ASA Annual Scientific Meeting "Antimicrobials 2009"
Roche Products-sponsored breakfast symposium

Thursday 26th February 2009

"Antiviral resistance in seasonal influenza viruses" - Dr Aeron Hurt

"Improved influenza surveillance in aged care facilities enables earlier treatment and outbreak control" - Professor Robert Booy

Antimicrobials 2009
26th - 28th February 2009
Hilton on the Park, Melbourne
www.antimicrobials2009.com

Early Bird Registration: Friday 12th December 2008
Abstract Submission Deadline: Friday 12th December 2008

ASA Annual Scientific Meeting "Antimicrobials 2009"
Janssen-Cilag-sponsored lunch-time symposium

Friday 27 February 2009

Treatment choices for Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the era of resistance
David Paterson

Utilizing PK/PD to optimize antipseudomonal treatments
Jeff Lipman

Panel Discussion


Antimicrobials 2009
26th - 28th February 2009
Hilton on the Park, Melbourne
www.antimicrobials2009.com

Early Bird Registration: Friday 12th December 2008
Abstract Submission Deadline: Friday 12th December 2008

Advancing the Management of Serious Gram-positive Infections

Novartis-sponsored lunch-time symposium at the ASA annual scientific meeting "Antimicrobials 2009"

Preliminary Programme

Thursday 26 February 2009

Is there a problem with vancomycin?
John Turnidge
Clinical Professor of Paediatrics and Pathology. Division of Laboratory Medicine, South Australia Pathology.

Clinical experience with daptomycin
David Paterson
Professor of Medicine. University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research.

Questions and Answers


Antimicrobials 2009
26th - 28th February 2009
Hilton on the Park, Melbourne
www.antimicrobials2009.com

Early Bird Registration: Friday 12th December 2008
Abstract Submission Deadline: Friday 12th December 2008

The Australian Society for Antimicrobials in conjunction with the Infectious Diseases COSP would like to invite pharmacists to the Antimicrobials 2009 conference to be held at Hilton on the Park, Melbourne, on Thursday 26th to Saturday 28th February 2009. The programmes symposia covers many different aspects on antimicrobials including 'How to Use Antibiotics Better', 'Vaccine and Antibiotic Use' and 'Antimicrobial Drug Development'. The Pharmacy Workshop at this conference will focus on 'The Bugs (eg viral infections and infective endocarditis)' and 'The Drugs (eg. Antibiotic Desensitisation)'. For more information, see http://www.antimicrobials2009.com.

The material in the Pharmacy Workshop (3 hours of content as Group-1 activity) has been accredited by SHPA as suitable for inclusion in an individual pharmacist's CPD plan as outlined in the SHPA CPD program at http://www.shpa.org.au/docs/cpd.html. The program addresses pharmacist competencies, including: Competency Unit 3.1, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2 and 7.2.

13th International Symposium on Staphylococci and Staphylococcal Infections
7 to 10 September 2008
Cairns Convention Centre
www.isssi2008.com

LATE BREAKER ABSTRACT SUBMISSION CLOSES ON MONDAY 11 AUGUST 2008

Astracts should be a maximum of 250 words and can be submitted to isssi2008@icms.com.au.

Abstracts will be considered under the following topics.

Resistance Determinants
Virulence Determinants
Cell Wall
Slime Layer
Immunity
Vaccines
Healthcare-associated infection
Community-acquired infection
Antimicrobials
Therapeutics
Staphylococcus aureus
MRSA
Coagulase-negative staphylococci
Typing
Nomenclature
Infection in animals
Diagnostics

The meeting's programme and registration details can be found on the meeting's website www.isssi2008.com

On behalf of AstraZeneca, the ASA Committee would like to congratulate Dr Anton Peleg and Dr Catherine Bennett on being awarded an ICAAC 2008 AstraZeneca Travel Award to attend the 48th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobials Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) being held in Washington USA 25 to 28th October 2008.

Their abstracts have recently been accepted by the ICAAC Organsing Committee:

Relationship between Virulence and Reduced Susceptibility to Daptomycin in Staphylococcus aureus
Anton Peleg. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre, Boston, USA

Galleria mellonella as a Model System to Study Acinetobacter baumannii Pathogenesis and Therapeutics
Anton Peleg. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre, Boston, USA

Patient and Infection Characteristics Associated with the Presence of pvl in Community Onset Staphylococcus aureus Infections in Melbourne, Australia
Catherine Bennett. The University of Melbourne, Australia

The ASA Committee would like to once again thank Murray Green and AstraZeneca Pty Ltd for providing this award.

The Australain Society for Antimicrobials congratulates and welcomes Novartis Pharmaceuticals Australia on becoming a Gold Foundation Member of the Society.

