News
Tiny medicine combats infections and drug resistance
Researchers from the University of Waterloo have developed a new technology that can hold an entire course of antibiotics in one tiny dose and deliver on demand just the right amount of medication that a particular patient needs to fight an infection. This breakthrough in targeted medicine is the result of two new studies that tested this drug-delivery system on two bacterial strains that negatively affect millions of people worldwide. Streptococcus pneumoniae causes meningitis, sepsis and bacterial pneumonia, potentially fatal conditions. Gardnerella vaginalis is mainly associated with bacterial vaginosis, causing discomfort and pain. The team from the School of Pharmacy
at Waterloo found that this personalised nanomedicine, which attacks bacteria at the molecular level, results in patients taking the exact amount required to fight the infection while reducing the risk of antibiotic resistance. With the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, bacteria strains develop a tolerance, resulting in antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a global threat. “Ideally, the patient takes the full course of
antibiotics at once, and so patients don’t need to worry about forgetting to take a pill or only taking it with food,” said Dr. Emmanuel Ho, lead researcher and a professor at Waterloo’s School of Pharmacy. “You know the nanomedicine is working when disease symptoms improve.” This new technology consists of fatty compounds invisible to the eye that are tailored to only release a drug in the presence of toxins produced by specific types of bacteria. “Compared to traditional therapies that release drugs continuously, even when not needed, our nanomedicine is designed to release drugs only when required, which will potentially reduce severe side effects associated with excess dosing,” Ho said. “In addition to combatting AMR by ensuring patients take all of their medicine, there would be fewer side effects because they also don’t take too much of the drug.” The two studies appear in Nanotechnology and Drug Delivery and Translational Research.
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Stroke patients could benefit from earlier blood thinning treatment
People with atrial fibrillation (AF) who have a stroke could benefit from blood thinning treatments, known as anticoagulants, at an earlier stage than is currently recommended, finds a new study led by UCL researchers. Results from the British Heart Foundation funded OPTIMAS study were published in the Lancet and presented at the World Stroke Congress 2024. Atrial fibrillation is a heart rhythm disturbance that affects many people as they get older. It results in an irregular heartbeat, which can lead to a clot forming inside the heart. This clot can travel to the brain, blocking its blood supply and causing a stroke. The study found that it is safe and effective to give blood thinning treatments to AF stroke patients within four days of them having a stroke, rather than waiting for up to 14 days as has previously been recommended. Early treatment was found to be effective and did not increase the risk of a bleed into the brain. The researchers hope that their findings will enable patients to benefit from treatment in a more timely manner and prevent patients from missing out on them altogether.
New report highlights instability within flexible workforce
A new report from Acacium Group warns that 14% of the flexible workforce is expected to leave or retire in the next two years and an additional 18% within the next five to ten years, while 11% of the flexible workforce is considering roles outside health and social care within the next two years. ‘Confronting flexible workforce instability in health and social care’ contains objective new insights derived from a survey of 14,000 professionals working in flexible roles across public and private organisations. Job satisfaction is key to retaining staff. The report highlights that overall working experience has the lowest satisfaction among doctors (74%), junior doctors (69%), and consultant doctors (64%). There are many factors that could be influencing this dissatisfaction. A quarter (25%) of bank staff say they have experienced or witnessed discrimination, with 47% expressing concerns about inadequate reporting mechanisms or how concerns are managed. The survey revealed that workload had the
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lowest satisfaction score of 69% among flexible workers in comparison to other areas of their role such as on-site support (78%) and access to required equipment (79%). Nearly half (45%) of respondents are aged 50 and older, emphasising the essential role flexible working plays in keeping experienced professionals within the NHS. The report also highlights that 20% of bank workers cite skills development as a reason for working flexibly, underscoring the importance of continuous learning and professional growth for temporary workers who work shoulder-to-shoulder with full- time staff. Kate Shoesmith, Deputy CEO at the Recruitment
& Employment Confederation, said: “In our recent survey for #TempWorkWorks, we found that nearly eight in ten temps (79%) work this way because it provides them with much needed flexibility. And there are hundreds of thousands of employers across the public, private and third sectors benefitting from the skills these individuals bring.
“We need to stop treating flexible workers as second-class citizens in the workplace. They are remarkable people, doing remarkable things. The NHS, like many services, will always need contingent staffing. A joined-up approach where the public sector works with labour market and talent experts, plus the workers choosing to work this way, is the only way to deliver on our long-term future workforce needs.” Mike Barnard, Chief Executive Officer, Acacium
Group said: ““We know that flexible working allows many professionals to stay in the workforce, and provides additional opportunities for development which is key to job satisfaction. With clear challenges to address, we must all work together to ensure that those who choose to work flexibly have the same support as their full-time colleagues.” To read ‘Confronting flexible workforce instability in health and social care’, visit: https://
acaciumgroup.com/confronting-flexible- workforce-instability/
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