About infectionNet

My name is Jim Hutchinson and I am a professor of medicine at Memorial University in St. John's Newfoundland. I needed a place to organize my thoughts and efforts and you have found it.

I spend much time thinking and worrying about infections and antibiotics and resistance to antibiotics. Maybe too much time. Newfoundland is a relatively small place and I am one of very few infection experts, a sort of jack-of-all trades "infection doctor".

My day-to-day duties include direction of the diagnostic microbiology laboratory and the Infection Control program for Eastern Health which provides tertiary clinical services to eastern Newfoundland (about 250,000 people) and is the only referral center for all of Newfoundland and Labrador(about 500,000). I also provide clinical Infectious Diseases clinical consultations and direct an Antibiotic Utilization clinical pharmacy service.

I teach medical students, pharmacy students, infection control practitioners, laboratory technologists and technicians. I am the chair of a federally funded body the Canadian Committee on Antibiotic Resistance (CCAR) and am active on several other national committees.

My central message is simple. We must be more careful with antibiotics and spread of antibiotic resistant organisms. Antibiotic resistance may be the largest threat to the well being of humans. It is a very large but manageable threat and the management must improve at all levels.

I hope this site helps in the management of infections for Newfoundlanders, Canadians and ultimately everyone, everywhere.