An evaluation of 4 commercial assays for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in a predominantly mildly symptomatic low prevalence Australian population.

A total of 1080 individual patient samples (158 positive serology samples from confirmed, predominantly mildly symptomatic COVID-19 patients and 922 serology negative including 496 collected pre-COVID) from four states in Australia were analysed on four commercial SARS-CoV-2 serological assays targeting antibodies to different antigens (Roche Elecsys and Abbott Architect: nucleocapsid; Diasorin Liaison and Euroimmun: spike). A subset was compared to immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) and micro-neutralisation. Sensitivity and specificity of the Roche (n = 1033), Abbott (n = 806), Diasorin (n = 1034) and Euroimmun (n = 175) were 93.

First reported case of dialysis-related peritonitis due to Escherichia vulneris.

Escherichia vulneris is a recently identified environmental organism that can colonize humans and animals. To date, very few infections with E. vulneris have been reported.

Epidemiology of community-acquired and nosocomial bloodstream infections in tropical Australia: a 12-month prospective study.

Objectives: To define the relative incidence of organisms causing blood stream infections in a tropical setting with a very low prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus infection (<1%).

Methods: A 12-month prospective study of blood stream infections in 2000 at Royal Darwin Hospital in the tropical north of Australia.

Results: Significant isolates were grown from 257 sets of blood cultures.