experience in clinical microbiology and infectious diseases, with a special interest in the clinical significance and detection of bloodstream infections, a topic on which he has lectured worldwide. He is currently on the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) Blood Culture Subcommittee, as well as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Microbiology Devices Advisory Board, representing the diagnostic industry.

Meeting Online Registration and Programme Details
www.antimicrobials2010.com


6-Jan-2010

Antimicrobials 2010: Pfizer Breakfast Symposium

Antimicrobials 2010
ASA Annual Scientific Meeting
25 - 27 February 2010
Sofitel Sydney Wentworth Hotel, Sydney

Pfizer Breakfast Symposium
Thursday 25 February 2010

Treatment of Healthcare-Associated, Hospital Acquired and Ventilator Associated Pneumonia

Speaker:
Dr Daniel Kett, Director of the Medical Intensive Care Unit, Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, Florida

Chair:
Prof John Turnidge, SA Pathology (Women's and Children's Hospital)

Dr. Daniel Kett is a Professor of Clinical Medicine at the Leonard Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami. Currently, Dr. Kett is the Director of the Medical Intensive Care Unit at Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, Florida. Dr. Kett is the Associate Chief, Section of Critical Care Medicine at the University of Miami and the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Areas of clinical and research interests include new therapies for severe infections, new treatments for acute lung injury and advances in the prevention and treatment of thrombo-embolic disease. Dr. Kett is an investigator for the Bacteriology and Mycoses Study Group and is active in several projects involving fungal infections in critically ill patients.

Meeting Online Registration and Programme Details
www.antimicrobials2010.com


5-Jan-2010

Australian New Zealand Cooperative on Outcomes in Staphylococcal Sepsis (ANZCOSS) Study

Staphylococcal sepsis remains a significant healthcare problem worldwide, both in the community and in hospital practice. The literature demonstrates that outcomes are suboptimal for some cases of invasive staphylococcal infection. Factors known to impact on outcomes include resistance, especially methicillin resistance, and toxin production such as TSST-1 and PVL.

To understand the local epidemiology of severe Staphylococcus aureus disease in Australia and New Zealand a cooperative, under the auspices of the Australian Society for Antimicrobials, has been established; the Australian New Zealand Cooperative on Outcomes in Staphylococcal Sepsis (ANZCOSS).


4-Jan-2010

Antimicrobials 2010: Bayer Schering Pharma Breakfast Symposium

Antimicrobials 2010
ASA Annual Scientific Meeting
25 - 27 February 2010
Sofitel Sydney Wentworth Hotel, Sydney

Bayer Schering Pharma Breakfast Symposium
Friday 26 February 2010

Recent Developments in Travel Medicine Vaccines, Antimalarials and Geosentinel Tropical Disease Surveillance

Joseph Torresi, Austin Hospital.Victoria.

Meeting Online Registration and Programme Details
www.antimicrobials2010.com


4-Jan-2010

Antimicrobials 2010 ASA Travel Award Recipient

The Australian Society for Antimicrobials Committee congratulate the following ASA Members for being awarded an ASA Travel Award to attend Antimicrobials 2010 in Sydney (25 - 27 February 2010):

Stephen Tristram. University of Tasmania, Australia.
Screening and Identifying BLNAR and BLPACR Strains of H. influenzae.

Natasha Holmes. Austin Health, Australia.
Vancomycin Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) in Australian Staphylococcus aureus Bactaeraemia (SAB) - An Australian and New Zealand Cooperative on Outcomes in Staphylococcal Sepsis (ANZCOSS) Substudy.

Steven Tong. Menzies School of Health Research, Australia.
Molecular Detection of the H275Y Oseltamivir Resistance Mutation in Influenza A/H1N1 2009 by Step-Down RT-PCR and SYBR Green High-Resolution Melting Analysis.


10-Dec-2009

Antimicrobials 2010: Novartis Lunch Symposium

Antimicrobials 2010
ASA Annual Scientific Meeting
25 - 27 February 2010
Sofitel Sydney Wentworth Hotel, Sydney

Novartis Lunch Symposium
Thursday 25 February 2010

Insights into Current Treatments of S. aureus Infections

Professor John Turnidge, South Australia Pathology
"What we have learned from ANZCOSS?"

