METHODS: Two pneumococcal Brunei clinical strains were serotyped by multiplex PCR method using oligonucleotide sequences derived from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A validated immortalised mouse brain endothelial cell line (bEnd.3) was used as a brain endothelium model for the study of the pneumococcal breach of the blood-brain barrier using an adherence and invasion assay.
RESULTS: Both of the pneumococcal clinical strains were found to be serotype 19F, a common circulating serotype in Southeast Asia and globally and possess the ability to adhere and invade the brain endothelial cells.
CONCLUSION: In addition, this is the first report on the serotype identification of pneumococci in Brunei Darussalam and their application on a brain endothelium model. Further studies are required to understand the virulence capabilities of the clinical strains.
METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A three-phase approach to validate content for curriculum guidelines on AMR will be adopted. First, literature review and content analysis were conducted to find out the available pertinent literature in dentistry programmes. A total of 23 potential literature have been chosen for inclusion within this study following literature review and analysis in phase 1. The materials found will be used to draft curriculum on antimicrobials for dentistry programmes. The next phase involves the validation of the drafted curriculum content by recruiting local and foreign experts via a survey questionnaire. Finally, Delphi technique will be conducted to obtain consensus on the important or controversial modifications to the revised curriculum.
ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: An ethics application is currently under review with the Institute of Health Science Research Ethics Committee, Universiti Brunei Darussalam. All participants are required to provide a written consent form. Findings will be used to identify significant knowledge gaps on AMR aspect in a way that results in lasting change in clinical practice. Moreover, AMR content priorities related to dentistry clinical practice will be determined in order to develop need-based educational resource on microbes, hygiene and prudent antimicrobial use for dentistry programmes.
METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A three-step approach consensus approach will be adopted for this study for the development of a validated medical curriculum guideline on AMR. A preliminary curriculum for the programme will be drafted from reviews of published literature including syllabi as well as national and international guidelines. A total of 26 potential sources were found to be relevant, and selected for this study. Subsequently, the drafted curriculum will be subjected for validation via online surveys by various infectious disease experts. Finally, a Delphi technique will be employed to obtain consensus on heterogeneous findings to the revised curriculum. The quantitative and qualitative responses will be analysed and discussed among the panel of researchers.
ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study protocol has been approved by the Institute of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (Reference: UBD/PAPRSBIHSREC/2020/124). Informed consent declaration will be collected prior to data collections as indication of agreement of participation in the study. Results will be made available to medical educators and also researchers on AMR and stewardship. The results also will be disseminated at feedback sessions to officers at Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education, Brunei Darussalam.