Timely publishing of experiences and sharing of knowledge.

Sir, Philip Larkin wrote “man hands on misery to man”. The poet was born in 1922 at the birth of the modern “antibiotic era” and, while he was not referring to infection, the phrase reflects the microbiological phenomenon. Early career doctors, nurses and IPC professionals should feel empowered to report their work and not be over-awed by perceived restrictions or hierarchical clinical and management structures. However, their early career focus is likely to be dominated by ambition for professional success. Controversy, “rocking of boats” and association with incidents of emerging drug resistance may, perhaps, be viewed as best avoided. And such was the case, in 2005, when a 15 year old male cystic fibrosis patient presented with a linezolid-resistant methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus G2576T mutation secondary to the prolonged use of linezolid by his attending physican in the absence of any specialist advice. Although now superceded by reports in 2006 and 2010 1,2 of similar incidences, at that time we did not publish our learning regarding risks associated with prolonged monotherapy in this setting, ineffective dosing and subsequent bacteriostatic activity.