Dr Ben Howden, Austin Health
"An update on clinical impact and mechanisms of hVISA and VISA"

Dr Tony Korman, Monash Medical Centre
Mississippi Mud No More? A review of vancomycin toxicity in the 21st century."

Followed by Questions & Answers

Meeting Online Registration and Program Details
www.antimicrobials2010.com

Important Dates
Abstract Submission Deadline: Friday 11th December 2009
Early Bird Registration Deadline: Friday 11th December 2009


10-Dec-2009

Antimicrobials 2010: Janssen Cilag Lunch Symposium

Antimicrobials 2010
ASA Annual Scientific Meeting
25 - 27 February 2010
Sofitel Sydney Wentworth Hotel, Sydney

Janssen Cilag Lunch Symposium
Friday 26 February 2010

Professor David Paterson
“Update on Resistance and Therapy of Pseudomonas”

Professor Keryn Christiansen
“The Comparative Activity of Carbapenems Testing (COMPACT) Study”


Meeting Online Registration and Program Details
www.antimicrobials2010.com

Important Dates
Abstract Submission Deadline: Friday 11th December 2009
Early Bird Registration Deadline: Friday 11th December 2009


29-Nov-2009

Antimicrobials 2010: Immuno Lunch Symposium

Immuno Lunch Symposium
Saturday 27 February 2010

Antimicrobials 2010
ASA Annual Scientific Meeting
25 - 27 February 2010
Sofitel Sydney Wentworth Hotel, Sydney

"Loss of Innocence: The Emergence and Rapid Control of VRE in Darwin"
Krispin Hajkowicz
Microbiology Registrar
Infectious Diseases Advanced Trainee
Royal Darwin Hospital

“Yesterday, All my Troubles Seemed so Far Away”
Paul Southwell.
Principal Scientist
Microbiology Department
Royal Darwin Hospital

Meeting Online Registration
www.antimicrobials2010.com

Important Dates
Abstract Submission Deadline: Friday 11th December 2009
Early Bird Registration Deadline: Friday 11th December 2009


24-Nov-2009

Antimicrobial 2010: 25 - 27 February 2010, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth Hotel, Sydney

On behalf of the Australian Society for Antimicrobials, I invite you to submit abstracts for presentation at the ASA 11th Annual Scientific Meeting "Antimicrobials 2010".

The meeting will be held at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth Hotel in Sydney on 25 - 27 February 2010. The scientific program for the meeting has an outstanding line up of speakers and topics that will be of interest to anyone active in the fields of antimicrobials.

The deadline for abstract submissions is Friday 11th December 2009. I urge you to submit your abstract as soon as possible, and plan on joining your colleagues and peers in Sydney for this educational and enjoyable meeting. Take advantage of reduced registration fees by registering on or before Friday 11th December 2009.

Abstracts must be submitted to the Australian Society for Antimicrobials by e-mail (info@asainc.net.au). Hardcopy submissions will not be accepted. Maximum Number of words: 500 words. One figure or table may be included in the abstract Please nominate your presentation preference (oral or poster). Please note oral presentations cannot be guaranteed. Presentation format will be decided by the ASA Committee. Accepted abstracts will be eligible for early bird registration

For complete information on the meeting's programme, meeting registration and hotel reservation please visit http://www.antimicrobials2010.com.

Important Dates:
Early Bird Registration and Abstract Submission Deadline: Friday 11th December 2009
Abstract Notification: Friday 18th December 2009

I look forward to seeing you in Sydney

Sincerely yours,

Graeme Nimmo
President Australian Society for Antimicrobials


16-Nov-2009

ASA Annual Scientific Meeting: bioMerieux Australia Breakfast Symposium

Antimicrobials 2010
ASA Annual Scientific Meeting
25 - 27 February 2010
Sofitel Sydney Wentworth Hotel, Sydney

bioMerieux Australia Breakfast Symposium
Thursday 25 February 2010

Professor David Paterson
'Molecular Epidemiology of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria: Past Surprises, Future Options'.

Professor Paterson is based at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital and the University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research. His major research interests involves the molecular and clinical epidemiology of infections with antibiotic resistant organisms with a particular focus on the translation of knowledge into prevention and treatment of these infections.

