Assembling the pathologist By: Elisca Coetsee

What is pathology? Pathology Science of the causes and effects of diseases, especially the branch of medicine that deals with the laboratory examination of samples of body tissue for diagnostic or forensic purposes. ‘research people skilled in experimental pathology’

The history of medicine – author unknown “Society's ongoing struggle against infectious disease” – Carl Nathan 2000 BC Here, eat this root 1000 AD That root is heathen. Here, say this prayer 1850 That prayer is superstition. Here, drink this potion 1920 That potion is snake oil. Here, swallow this pill 1945 That pill is ineffective. Here, take this penicillin 1955 Oops, bugs mutated. Here, take this tetracycline 1960-1999 39 more “oops”… Here take this more powerful antibiotic 2000’s The bugs have won! Here, eat this root

Types of pathology Chemical Pathology Cytopathology Clinical pathology Genetic pathology Haematology Histology Immunopathology Microbiology Molecular pathology

As a library user – the what's? The pathologist As a library user – the what's? What do they need from the library? What do they read? What type of information do they require? What information systems do they use? What are the requirements for the information provided?

Are our current systems effective? A new generation of pathologist is entering the field. Currently we have pathologists from the: Silent Generation; Baby boomers, Generation X, Millennials (Generation Y) Why is this important? Different information format needs Different turn around times Different communication methods

Information needs Specific peer-reviewed articles - self selected (scientific) from search result list from the librarian from library current awareness service asked for by a client (doctor) asked for and shared by a colleague research topics collaboration specific difficult cases new developments Reference books Laboratory standards (national and international) MIMS – Medical Desk Reference Database and journal subscription access

Natural language For the Microbiologist = associated knowledge – learned by our librarians by working with them Example: Antimicrob (Antimicrobial) MDR (Multi Drug Resistant) XDR (Extensively Drug-Resistant) MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus)

Controlled vocabulary S Afr Med J. 2017 Dec 13;108(1):28-32. doi: 10.7196/SAMJ.2017.v108i1.12561. Opportunities to optimise colistin stewardship in hospitalised patients in South Africa: Results of a multisite utilisation audit. Messina AP, Brink AJ, Richards GA, Van Vuuren S.

How do we organise the information? Library Articles List and Standards Database – Mindex DB Text Bibliographical details Keywords MeSH terms Substances MEDLINE According to requestor and supplier

Questions?

Bibliography Nathan C. Antibiotics at the crossroads. Nature 2004; 431:899-902. Oxford Dictionaries. Pathology. https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/pathology Accessed 6 May 2019. WHSL Medical Subject Headings for PubMed Searching: Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). University of Johannesburg. https://libguides.wits.ac.za/whsl-mesh Accessed 6 May 2019. Messina AP et al. Opportunities to optimise colistin stewardship in hospitalised patients in South Africa: Results of a multisite utilisation audit. S Afr Med J. 2017 Dec 13; 108(1):28-32. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29262975