During the meeting Antimicrobials 2009 (Hilton on the Park, Melbourne 26 - 28 February 2009) a Novartis lunch time symposium has been scheduled for Thursday 26th February. Full details to follow.

Antimicrobials 2009
www.antimicrobials2009.com
Early Bird Registration: Friday 12th December 2008
Abstract Submission Deadline: Friday 12th December 2008

13th International Symposium on Staphylococci and Staphylococcal Infections
7 - 10 September 2008
Cairns Convention Centre, Cairns. Australia
www.isssi2008.com


The programme and abstracts can now be downloaded from the meeting's website (www.isssi2008.com).

Early bird registration closes Friday 18th July 2008. Please be aware accommodation is filling fast so please book now.

The meeting's programme covers a diverse range of subjects on staphylococcal research including clinical and infection control issues, therapeutics, drug resistance, molecular epidemiology, genome and gene regulation, and pathogenesis. These sessions will be presented by the world's leading experts including John Fraser (New Zealand), Keiichi Hiramatsu (Japan) and Alex van Belkum (The Netherlands).

Included in the meeting's programme is the lunch time symposium "PVL - Does it Matter?". This controversial "debate" will be presented by Barry Kreiswirth from the New Jersey Medical School, USA, and Francois Vandenesch from Lyon University, France.

In addition to the main programme several satellite symposia are scheduled including:

Stategy for Racalcitrant MRSA Infection (Infectious Diseases Society of Taiwan and Western Pacific Society of Chemotherapy)

Optimal Appropriate Early Treatment for Serious Staphylococcal Infections (Novartis)

MRSA (International Society for Chemotherapy)

Late Breaker Abstracts submissions are now open. Abstracts should be a maximum of 250 words and can be submitted to isssi2008@icms.com.au. Late Breakers close 11 August 2008.


For all enquiries please e-mail the symposium office isssi2008.com.au.

On behalf of AstraZeneca, ASA is able to once again offer the ASA AstraZeneca Travel Award to ASA members.

This award is for attendance at the 2008 Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) in Washington, USA (25 - 28 October) . The award consists of return economy airfare, accommodation and conference registration up to the value of AU$5,000.

Applicants must have curent ASA membership and must have been an ASA member for at least the last 12 months. The Award is conditional upon the abstract being accepted by the ICAAC program committee for presentation (oral or poster). In addition the recipient of the Award is required to write a report on the meeting for the ASA Newsletter.

The Award will not be made to the same applicant in consecutive years.

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

13th International Symposium on Staphylococci and Staphylococcal Infections (ISSSI 2008).
Cairns Convention Centre, Australia
7 - 10 September 2008
www.isssi2008.com


A number of travel fellowships are available for young investigators wishing to attend ISSSI 2008

The conditions for the fellowships are as follows:

1). Applicants must be tertiary students, post-doctoral fellows, or medical microbiology or infectious diseases trainees;

2). Applicants must submit an abstract for presentation at the Symposium and a brief curriculum vitae (no more than 250 words) stating their current and most recent previous positions and up to 5 recent publications;

3). Abstracts and curricula vitae will be ranked in order of merit and fellowships awarded accordingly as funds permit; and

4). Successful applicants will receive funding for registration, a return economy airfare and a per diem allowance of AUD 200.00.

To apply for a travel grant, please email the Symposium Organisers at isssi2008@icms.com.au and provide the following information:

a). Full name
b). Institution / Organisation
c). Contact Email Address and Street Address
d). Abstract Title
e). Abstract Category
f). Abstract Submission Number
g). 250 Curriculum Vitae

Antimicrobials 2008
21 - 23 February 2008
Stamford Plaza Double Bay

Pfizer Lunchtime Debate
Thursday 21 February
1215 - 1345

"MRSA pneumonia - To Vancomycin or to Linezolid? That is the Question"

Moderator
Paul Johnson. Infectious Diseases Department, Austin Health. Victoria.

Paul will present a short hypothetical case of MRSA pneumonia and ask the audience to vote on whether they would start vancomycin or linezolid.

Participants
Lindsay Grayson. Infectious Diseases Department, Austin Health. Victoria.
"Why you should use vancomycin"

Ben Howden. Infectious Diseases Department, Austin Health. Victoria.
"Why you should use linezolid"

Opportunities after each presentation for audience questions and clarification

www.antimicrobials2008.com

Antimicrobials 2008
Stamford Plaza - Double Bay, Sydney
21 - 23 February 2008
On-line Registration: www.antimicrobials2008.com

Roche Breakfast Symposium
Saturday 23 February
0700 - 0845

From Seasonal to Pandemic Influenzae - The Role of Antiviral Medication

From Laboratory to Clinic - NI Resistance in Seasonal and Avian Influenzae
Dominic Dwyer. CIDMLS, ICPMR. Westmead Hospital

Medical Management of Influenzae Infection: A Clinical Update
Darrin Gilchrist. Roche Products Australia.

