ObjectivesOur hospital replaced the format for delivering portable antimicrobial prescribing guidance from a paper-based pocket guide to a smartphone application (app). We used this opportunity to assess the relationship between its use and the attitudes and behaviours of antimicrobial prescribers.MethodsWe used 2 structured cross-sectional questionnaires issued just prior to and 3 months following the launch of the smartphone app. Ordinal Likert scale responses to both frequencies of use and agreement statements permitted quantitative assessment of the relationship between variables.ResultsThe smartphone app was used more frequently than the pocket guide it replaced (p < 0.01), and its increased use was associated with sentiments that the app was useful, easy to navigate and its content relevant. Users who used the app more frequently were more likely to agree that the app encouraged them to challenge inappropriate prescribing by their colleagues (p = 0.001) and were more aware of the importance of antimicrobial stewardship (p = 0.005). Reduced use of the app was associated with agreement that senior physicians’ preferences for antimicrobial prescribing would irrespectively overrule guideline recommendations (p = 0.0002).ConclusionsSmartphone apps are an effective and acceptable format to deliver guidance on antimicrobial prescribing. Our findings suggest that they may empower users to challenge incorrect prescribing, breaking well-established behaviours, and thus supporting vital stewardship efforts in an era of increased antimicrobial resistance. Future work will need to focus on the direct impact on drug prescriptions as well as identifying barriers to implementing smartphone apps in other clinical settings.

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are commonly reported by people with multiple

Primary cerebral phaeohyphomycosis due to Rhinocladiella mackenziei is an extremely rare infection carrying more than 80% mortality, with most cases reported from the Middle East region. This darkly pigmented black yeast is highly neurotropic, aggressive and refractory to most antifungal agents. Here we present an immunocompetent elderly male, presenting with multiple brain abscesses, with R. mackenziei confirmed by nuclear ribosomal repeat region sequencing, who was successfully treated by surgical debridement and intravenous voriconazole. To our knowledge this is the first case reported from the United Kingdom. We also present a review of all such cases so far reported in the English literature world-wide, which we believe is a step further to understanding the pathogenesis and establishing effective treatment of this rare, yet often fatal disease.