Combined first-trimester screening for preterm small-for-gestational-age infants: Australian multicenter clinical feasibility study.

Objective: To assess the performance of the Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) first-trimester competing-risks screening model for small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetuses requiring delivery at < 37 weeks' gestation, in a large cohort of women receiving maternity care in Australia.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from a cohort of women attending one of two private multicenter fetal medicine practices for first-trimester screening for preterm pre-eclampsia (PE), defined as PE requiring delivery before 37 weeks' gestation. Risk for preterm SGA, defined as SGA requiring delivery before 37 weeks, was calculated but was not disclosed to the patient or referring physician.

Multiplex detection of the big five carbapenemase genes using solid-phase recombinase polymerase amplification.

Five carbapenemase enzymes, coined the 'big five', have been identified as the biggest threat to worldwide antibiotic resistance based on their broad substrate affinity and global prevalence. Here we show the development of a molecular detection method for the gene sequences from the five carbapenemases utilising the isothermal amplification method of recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA). We demonstrate the successful detection of each of the big five carbapenemase genes with femtomolar detection limits using a spatially separated multiplex amplification strategy.

A retrospective observational study of vCare: a virtual emergency clinical advisory and transfer service in rural and remote Australia.

Background: Provision of critical care in rural areas is challenging due to geographic distance, smaller facilities, generalist skill mix and population characteristics. Internationally, the amalgamation telemedicine and retrieval medicine services are developing to overcome these challenges. Virtual emergency clinical advisory and transfer service (vCare) is one of these novel services based in New South Wales, Australia.