COVID-19 hospitalisations in a tertiary health service during the Omicron subvariant wave.

Objectives: COVID-19 Omicron subvariants typically cause milder disease than previous strains, yet many patients were still admitted to hospital for acute care. We audited reasons for and details of admissions to identify opportunities to reduce hospitalisations.

Methods: We reviewed all admitted patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 from 1 December 2022 to 30 January 2023.

Demographic, clinical and molecular epidemiology of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli bloodstream infections in Central Australia.

We describe the demographics, clinical and molecular epidemiology of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) Escherichia coli bloodstream infections (BSI) in Central Australia. All ESBL-producing E. coli bloodstream isolates from January 2018 to December 2020 were retrospectively identified.

Epidemiology, clinical outcomes and risk factors of third-generation cephalosporin-resistant hospitalized infections in remote Australia-a case-control study.

Background: Incidence of third-generation cephalosporin-resistant (3GCR) infections has increased in remote Australia from 2012 to 2018.

Objectives: To describe the epidemiology of 3GCR in Central Australia.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted in the primary Central Australian hospital.

Acute injection-related infections requiring hospitalisation among people who inject drugs: Clinical features, microbiology and management.

Introduction: People who inject drugs are at risk of hospitalisation with injection-related infections (IRI). We audited the clinical features, microbiology and management of IRI at a tertiary service in Melbourne to describe the burden and identify quality improvement opportunities.

Methods: We performed retrospective review of IRI admissions from January 2017 to April 2019.

Hospitalisation with injection-related infections: Validation of diagnostic codes to monitor admission trends at a tertiary care hospital in Melbourne, Australia.

Introduction: Injection-related infections (IRI) cause morbidity and mortality in people who inject drugs. Hospital administrative datasets can be used to describe hospitalisation trends, but there are no validated algorithms to identify injecting drug use and IRIs. We aimed to validate International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes to identify admissions with IRIs and use these codes to describe IRIs within our hospital.

Iron deficiency during pregnancy is associated with a reduced risk of adverse birth outcomes in a malaria-endemic area in a longitudinal cohort study.

Background: Low birth weight (LBW) and preterm birth (PTB) are major contributors to infant mortality and chronic childhood morbidity. Understanding factors that contribute to or protect against these adverse birth outcomes is an important global health priority. Anaemia and iron deficiency are common in malaria-endemic regions, but there are concerns regarding the value of iron supplementation among pregnant women in malaria-endemic areas due to reports that iron supplementation may increase the risk of malaria.

Predictors of chronic kidney disease and utility of risk prediction scores in HIV-positive individuals.

Objective: The current study aimed to validate existing risk prediction scores and identify predictors of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the setting of HIV.

Design And Methods: A retrospective cohort study of HIV-positive individuals (n = 748) with baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) more than 60 ml/min was conducted at the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to determine factors associated with development of CKD, defined as two consecutive measurements of eGFR less than 60 ml/min.

International medical electives undertaken by Australian medical students: current trends and future directions.

Objectives: To estimate the proportion of students in Australian medical schools who undertake international medical electives (IMEs), particularly in developing countries, and to ascertain which medical schools provide predeparture training and postelective debriefing.

Design, Setting And Participants: Extraction of data on the number of students undertaking electives from the Medical Schools Outcomes Database (MSOD) for the 2013s 2006 to 2010; and interviews with the directors of each medical school in Australia in May to July 2012 to ascertain the availability of predeparture training and postelective debriefing.

Main Outcome Measures: The proportion of medical students undertaking IMEs overall and within developing countries and the proportion of medical schools with optional and mandatory predeparture training and postelective debriefing.