Wednesday Aug 06, 2025

Things you need to know about Microbiology

Doctors Lisa and Sara are joined by Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Consultant Dr Callum Mutch for an overview of Antibiotics and Microbiology in General Practice. Doctors Callum and Jame host a podcast in Infectious Diseases called ID:IOTS and we wanted to do a crossover episode exploring common themes in Microbiology that we encounter in General Practice. We talk about the case of a woman with recurrent UTIs and a man with epididymo-orchitis. This lends itself to a discussion on general approaches to cases, microbes and antibiotics. We cover a little bit about antimicrobial stewardship at the end.

You can use these podcasts as part of your CPD - we don’t do certificates but they still count :)

Resources:

Podcast: Infectious Diseases Insight of Two Specialists (ID:IOTS): https://www.britishinfection.org/education-events/idiots-podcast
Antimicrobial Counselling Resources from Public Health Wales: https://phw.nhs.wales/services-and-teams/antibiotics-and-infections/harp-news/eaadwaaw-2021/resources/community-pharmacy-counselling-checklist/
Antimicrobial Counselling RCGP TARGET Resources: https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/mod/book/view.php?id=12647
The Cynefin Framework for looking at decisions (Simple, complicated, Complex, Chaos): https://thecynefin.co/about-us/about-cynefin-framework/?srsltid=AfmBOopHNprchcOsISLVvXm2C5W-UU-oqHDkty_jo1IAAsupfoMu4_Cx
Shared Decision Making Tool BRAN - Benefits, Risks, Alternatives, Nothing: https://www.england.nhs.uk/personalisedcare/shared-decision-making/decision-support-tools/how-to-use-a-decision-support-tool/#:~:text=Prepare%20patients%20to%20share%20decisions&text=In%20addition%20to%20the%20proactive,Nothing)%20or%20equivalent%20local%20initiatives
World Health Organisation AWaRe Book: Access, Watch, Reserve Antimicrobial Book (can aid in decision making around which antibiotics to use. Accessed May 2025): https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-MHP-HPS-EML-2022.02
UK Health Security Agency Adaptation of the Access, Watch, Reserve (AWaRe) Guidelines: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-aware-antibiotic-classification/uk-access-watch-reserve-and-other-classification-for-antibiotics-uk-aware-antibiotic-classification

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Email us at: [email protected]

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This podcast has been made with the support of GP Excellence and Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board. Given that it is recorded with Greater Manchester clinicians, the information discussed may not be applicable elsewhere and it is important to consult local guidelines before making any treatment decisions.

The information presented is the personal opinion of the healthcare professional interviewed and might not be representative to all clinicians. It is based on their interpretation of current best practice and guidelines when the episode was recorded. Guidelines can change; To the best of our knowledge the information in this episode is up to date as of it’s release but it is the listeners responsibility to review the information and make sure it is still up to date when they listen.

Dr Lisa Adams, Dr Sara MacDermott and their interviewees are not liable for any advice, investigations, course of treatment, diagnosis or any other information, services or products listeners might pursue as a result of listening to this podcast - it is the clinicians responsibility to appraise the information given and review local and national guidelines before making treatment decisions. Reliance on information provided in this podcast is solely at the listeners risk.

The podcast is designed to be used by trained healthcare professionals for education only. We do not recommend these for patients or the general public and they are not to be used as a method of diagnosis, opinion, treatment or medical advice for the general public. Do not delay seeking medical advice based on the information contained in this podcast. If you have questions regarding your health or feel you may have a medical condition then promptly seek the opinion of a trained healthcare professional.

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