1. Assembling the pathologist
By: Elisca Coetsee

2. 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’

3. 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
39 more “oops”… Here take this more powerful antibiotic
2000’s
The bugs have won! Here, eat this root

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

5. 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?

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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)

9. Controlled vocabulary
S Afr Med J Dec 13;108(1): doi: /SAMJ.2017.v108i
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.

10. 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

12. Questions?

13. Bibliography
Nathan C. Antibiotics at the crossroads. Nature 2004; 431:
Oxford Dictionaries. Pathology. Accessed 6 May 2019.
WHSL Medical Subject Headings for PubMed Searching: Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). University of Johannesburg. 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):