Publications by authors named "B P Howden"
We describe an outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C in Fiji. We created surveillance case definitions and collected data by using standard investigation forms. Bacterial identification, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and PCR were performed in Fiji.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Fiji is a Pacific Island nation grappling with the increasing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). While genomic technologies are increasingly utilised to understand the emergence and spread of AMR globally, its application to inform outbreak responses in low- and middle-income settings has not been reported.
Methods: Through an established capacity building program, suspected carbapenem-resistant organisms (CRO) identified at Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Fiji (Jan 2022-Oct 2023) underwent whole genome sequencing and analysis.
Background: Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) are an emerging public health concern globally as they are resistant to a broad spectrum of antibiotics. Colonisation with CPE typically requires patients to be managed under 'contact precautions', which creates additional physical bed demands in healthcare facilities.
Methods: This study examined the potential impact of revised isolation guidelines introduced in late 2023 in Victoria, Australia, that relaxed the requirement for indefinite isolation of CPE-colonised patients in contact precautions, based on admission of CPE-diagnosed cases prior to the guideline change.
Article Synopsis
- Salmonella enterica serovar Panama is a significant cause of invasive non-typhoidal salmonellosis in Australia, despite being understudied, with a high incidence rate linked to international travel.
- A study analyzed genomic epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance in S. Panama isolates in Victoria from 2000 to 2021, finding that over half exhibited multi-drug resistance, and colistin resistance was identified in one isolate.
- The research also explored the growth dynamics of S. Panama in macrophages, revealing its ability to replicate more effectively compared to S. enterica serovar Typhimurium, although no specific genotype was linked to this enhanced replication.
Objectives: The emergence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has made the elimination of TB difficult. Currently, there are limited data on MDR-TB and other drug-resistant TB in Bhutan. We aimed to estimate the incidence and explore the potential risk factors associated with MDR/pre-extensively drug-resistant (pre-XDR)-TB using comprehensive national TB data.
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