David's presentation will include a discussion on
- Molecular epidemiology: why is there a clinical need?
- Problems with PFGE
- PCR based methods
- Sequence based methods
- Experience with MRSA
- Experience with CR-Acinetobacter and use as an international typing system
- Experience with ESBL positive Ecoli and use to detect pandemic ST131 clone
- Experience with mycobacteria
- The US PULSENET experience and the need for a nationwide molecular
epidemiology surveillance network using a common system

Meeting Online Registration
www.antimicrobials2010.com

Important Dates
Abstract Submission Deadline: Friday 11th December 2009
Early Bird Registration Deadline: Friday 11th December 2009


4-Nov-2009

ASA Annual Scientific Meeting: Merck Sharp & Dohme Breakfast Symposium

Antimicrobials 2010
ASA Annual Scientific Meeting
25 - 27 February 2010
Sofitel Sydney Wentworth Hotel, Sydney

Merck Sharp & Dohme Breakfast Symposium
Saturday 27 February 2010

Professor David Paterson
"Pandemic Multiply of Resistant E. coli"

Professor Paterson is based at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and the University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research. His major research interests involves the molecular and clinical epidemiology of infections with antibiotic resistant organisms with a particular focus on the translation of knowledge into prevention and treatment of these infections.

David's presentation will include a discussion on the worldwide spread of ESBL producing E. coli in the community and the resulting limitations this places on treatment options upon presentation to hospital.

Meeting Online Registration
www.antimicrobials2010.com

Important Dates
Abstract Submission Deadline: Friday 11th December 2009
Early Bird Registration Deadline: Friday 11th December 2009


1-Nov-2009

Antimicrobials 2010:Abstract Submission Deadline

Antimicrobials 2010
February 25 - 27 2010
11th Annual Australian Society for Antimicrobials (ASA) National Scientific Meeting
Sofitel Sydney Wentworth Hotel, Sydney

Abstract Submission Deadline: Friday 11th December 2009
Maximum Number of words: 500 words. One figure or table may be included in the abstract

Abstracts must be submitted to the ASA by e-mail (info@asainc.net.au) by Friday 11th December 2009. Hardcopy submissions will not be accepted. Please nominate your presentation preference (oral or poster). Please note oral presentations cannot be guaranteed. Presentation format will be decided by the ASA Committee. Accepted abstract presenters will be eligible for early bird registration.

Meeting details including Program: http://www.antimicrobials2010.com

Early Bird Registration Deadline: Friday 11th December 2009.


15-Oct-2009

Australian Society for Antimicrobials (ASA) Website

The "Australian Antimicrobials Surveillance Programmes" section is now available in the ASA website's site menu (http://www.asainc.net.au).

The following antimicrobial surveillance reports can be downloaded from this section:

Australian Group for Antimicrobial Resistance (AGAR)
2007 Hospital Surveillance Programme
2006 Community Surveillance Programme
2004 Gram negative Surveillance Programme
2005 Streptococcus pneumoniae Surveillance Programme
2005 Enterococcus Surveillance Programme

Western Australian MRSA Epidemiology Programme
MRSA Epidemiology Report (01/07/2008 to 31/12/2008)

Reports will be regularly updated as they become available.

ASA invites submission of other Australian/New Zealand antimicrobial surveillance programmes for the website. For further information contact info@asainc.net.au.


6-Apr-2009

ASA ISSSI2010 Travel Scholarship: Advanced Warning

The next International Symposium on Staphylococci and Staphylococcal Infections (ISSSI) will be held in Bath in the United Kingdom in September 2010.

The website www.isssi2010.com will be made live in June 2009.

ASA will be providing a travel scholarship preferably to a PhD student or an advanced trainee who will be presenting at the meeting.

The scholarship consists of return economy airfare, accommodation and conference registration up to the value of AU$5,000.

Applicants must have current ASA membership and must have been a member for at least the last 12 months. The scholarship is restricted to Australian and New Zealand ASA financial members and is conditional upon the abstract being accepted by the ISSSI2010 program committee for presentation (oral or poster). In addition the recipient of the scholarship is required to write a report on the meeting for the ASA Newsletter .

Eligible ASA members who wish to apply for this scholarship are invited to submit their application to the ASA Secretary Jacqueline Schooneveldt at info@asainc.net.au. The application should include a copy of their abstract and for abstracts with more than one author, a letter stating the relative contribution of the applicant towards the research.