Antimicrobials 2008
Stamford Plaza - Double Bay, Sydney
21 - 23 February 2008
On-line Registration: www.antimicrobials2008.com

Oxoid Breakfast Symposium
Saturday 23 February
0700 - 0845

"The Focus, Thoughts and Actions of High-Achievers"
John Lees (http://web.johnlees.com.au)

This entertaining session investigates the lies and truth about why it is that high-achievers, in any field of human endeavour, do so consistently well...and enjoy themselves so much in the process.

Antimicrobials 2008
Stamford Plaza - Double Bay, Sydney
21 - 23 February 2008

Wyeth Breakfast Symposium
Thursday 21 February
0700 - 0845

Resistance Trends in the Asia Pacific Region Speaker:
Jan Bell
Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Children, Youth & Women's Health Service
Women's & Children's Hospital

www.antimicrobials2008.com

Antimicrobials 2008
Stamford Double Bay, Sydney
21 - 23 February 2008

bioMerieux Breakfast Symposium
Friday 22 February
0700 - 0845

ChromID VRE - A Comparative Study
Elizabeth Grabsch (Microbiology Department, Austin Health, Victoria)

ChromID ESBL -The Austin Experience
Janet Montgomery (Microbiology Department, Austin Health, Victoria)

DiversiLab - Bringing CSI to Salmonella Serotyping
Tony Pavic (Birling Avian Laboratories, NSW)


www.antimicrobials2008.com
Important Dates
Abstract Submission Deadline: Friday 14th December 2007
Early Bird Registration Deadline: Friday 14th December 2007

Dear Colleagues,

It is with great pleasure that we invite you to join us for the 9th Annual Australian Society for Antimicrobials (ASA) Scientific Meeting "Antimicrobials 2008". This conference at the Stamford Double Bay, Sydney, 21-23 February 2008, promises to be our most valuable meeting yet!

The continued growth and success of this conference over the past few years has been a true testimony of the need for a meeting focusing on antimicrobials. Attendees have offered praise for the quality of the scientific program.

Continuing with our successful abstract submissions tradition, we will again be accepting abstracts for both oral and poster presentations. We look forward to reviewing and sharing your research findings with the community. Three oral and two poster sessions are planned for the meeting.

Abstracts must be submitted to the ASA by e-mail (info@asainc.net.au) by Friday 14th December 2007. Hardcopy submissions will not be accepted. Please nominate your 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.

We hope you will be able to join us for what is sure to be a rewarding and dynamic experience, as your perspectives and contributions add immeasurable value to this scientific meeting. We look forward to seeing you in Sydney

Keryn Chistiansen
President ASA

Online Registration: www.antimicrobials2008.com
Early Bird Registration Deadline: Friday 14th December 2007

Fungal Susceptibility Workshop (1500 - 1700 Saturday 23rd February 2008).
Antimicrobials 2008
21 - 23 February 2008
Stamford Plaza Double Bay, Sydney
www.antimicrobials2008.com

Coordinator: David Ellis

Antifungal Susceptibility Testing and Resistance Trends - CLSI
David Ellis (Women's and Children' Hospital, South Australia)

Antifungal Susceptibility Testing - MRS
Tania Sorrell (Westmead Hospital, New South Wales)

Antifungal Resistance Mechanisms
Sharon Chen (Westmead Hospital, New South Wales)

Antifungal Drug Levels
Debbie Marriott (St Vincents Hospital, New South Wales)

The Utility of Galactomannan Testing for the Rapid Diagnosis of Aspergillosis
Catriona Halliday (Westmead Hospital, New South Wales)

Registration details can be found at www.antimicrobials2008.com.

Antimicrobials 2008
Important Dates
Abstract Submission Deadline: Friday 14th December 2007
Early Bird Registration Deadline: Friday 14th December 2007

Antimicrobials 2008
Stamford Double Bay, Sydney
21 - 23 February 2008

Bayer HealthCare Breakfast Symposium
Friday 22 February
0700 - 0845

Prudent Quinolone use in Australia - Have we Reaped the Benefits?

National Regulatory Measures Used to Contain Quinolone Use
Keryn Christiansen (Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, PathWest Laboratory Medicine - WA, Royal Perth Hospital. Western Australia.)

