Effectiveness of direct-acting antiviral therapy among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with HCV infection in Australia: A national real-world cohort (REACH-C).

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experience a disproportionate burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. This study assessed the effectiveness of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy among Aboriginal peoples in the three years following universal access in Australia. REACH-C, a national multicentre prospective cohort study, evaluated HCV treatment outcomes from sequential DAA initiations across 33 health services between March 2016 and June 2019.

Clostridium difficile laboratory testing in Australia and New Zealand: national survey results and Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases recommendations for best practice.

Aims: In order to improve the future reliability of surveillance for Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), an Australia/New Zealand-wide survey was conducted to examine methods of laboratory diagnosis in use, identify deficiencies in practice and burden of CDI.

Methods: An online survey of 48 Australian and New Zealand microbiology laboratories (private and public) was conducted in late 2009 and 2010 to collect information about methods of detection in use and collective testing experience from July 2008 to June 2009.

Results: The overall prevalence (proportion positive of all faecal specimens tested) of C.

Demonstration of a cell-mediated immune response in melioidosis.

Melioidosis is a bacterial infection caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei. The aim of this study was to determine whether a cell-mediated adaptive immune response against B. pseudomallei developed in patients who had recovered from melioidosis.