Infective endocarditis outcomes at a tertiary hospital in Western Australia: a retrospective cohort study from 2016 to 2021.

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a severe infection with considerable mortality. It is associated with geographical variation, complicating diagnosis and treatment of patients in a standardised manner.

Aim: To evaluate the characteristics and management outcomes of patients with IE in Royal Perth Hospital (RPH).

Barriers to Optimal Surgical Antimicrobial Prophylaxis for Methicillin-Resistant -Colonized Patients at an Australian Tertiary Teaching Hospital.

Surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SAP) is a leading indication for antibiotic use in Australian hospitals with established high rates of inappropriate prescribing. Optimal administration of SAP for patients at high risk of methicillin-resistant (MRSA) infections presents additional complexities. A greater understanding of barriers to optimal SAP in this cohort is required to inform targeted antimicrobial stewardship strategies, optimize SAP, and reduce the rate of surgical site infections (SSIs).

COVID-19 Serosurvey of Frontline Healthcare Workers in Western Australia.

We aimed to study COVID-19 infection in healthcare workers (HCWs) during the first wave in a setting of low community incidence prior to HCW vaccination. We performed a cross-sectional study of frontline HCWs in two tertiary hospitals in Western Australia with questionnaire and testing for SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies, using a screening assay followed by confirmatory assays for initial reactive results. 799 Frontline HCWs were enrolled in the study, working in the emergency department (n = 194, 24.

Antifungal use via outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy.

Background: Antifungal administration via outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) is infrequent. As patients with invasive fungal infections (IFIs) receiving OPAT are at high risk of readmissions, careful, risk-based patient selection and monitoring is important.

Objectives: To describe our experience managing IFIs via OPAT, including assessment of risk factors associated with unplanned readmissions.

Risk factors for catheter related thrombosis during outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy.

Background: Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) delivery using peripherally inserted central catheters is associated with a risk of catheter related thrombosis (CRT). Individualised preventative interventions may reduce this occurrence, however patient selection is hampered by a lack of understanding of risk factors. We aimed to identify patient, infection or treatment related risk factors for CRT in the OPAT setting.

Successful outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy delivery via telemedicine.

Objectives: Most outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) services use a hospital-based model of care in which patients remain in proximity to large hospitals facilitating clinical review. We aimed to evaluate clinical outcomes and complication rates for patients living in geographically isolated locations managed by telemedicine-supported OPAT. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study.

Antibiotics in surgical wards: use or misuse? A newly industrialized country's perspective.

Introduction: Studies exploring the appropriateness of therapeutic antibiotic use among surgical patients are limited, particularly in developing countries. Therefore, the aim of our study was to determine the appropriateness of antibiotics prescribed in a surgical setting in Malaysia.

Methodology: A prospective observational study was conducted in two surgical wards at a tertiary hospital in Malaysia from November 2012-July 2013.

Late Presentation into Care of HIV Disease and Its Associated Factors in Asia: Results of TAHOD.

Many HIV-infected individuals do not enter health care until late in the infection course. Despite encouraging earlier testing, this situation has continued for several years. We investigated the prevalence of late presenters and factors associated with late presentation among HIV-infected patients in an Asian regional cohort.

Sarcocystis nesbitti causes acute, relapsing febrile myositis with a high attack rate: description of a large outbreak of muscular sarcocystosis in Pangkor Island, Malaysia, 2012.

Background: From the 17th to 19th January 2012, a group of 92 college students and teachers attended a retreat in a hotel located on Pangkor Island, off the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Following the onset of symptoms in many participants who presented to our institute, an investigation was undertaken which ultimately identified Sarcocystis nesbitti as the cause of this outbreak.

Methodology/principal Findings: All retreat participants were identified, and clinical and epidemiological information was obtained via clinical review and self-reported answers to a structured questionnaire.

Outbreak of human infection with Sarcocystis nesbitti, Malaysia, 2012.

An outbreak of fever associated with myalgia and myositis occurred in 2012 among 89 of 92 college students and teachers who visited Pangkor Island, Malaysia. The Sarcocystis nesbitti 18S rRNA gene and sarcocysts were obtained from muscle tissues of 2 students. Our findings indicate emergence of S.

Cervical abscesses due to co-infection with Burkholderia pseudomallei, Salmonella enterica serovar Stanley and Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a patient with diabetes mellitus.

Background: Infections due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Burkholderia pseudomallei and non-typhoidal Salmonella cause significant morbidity and mortality throughout the world. These intracellular pathogens share some common predisposing factors and clinical features. Co-infection with two of these organisms has been reported previously but, to our knowledge, this is the first time that infection with all three has been reported in one person.

Hepatitis B outbreak following a mass-casualty incident, Australia.

On 16 April 2009, a boat carrying 47 Afghan asylum seekers and 2 Indonesian crew exploded in Australian waters, resulting in mass casualties. Of these casualties, 23 persons who suffered significant burns were transferred to Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia. One patient was subsequently shown to be a hepatitis B virus (HBV) carrier at the time of the explosion.

Candidemia and invasive candidiasis: a review of the literature for the burns surgeon.

Advances in critical care, operative techniques, early fluid resuscitation, antimicrobials to control bacterial infections, nutritional support to manage the hypermetabolic response and early wound excision and coverage has improved survival rates in major burns patients. These advances in management have been associated with increased recognition of invasive infections caused by Candida species in critically ill burns patients. Candida albicans is the most common species to cause invasive Candida infections, however, non-albicans Candida species appear to becoming more frequent.

Prolonged varicella viraemia and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome following varicella vaccination of a health care worker.

A 49-year-old health care worker received varicella vaccine in accordance with current Australian guidelines. She developed streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, complicated by acute atraumatic dislocation of the right wrist secondary to poststreptococcal reactive arthritis - to our knowledge, the first report of spontaneous wrist dislocation as a complication in this condition. Vaccination was accompanied by prolonged viraemia with the varicella vaccine strain - also, we believe, the first report of this in an immunocompetent patient.