Resistance Surveillance Data in Australia
Jan Bell (Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Womens' and Children's Hospital. South Australia.)

www.antimicrobials2008.com

Important Dates
Abstract Submission Deadline: Friday 14th December 2007
Early Bird Registration Deadline: Friday 14th December 2007

Antimicrobials 2008
Stamford Double Bay, Sydney
21 - 23 February 2008

BD Diagnostics Breakfast Symposium
Thursday 21 February
0700 - 0845

Keeping MRSA out of Western Australian Hospitals: Recent Challenges and the Laboratory Response
Geoff Coombs (Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, PathWest Laboratory Medicine - WA, Royal Perth Hospital)

Real Time PCR Results in a Real-Time Laboratory - the Group B Streptococcus Experience
Lee Thomas (Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Hospital)

www.antimicrobials2008.com

Important Dates
Abstract Submission Deadline: Friday 14th December 2007
Early Bird Registration Deadline: Friday 14th December 2007

On-line registration for the Australian Society for Antimicrobials 9th Annual Scientific Meeting (Antimicrobials 2008) is now available on www.antimicrobials2008.com

Venue: Stamford Plaza Double Bay, Sydney
Dates: 21-23 February 2008

Important Dates:
Abstract Submission Deadline Friday, 14 December 2007
Early Bird Registration Deadline Friday, 14 December 2007
Abstract Notification Friday, 28 December 2007
Accommodation Booking Deadline Friday, 18 January 2008

Plenary Speakers

Professor David Hooper
Professor of Medicine (Harvard Medical School)
Chief, Infection Control Unit
Associate Chief and Fellowship Program Director, Division of Infectious Diseases
Massachusetts General Hosptal, United States of America

Professor Peter Hawkey
Professor of Clinical and Public Health Bacteriology and Honorary Consultant
University of Birmingham and Health Protection Agency West Midlands Public Health Laboratory, United Kingdom

Professor David Paterson
Professor of Infectious Diseases at the University of Queensland
Consultant Infectious Diseases Physician and Microbiologist at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Australia

An updated version of the The Australian New Zealand Cooperative on Outcomes in Staphylococcal Sepsis User's Manual is now available in the ANZCOSS section of the ASA website (www.asainc.net.au)

In addition a PDF of the latest ANZCOSS Newsletter (11/07/07) is also available.

For further information please do not hesitate to contact Despina Kotsanas (ANZCOSS Data Administrator) despina.kotsanas@southernhealth.org.au

The report "A Comprehenive Integrated Surveillance Programme to Improve Australia's Response to Antimicrobial Resistance" is now available on the ASA website (www.asainc.net.au).

This report was written by Dr Jonathan Webber for the NHMRC Expert Advisory Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (EAGER) and can be accessed in the "Publications" section of the Members Area of the website

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).

Initial objective:
Gathering basic data on outcomes is considered the first important objective. The cooperative needs to define the extent of the problem in hospital practice, and document outcomes before it can start planning future studies and interventions. To achieve this goal, at least 12 months of preliminary national data are required on outcomes of S aureus sepsis.

As from the 21st May 2007 19 sites from 6 Australian states/territories and 3 sites from New Zealand will commence contributing data.

Participating institutions will submit, on-line, basic demographic, risk factor and outcome data on patients with S aureus sepsis seen at their sites on a continuous basis, with the first full review of outcome data occurring after 12 months of data have been entered.

ANZCOSS invites all institutions in Australia and New Zealand to become a member of the cooperative

For further information please contact John Turnidge (john.turnidge@cywhs.sa.gov.au) or the ANZCOSS Data Administrator, Despina Kotsanas (despina.kotsanas@southernhealth.org.au)

ASA will be hosting the 13th International Symposium on Staphylococci and Staphylococcal Infections (ISSSI) at the Cairns Convention Centre from 7th to 10th September 2008.

The ISSSI is held every two years and after Japan (2002), the USA (2004) and The Netherlands (2006), the meeting, for the first time, will be held in the southern hemisphere.

We will have state-of-the-art lectures, short presentations selected from submitted abstracts as well as posters. Sponsored sessions related to the symposium topics are also planned.

We cordially invite all colleagues interested in staphylococci and staphylococcal infections to attend, and we are look forward to seeing you in Cairns in September 2008.

Further preliminary information on ISSSI2008 can found on the meeting's website www.isssi2008.com

Kind regards

Keryn Christiansen
President of ASA

Graeme Nimmo
President-Elect of ASA
Chair ISSSI Organising Committee

The ASA Committee wishes to acknowledge the following companies for becoming Foundation (Sustaining) Members of the Society

Wyeth
Bayer Australia
GlaxoSmithKline
Roche
AstraZeneca
bioMerieux Australia
Oxoid Australia
Pfizer
Becton Dickinson

Foundation Members websites can be located in the Foundation (Sustaining) Members section of the ASA webpage