An Infection-Responsive Approach to Reduce Bacterial Adhesion in Urinary Biomaterials

Infection is an inevitable consequence of chronic urinary catheterisation, with associated problems of recurrent catheter encrustation and blockage experienced by approximately 50% of all long-term catheterised patients. In this work we have exploited, for the first time, the reported pathogen-induced elevation of urine pH as a trigger for ‘intelligent’ antimicrobial release from novel hydrogel drug delivery systems of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and vinyl-functionalised nalidixic acid derivatives, developed as candidate infection-resistant urinary catheter coatings. Demonstrating up to 20-fold faster rates of drug release at pH 10, representing infected urine pH, than at pH 7, and achieving reductions of up to 96.5% in in vitro bacterial adherence, our paradigm of pH-responsive drug delivery, which requires no external manipulation, therefore represents a promising development towards the prevention of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) in vivo.

The Family Model - A transgenerational approach to mental health in families: personal, clinical, educational, research, systems and policy perspectives

The Family Model – A transgenerational approach to mental health in families This workshop will provide an overview on The Family Model (TFM) and its use in promoting and facilitating a trans­generational family focus in Mental Health services, over the past 10­ - 15 years. Each of the speakers will address a different perspective, including service user/consumer, clinical practice, education & training, research and policy. Adrian Falkov (chair) will provide an overview of TFM to set the scene and a ‘policy to practice’ perspective, based on use of TFM in Australia. Author: Heide Lloyd. The Family Model ­ A personal (consumer/patient) perspective | United Kingdom Heide will provide a description of her experiences as a child, adult, parent & grandparent, using TFM as the structure around which to ‘weave’ her story and demonstrate how TFM has assisted her in understanding the impact of symptoms on her & family and how she has used it in her management of symptoms and recovery (personal perspective). The Family Model ­ Education & training perspective ­ Marie Diggins | United Kingdom PhD Bente Weimand | Norway Authors: ­ Marie Diggins | United Kingdom PhD Bente Weimand | Norway This combined (UK & Norwegian) presentation will cover historical background to TFM and its use in eLearning (the Social Care Institute for Excellence)and a number of other UK initiatives, together with a description of the postgraduate masters course at the University Oslo/Akershus, using TFM. The Family Model ­ A research perspective PhD Anne Grant | Northern Ireland Author: PhD Anne Grant | Ireland Anne Grant will describe how she used TFM as the theoretical framework for her PhD looking at family focused (nursing) practice in Ireland. The Family Model ­ A service systems perspective ­ Mary Donaghy | Northern Ireland Authors: PhD Adrian Falkov | Australia ­ Mary Donaghy | N Ireland Mary Donaghy will discuss how TFM has been used to support & facilitate a cross service ‘whole of system’ change program in Belfast (NI) to achieve improved family focused practice. She will demonstrate its utility in achieving a broader approach to service design, delivery and evaluation.