Centre for Research on Communicable Diseases | UTAR R&D Annual Report 2017

Centre for Research on Communicable Diseases (CRCD)

Activities Report

Workshop on Food safety and Rapid Testing
Date: 13 October 2017 Venue: Lecture Theatre 1, UTAR Sg Long Campus Growth promoters including natural and synthetic hormones and antibiotics are used in food producing animals for growth promotion and treatment. There has been increasing concern, however, on the impact of these food contaminants on human health and environmental ecosystems. Antibiotics in meat and other animal products, for instance, have been linked to the induction of antimicrobial resistant bacteria and the disruption of normal human intestinal flora. Hormonal substances in manure-contaminated water not only affect aquatic life but can also re-enter the food chain via contaminated drinking water and fish. The heightened awareness of the need to keep food on the table free from drug residues has led to the development of many methods of monitoring for food safety. Of these, rapid testing approaches have been proven to be cost-effective and widely applicable. Nevertheless, their performance in the field has to be further evaluated against standard laboratory tests with established test sensitivity and specificity. This workshop was held to introduce rapid methods of testing food and animal feeds for common drug residues, hormones, microbes and microbial by-products. Participants at the demonstration on rapid testing methods Participants at the round table discussions

Workshop on Food safety and Rapid Testing

Date: 13 October 2017
Venue: Lecture Theatre 1, UTAR Sg Long Campus

Growth promoters including natural and synthetic hormones and antibiotics are used in food producing animals for growth promotion and treatment. There has been increasing concern, however, on the impact of these food contaminants on human health and environmental ecosystems. Antibiotics in meat and other animal products, for instance, have been linked to the induction of antimicrobial resistant bacteria and the disruption of normal human intestinal flora. Hormonal substances in manure-contaminated water not only affect aquatic life but can also re-enter the food chain via contaminated drinking water and fish. The heightened awareness of the need to keep food on the table free from drug residues has led to the development of many methods of monitoring for food safety. Of these, rapid testing approaches have been proven to be cost-effective and widely applicable. Nevertheless, their performance in the field has to be further evaluated against standard laboratory tests with established test sensitivity and specificity. This workshop was held to introduce rapid methods of testing food and animal feeds for common drug residues, hormones, microbes and microbial by-products.

Participants at the demonstration on rapid testing methods

Participants at the round table discussions

World Antibiotic Awareness Week, Talk on Antibiotic Resistance and Prevention
Date: 13 to 19 November 2017 Venue: CTC Ampang Speaker: Dr Rina Karunakaran from the University of Malaya The World Antibiotic Awareness Week (13 to 19 Nov, 2017) is a joint effort by the WHO, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), to promote rational use of antibiotics in humans and animals to reduce the emergence of antibiotic resistance. In support of this world event, the CRCD organised a campaign for UTAR students and staff. A poster competition was held and an online Google survey was conducted for the FMHS and FSc. At the CTC Ampang, Dr Rina Karunakaran from the University of Malaya gave a talk on “Antibiotic Resistance and Prevention” and a quiz competition was organised for MBBS Year 3 to 5 students. Posters from MBBS students Posters from FSc students Prof Jenny, Prof Ngeow and Assoc Prof Dr Thaw Zin with the quiz participants at CTC Ampang

World Antibiotic Awareness Week, Talk on
Antibiotic Resistance and Prevention

Date: 13 to 19 November 2017
Venue: CTC Ampang
Speaker: Dr Rina Karunakaran from the University of Malaya

The World Antibiotic Awareness Week (13 to 19 Nov, 2017) is a joint effort by the WHO, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), to promote rational use of antibiotics in humans and animals to reduce the emergence of antibiotic resistance.

In support of this world event, the CRCD organised a campaign for UTAR students and staff. A poster competition was held and an online Google survey was conducted for the FMHS and FSc. At the CTC Ampang, Dr Rina Karunakaran from the University of Malaya gave a talk on “Antibiotic Resistance and Prevention” and a quiz competition was organised for MBBS Year 3 to 5 students.

Posters from MBBS students

Posters from FSc students

Prof Jenny, Prof Ngeow and Assoc Prof
Dr Thaw Zin with the quiz participants at CTC Ampang