NEWS
NEW MEDICINE TO HELP IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended granting a marketing authorisation in the European Union (EU) for Zavicefta (ceftazidime/avibactam), a new treatment option against multi-drug resistant bacteria.
The lack of availability of medicines to treat patients with infections caused by resistant bacteria has become a
major problem in recent years, and it's estimated that at least 25,000 patients in the EU die each year from infections due to bacteria that are resistant to many medicines.
Zavicefta is a fixed combination of avibactam, a new beta-lactamase inhibitor, and ceftazidime, an antibiotic belonging to the class of third generation cephalosporins that
is already approved for use in the EU. Resistance to cephalosporins and to another class of antibiotics, carbapenems, has been increasing lately, in particular in Gram-negative bacteria, and is of major concern.
The medicine is to be used in adult patients with intra-abdominal infection, urinary tract infection, as well as pneumonia acquired in a hospital setting. It is also indicated for the treatment of adult patients with infections caused by certain Gram- negative bacteria, for which there are only limited treatment options.
OBESITY A MAJOR CONCERN IN SHETLAND
Recently published figures from the Scottish Health Survey show that 33 per cent of adults in Shetland are obese, with a further third of the population overweight. The figures are based on a sample of 299 people, who took part in the survey, and had their BMI measured during 2012- 2014. While these figures don’t necessarily reflect the current situation with the
whole population just now, they are nevertheless similar to the figures for the previous survey which covered 2008-2011, and are amongst the highest in Scotland.
Of particular concern is the fact that at a recent meeting NHS Shetland Board, it was revealed that 27.1 per cent of the children who were in P1 during 2014-1015 were described as being ‘at risk
of overweight or obesity’, because they had a high BMI. This is higher than the average for Scotland, and is the highest percentage in Shetland for the past few years. Since 2009, the figure has fluctuated between 19-24 per cent.
‘However we interpret the numbers, and talk about small populations and fluctuating percentages,’ said Dr Susan Laidlaw, Consultant in Public
Health, ‘and possibly question the accuracy of BMI to measure obesity, the reality is that a lot of people in Shetland are overweight or obese, and a lot of our children are heading that way. The more overweight people are, then the more at risk they are of conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, mobility problems and some cancers.’
MINOR AILMENT SERVICE TO BE EXTENDED
Scotland’s community pharmacy network is set to play a bigger role in tackling the workload crisis faced by GP colleagues.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced in Parliament that the Scottish Government is ‘examining a proposal in the Labour manifesto to extend the Minor Ailment Service (MAS) to make it a universal service’.
The announcement has been welcomed by Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS), who lobbied all of the parties ahead of the Holyrood Election on this issue. MAS was a central theme of the Pharmacy First element of CPS’ pre-election manifesto and, needless to say, CPS Chief Executive Officer, Harry McQuillan, is delighted by the First Minister’s announcement.
‘We very much look forward to working with Scottish Government officials to make this expansion a reality for the people our members serve,’ he said.
Looking for more than the latest businesses for sale? Like trusted, timely advice, market expertise and a range of specialist services, built around you?
You’ve found Christie & Co.
CONSULTANCY DEVELOPMENT FINANCE INSURANCE INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS VALUATION
christie.com 020 7227 0700
Scottosh
Pharmacist_180x130.indd 1 26/01/2016 15:32
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48