Exploring programmatic indicators of tuberculosis control that incorporate routine sequencing in low incidence settings: a comprehensive (2017-2021) patient cohort analysis.

Background: Routine whole genome sequencing of has been implemented with increasing frequency. However, its value for tuberculosis (TB) control programs beyond individual case management and enhanced drug resistance detection has not yet been explored.

Methods: We analysed routine sequencing data of culture-confirmed TB cases notified between 1st January 2017 and 31st December 2021 in New South Wales (NSW), Australia.

Tuberculosis mortality: quantifying agreement in clinical cause of death assessments.

Objectives: Mortality is a key statistic for public health globally, and mortality reduction is a key target of 'End TB' strategy. However, cause of death in relation to tuberculosis (TB) may be controversial, and we aimed to evaluate classification in Australia.

Methods: We surveyed Australian clinicians and public health officers, presenting a variety of scenarios.

A cross sectional survey of attitudes, awareness and uptake of the parental pertussis booster vaccine as part of a cocooning strategy, Victoria, Australia.

Background: The Victorian Government Department of Health funded a diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis vaccine for parents of infants from June 2009 to June 2012 as part of a cocooning strategy for the control of pertussis. The aim of this study was to assess parents' attitudes and awareness of the vaccination program, and to estimate vaccine uptake.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 253 families with a child born in the first quarter of 2010 residing within five metropolitan and four rural local government areas in Victoria was conducted.

Beyond injecting drug use: investigation of a Victorian cluster of hepatitis C among HIV-infected men who have sex with men.

Objectives: To examine increased notifications of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in men who have sex with men (MSM) infected with HIV in Victoria, and evaluate HCV transmission risk factors other than injecting drug use.

Design, Setting And Participants: Case series through retrospective review of all HCV cases in Victoria from 1 April 2010 to 30 June 2011, with clinical and laboratory data examined in likely MSM to identify a co-infected cohort. Patients with newly acquired HCV with HIV co-infection were invited to complete a questionnaire exploring novel risk factors for HCV transmission (non-injecting drug use, sexual practices with increased likelihood of trauma, and presence of genital ulcers).

A multistate outbreak of hepatitis A associated with semidried tomatoes in Australia, 2009.

Background: A large outbreak of hepatitis A affected individuals in several Australian states in 2009, resulting in a 2-fold increase in cases reported to state health departments compared with 2008. Two peaks of infection occurred (April-May and September-November), with surveillance data suggesting locally acquired infections from a widely distributed food product.

Methods: Two case-control studies were completed.