Publications by authors named "Beatrice Z Sim"

Kidney transplant recipients are at an increased risk of hospitalisation and death from SARS-CoV-2 infection, and standard two-dose vaccination schedules are typically inadequate to generate protective immunity. Gut dysbiosis, which is common among kidney transplant recipients and known to effect systemic immunity, may be a contributing factor to a lack of vaccine immunogenicity in this at-risk cohort. The gut microbiota modulates vaccine responses, with the production of immunomodulatory short-chain fatty acids by bacteria such as associated with heightened vaccine responses in both observational and experimental studies.

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Background: The global COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected certain populations and its management differed between countries. This national study describes characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with cancer in Australia.

Methods: We performed a multicentre cohort study of patients with cancer and COVID-19 from March 2020 to April 2022.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study analyzes the seasonal patterns of six infections in tropical Australia, focusing on their relationship with climatic factors and severe weather over 21 years.
  • Melioidosis and leptospirosis were mainly seen during the wet season, while rickettsial disease and cryptococcosis peaked in cooler months; Staphylococcus aureus had no seasonality, and influenza showed varying patterns.
  • Despite stable climate conditions, the incidence of some diseases like melioidosis increased, suggesting that factors like societal inequality and urban expansion play a larger role in infection rates than climate alone, indicating the need for broader public health strategies.
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Objective: The use of colchicine has been associated with varying degrees of myelosuppression. Despite expanded use in cardiovascular and inflammatory conditions, there remains clinician concern because of potential myelosuppressive side effects. A systematic review was conducted to explore the reported myelosuppressive events of colchicine.

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Purpose Of Review: Reactivation of viral infections occurs frequently in immunosuppressed populations, particularly in solid organ (SOT) or allogeneic haematopoietic cell (HCT) transplant patients. Concurrent and sequential multivirus infections are common, yet risk factors and outcomes remain unclear. This review aims to identify the patients vulnerable to multivirus infections and characterize the impact of increased viral burden to formulate prevention and treatment strategies.

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Cryptococcal infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in tropical Australia. This retrospective audit was conducted to characterise the aetiology, temporospatial epidemiology, and clinical course of 49 cryptococcal infections in Far North Queensland between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2019. Cryptococcus gattii was identified in 15/32 (47%) in whom it was possible to speciate the organism.

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Background And Objectives: Ultrasound is a common and necessary part of acute care medicine, but may present an infection risk to patients secondary to transfer of infectious agents between patients. Our primary objective was to detect blood contamination on ultrasound equipment in emergency departments (EDs) and intensive care units. Secondary objectives included detection of microbial contamination and determination of factors associated with contamination.

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