Publications by authors named "David John Speers"
Objectives: A new molecular test for (CT) and (NG) (GeneXpert CT/NG) has been demonstrated to be as accurate as conventional nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT), but performance has not been evaluated in routine primary care, performed at the point of care by clinicians. We aimed to examine its diagnostic performance when used by clinicians in remote community health services in Australia with high prevalences of CT and NG infection. The trial was registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (#12613000808741) METHODS: At 12 health services, training was provided to 99 clinicians in the use of the GeneXpert CT/NG assay who tested specimens from all patients undergoing STI screening.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Screening of men who have sex with men (MSM) for (CT) and (NG) requires sampling from anorectal and pharyngeal sites in addition to urogenital sampling. Due to the cost of testing multiple anatomical sites individually testing of pooled specimens has potential merit. The Cepheid GeneXpert CT/NG assay (GeneXpert), which also has potential for point-of-care nucleic acid testing in the sexual health clinic, has not been assessed for pooled specimen testing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- A study in Western Australia began in August 2015 to sample heater-cooler units (HCUs) after a link was reported between HCU colonization by Mycobacterium chimaera and cases of endocarditis.
- Out of 15 HCUs tested, 10 were found to be colonized with M. chimaera, prompting further investigation with whole genome sequencing to determine connections to a patient's infection.
- Genetic analysis revealed that while the M. chimaera isolates from the HCUs were related, the isolate from the patient was genetically different, suggesting that the HCUs were not responsible for this specific infection.
Background: From the first case reports of pandemic influenza (H1N1) 2009 it was clear that a significant proportion of infected individuals suffered a primary viral pneumonia. The objective of this study was twofold; to assess the utility of the CURB-65 community acquired pneumonia (CAP) severity index in predicting pneumonia severity and ICU admission, and to assess the relative sensitivity of nasopharyngeal versus lower respiratory tract sampling for the detection of pandemic influenza (H1N1) CAP.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 70 patients hospitalised for pandemic influenza (H1N1) 2009 in an adult tertiary referral hospital.