Ninety percent of antibiotics are prescribed outside of hospitals, and a third are unnecessary. Dr. Derek MacFadden’s research aims to help prescribers choose the right antibiotic for the bacteria they’re fighting instead of using broad-spectrum antibiotics that kill many kinds of bacteria. Confirming which bacteria are causing an infection takes days, so prescribers usually make educated guesses and select broad antibiotics to quickly relieve a patient’s symptoms. Dr. MacFadden is developing genomic tools to speed up bacterial identification so prescribers can choose more targeted antibiotics. He’s also working with colleagues in the U.S. and Israel to implement a digital platform that provides guidelines and feedback on antibiotic prescribing for family doctors and community clinics.
Dr. MacFadden was recently appointed as a scientist in the Clinical Epidemiology Program at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.
“I’m interested in why we use antibiotics, and whether we can change how we use them to help prevent antibiotic resistance.” he said.
The Ottawa Hospital: Inspired by research. Driven by compassion
The Ottawa Hospital is one of Canada’s largest learning and research hospitals with over 1,100 beds, approximately 12,000 staff and an annual budget of over $1.2 billion. Our focus on research and learning helps us develop new and innovative ways to treat patients and improve care. As a multi-campus hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, we deliver specialized care to the Eastern Ontario region, but our techniques and research discoveries are adopted around the world. We engage the community at all levels to support our vision for better patient care. See www.ohri.ca for more information about research at The Ottawa Hospital.
University of Ottawa: —A crossroads of cultures and ideas
The University of Ottawa is home to over 50,000 students, faculty and staff, who live, work and study in both French and English. Our campus is a crossroads of cultures and ideas, where bold minds come together to inspire game-changing ideas. We are one of Canada’s top 10 research universities—our professors and researchers explore new approaches to today’s challenges. One of a handful of Canadian universities ranked among the top 200 in the world, we attract exceptional thinkers and welcome diverse perspectives from across the globe. www.uottawa.ca
Media Contact
Amelia Buchanan
Senior Communication Specialist
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Office: 613-798-5555 x 73687
Cell: 613-297-8315
ambuchanan@ohri.ca
