Dr. Edith Blondel-Hill, MD FRCP(C), graduated from the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta with specialty training in internal medicine, infectious diseases and medical microbiology. In 2003 Dr. Blondel-Hill accepted a position as medical microbiologist and infectious disease specialist at BC Children's Hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada after holding similar positions with the Royal Alexandra Hospital and Dynacare Kasper Medical Laboratories in Edmonton. With a long interest in antimicrobial utilization, she has chaired antimicrobial advisory committees in Edmonton and Vancouver, and has been actively involved in guideline and policy development for antibiotic use and prescribing. Dr. Blondel-Hill and Susan Fryters have shared a long working relationship and together have authored the Bugs and Drugs - Antimicrobial Reference Book which is presently in its 4th edition. Dr Blondel-Hill is a founder and medical director of the Do Bugs Need Drugs? program. Other interests include mechanisms of resistance and susceptibility testing and she is co-author of the Guide to Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing and Reporting.
What? Do Bugs Need Drugs?® is a community education program about antibiotic use. Materials have been designed to show how healthcare professionals and the public can better use these important drugs. The program explains the issues and concerns about antibiotic resistance and provides easy steps we can take to prevent antibiotic resistance from developing.
Why? Antibiotic resistance limits the effectiveness of antibiotics in treating bacterial infections, many of which are serious and potentially life threatening. Health care agencies, including the World Health Organization, have urged governments worldwide to address the problem of antibiotic resistance. The Canadian Committee on Antibiotic Resistance issued a mandate in 1997 to decrease the use of antibiotics for respiratory tract infections by 25%.
Where? Do Bugs Need Drugs?® was piloted in Grande Prairie, Alberta Canada in 1998-99 as an initiative of Capital Health, the Clinical Practice Guidelines program of the Alberta Medical Association, the Alberta Lung Association and the University of Alberta. The program subsequently expanded to Alberta and British Columbia, Canada.
Who? Programs are available for physicians, pharmacists, occupational health workers, elementary school teachers, daycare centers, assisted living centers, parents and children.
Alberta Program
Do Bugs Need Drugs?® is sponsored by Alberta Health and Wellness and Healthy U. The Healthy U Crew will be distributing Do Bugs Need Drugs?® materials as they tour Alberta in 2006. Additionally, materials and educational sessions will be available throughout Alberta in public health centres, physician offices, pharmacies, schools, daycares and assisted living facilities.
We are pleased to be working with the Alberta Pharmacists' Association to provide continuing education for pharmacists to develop a network of Do Bugs Need Drugs?® educators in Alberta. These antimicrobial experts will promote handwashing and appropriate antibiotic use with other healthcare professionals and in schools, long-term care centres, assisted living sites and daycares.
Look for our TV ad in January and February!
British Columbia Program
Health care professional education started with a mail-out of educational materials to physicians, pharmacists, pharmacies, dentists, infection control practitioners, nurse practitioners, public health units, and health care students in medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry. This was the first of our activities in British Columbia which kicked off in 2006.
Continuing education sessions are also being offered to physicians, pharmacists, public health nurses, and nursing students. Funding for these sessions is made possible through the BC Centre for Disease Control and an educational grant from IMS (Intercontinental Medical Statistics). In addition, health authorities in BC have also provided in-kind assistance in terms of nursing time to help facilitate the sessions.
Public education includes a TV commercial airing during flu season, a parent guide insert in Today's Parent magazine, cinema slides in theatres throughout the province, educational print material in public health clinics, pharmacies, physician's offices, and educational programs for preschool and grade 2 children.
Children's educational programs are interactive sessions for preschool and grade two children in the province. Young children will learn the importance of washing their hands to stay healthy and to stop the spread of infections, the difference between viruses and bacteria, and when antibiotics should be used. Informational materials will be provided for the classroom and for the children to take home to their families.
Funding for provincial implementation of the Do Bugs Need Drugs?® program in British Columbia is provided by the British Columbia Ministry of Health, Pharmacare Division.
Do Bugs Need Drugs?® was developed by Capital Health, Towards Optimized Practice administered by the Alberta Medical Association, the University of Alberta and the Alberta Lung Association.
Please note that Do Bugs Need Drugs? does not endorse or recommend any commercial products, processes or services. Any commercial sponsors or partners of the Do Bugs Need Drugs? program are not involved with decisions regarding content, authorship, policy, procedure or practice.
