David Livermore 
Professor of Medical Microbiology | University of East Anglia
Norwich, UNITED KINGDOM
His work focuses on rapid & more precise detection of antibiotic resistance in order to identify the most appropriate antibiotic treatments.
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Biography
David Livermore is Professor of Medical Microbiology in the Norwich Medical School at UEA. He is an expert on antibiotic resistance. His work focuses on rapid and more precise detection of antibiotic resistance in order to identify the most appropriate antibiotic treatments. He conducts trials for new diagnostics of antibiotic resistance. He also acts as a consultant to the pharmaceuticals industry, assessing new antibiotics against multi-resistant bacteria. Current interests include: the potential for secondary bacterial pneumonias in COVID-19 patients, investigation of Colistin as an antibiotic (used as a last-resort for multidrug-resistant infections including pneumonia) to treat Enterobacter infections, and rapid diagnostics for hospital patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia.
David previously lead the National Antibiotic Resistance Laboratory for Public Health England for 14 years and he worked at the London Hospital Medical College on mechanisms of resistance to antibiotics in bacteria. He sits on the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy’s working parties on resistance surveillance, multi-resistant pathogens and susceptibility testing and its Antibiotic Action advisory board. He is also on the Society for General Microbiology working group on sexually transmitted infections. He is also a member of the UK Government’s Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections Advisory Committee. He has edited several journals including Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy and Journal of Medical Microbiology and, currently, International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents.
Areas of Expertise (5)
Antimicrobial Agents
Bacteria
Microbiology
Antibiotic Resistance
Enterobacter Infections
Education (2)
University of London: Ph.D., Medical Microbiology 1983
Heriot-Watt University: B.Sc., Microbiology 1978
Affiliations (5)
- DoH Antimicrobial Resistance Diagnostics Sub-Group: 2015 to present
- PHE Gonococcal Resistance to Antibiotics Surveillance Programme; Steer Group Chairman: 2014 to present
- Editorial Board, Korean Journal of Internal Medicine: 2011 to present
- International Advisory Board, Journal of Microbiology, Immunology & Infection: 2010 to present
- Editorial Board, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy: 1996 to present
Links (2)
Media Appearances (5)
Norwich researchers play part in pneumonia test for coronavirus patients
Eastern Daily Press online
2020-04-25
The study’s co-chief investigator, Prof David Livermore from UEA’s Norwich Medical School, said: “We know that some Covid-19 patients get secondary pneumonias but it’s a new disease and no one knows what types of bacteria are most likely.
Study: Not washing your hands after bathroom more harmful than eating raw meat
Atlanta Journal Constitution online
2019-10-25
"The great majority of strains of ESBL-E. coli causing human infections aren't coming from eating chicken, or anything else in the food chain," lead author David Livermore said in a statement. "The likeliest route of transmission for ESBL-E. coli is directly from human to human, with fecal particles from one person reaching the mouth of another.
Washing your hands is the best way to stop the E. coli superbug
CNN online
2019-10-23
"Infections caused by ESBL-E. coli bacteria are difficult to treat. And they are becoming more common in both the community and hospitals," David Livermore of the University of East Anglia's Norwich Medical School said. Livermore said mortality rates among people infected with these superbug strains are double those of people infected with strains that are susceptible to treatment.
Washing your hands is the best way to stop the E. coli superbug
CTV News online
2019-10-23
"Infections caused by ESBL-E. coli bacteria are difficult to treat. And they are becoming more common in both the community and hospitals," David Livermore of the University of East Anglia's Norwich Medical School said.
Poor toilet hygiene more likely to spread E.coli than food, scientists say
Express & Star online
2019-10-22
Professor David Livermore, from the University of East Anglia’s Norwich Medical School, who is the study’s main author, said: “The great majority of strains of ESBL-E.coli causing human infections aren’t coming from eating chicken, or anything else in the food chain.
Articles (5)
In vitro activity of cefiderocol, a siderophore-cephalosporin, against multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria
American Society for Microbiology2020 Cefiderocol is a parenteral siderophore cephalosporin, with a catechol-containing 3′ substituent. We evaluated its MICs against gram-negative bacteria, using iron-depleted Mueller-Hinton broth. The panel comprised 305 Enterobacterales, 111 P. aeruginosa and 99 A. baumannii, all selected for carbapenem resistance and multi-resistance to other agents.
Activity of ceftaroline versus ceftobiprole against staphylococci and pneumococci in the UK and Ireland: analysis of BSAC surveillance data
Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy2020 Ceftaroline and ceftobiprole inhibit most MRSA and MDR pneumococci. Few direct comparisons of their activity have been published, but in several years (2008, 2013, 2017 and 2018) both were tested in parallel in the BSAC Resistance Surveillance Programme, giving paired results. These are reviewed.
Metallo-β-Lactamases: Structure, Function, Epidemiology, Treatment Options, and the Development Pipeline
American Society for Microbiology2020 Modern medicine is threatened by the global rise of antibiotic resistance, especially among Gram-negative bacteria. Metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) enzymes are a particular concern and are increasingly disseminated worldwide, though particularly in Asia. Many MBL producers have multiple further drug resistances, leaving few obvious treatment options.
Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales, Carbapenem Resistant Organisms, Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacterales, and Carbapenemase-Producing Organisms:
Clinical Infectious Diseases2020 Carbapenem resistance in Gram-negative bacteria is a public health concern. Consequently, numerous government and agency reports discuss carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) and carbapenem-resistant organisms (CROs). Unfortunately, these terms are fuzzy.
Successful Treatment of Acute Prostatitis Caused by Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli With Tigecycline Monotherapy
Open Forum Infectious Diseases2020 We present a successful treatment, with tigecycline monotherapy, of acute prostatitis caused by multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli harboring an NDM-1 carbapemenase along with a CMY-2 cephalosporinase and a TEM ESBL.
