Estimating Australian Hospitalization Ratios and Costs for Wildtype SARS-CoV-2 in 2020.

Utilizing a retrospective cohort study of SARS-CoV-2 wildtype (Wuhan) strain, we aimed to 1) utilize the unique Australian experience of temporarily eliminating SARS-CoV-2 to document and estimate the hospitalization demand; and 2) estimate the inpatient hospital costs associated with treatment. Case data was based on Victoria Australia from March 29 to December 31, 2020. Outcomes measures included hospitalization demand and case fatality ratio and inpatient hospitalization costs.

Hepatitis B prevalence in women giving birth in the Northern Territory, Australia, 2005-2015.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination in the Northern Territory (NT) was funded for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander newborns in 1988 and for all newborns in 1990. The prevalence of HBV in the Northern Territory was found to be higher in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women than in non-Indigenous women across 2005-2010. We examined more recent data to assess whether the gap remains.

Association of Built Environmental Features with Rates of Infectious Diseases in Remote Indigenous Communities in the Northern Territory, Australia.

The health of Indigenous Australians is far poorer than non-Indigenous Australians, including an excess burden of infectious diseases. The health effect of built environmental (BE) features on Indigenous communities receives little attention. This study's objective was to determine associations between BE features and infectious disease incidence rates in remote Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory (NT), Australia.

The Darwin Prospective Melioidosis Study: a 30-year prospective, observational investigation.

Background: The global distribution of melioidosis is under considerable scrutiny, with both unmasking of endemic disease in African and Pacific nations and evidence of more recent dispersal in the Americas. Because of the high incidence of disease in tropical northern Australia, The Darwin Prospective Melioidosis Study commenced in October, 1989. We present epidemiology, clinical features, outcomes, and bacterial genomics from this 30-year study, highlighting changes in the past decade.

Physical distancing and non-respiratory notifiable diseases in the Northern Territory, March-May 2020.

Abstract: Strict physical distancing measures and border controls have been introduced in the Northern Territory (NT), and across Australia, to reduce the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). These measures have been associated with reduced incidence of other respiratory illnesses such as influenza. It is currently unclear what effect these measures have on non-respiratory communicable diseases.

Neurosyphilis: Still prevalent and overlooked in an at risk population.

Background: Neurosyphilis (NS) presents with a variety of clinical syndromes that can be attributed to other aetiologies due to difficulties in its diagnosis. We reviewed all cases of NS from the "Top End" of the Australian Northern Territory over a ten-year period to assess incidence, clinical and laboratory manifestations.

Methods: Patient data (2007-2016) were extracted from hospital records, centralised laboratory data and Northern Territory Centre for Disease Control records.

The first 2 months of COVID-19 contact tracing in the Northern Territory of Australia, March-April 2020.

The Northern Territory (NT) Centre for Disease Control (CDC) undertook contact tracing of all notified cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) within the Territory. There were 28 cases of COVID-19 notified in the NT between 1 March and 30 April 2020. In total 527 people were identified as close contacts over the same period; 493 were successfully contacted; 445 were located in the NT and were subsequently quarantined and monitored for disease symptoms daily for 14 days after contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case.

Epidemiological trends in notified influenza cases in Australia's Northern Territory, 2007-2016.

Background: The Northern Territory (NT) of Australia has a mix of climates, sparsely distributed population and a large proportion of the populace are Indigenous Australians, and influenza is known to have a disproportionate impact upon this group. Understanding the epidemiology of influenza in this region would inform public health strategies.

Objectives: To assess if there are consistent patterns in characteristics of influenza outbreaks in the NT.

Impact of a model of care for heart failure in-patients to reduce variation in care: a quality improvement project.

Background: We identified variation in delivery of guideline recommended care at our institution, and undertook a project to design a heart failure (HF) model of care.

Aim: To maximise time patients with HF spend well in the community by delivering best practice guidelines to reduce variation in care improving overall outcomes.

Methods: This quality improvement project focused on reducing variation in process measures of care.

Intense interseasonal influenza outbreaks, Australia, 2018/19.

BackgroundInterseasonal influenza outbreaks are not unusual in countries with temperate climates and well-defined influenza seasons. Usually, these are small and diminish before the main influenza season begins. However, the 2018/19 summer-autumn interseasonal influenza period in Australia saw unprecedented large and widespread influenza outbreaks.

Prevalence and impact of non-cardiovascular comorbidities among older adults hospitalized for non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome.

Background: There is a paucity of information on the prognostic importance of non-cardiovascular comorbidities (NCCs) among patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). This study examined the prevalence and impact of NCCs on the length of stay (LOS) and mortality among older adults hospitalized for NSTE-ACS.

Methods: Among 1,488 older adults (mean age 79.

Australian vaccine preventable disease epidemiological review series: varicella-zoster virus infections, 1998-2015.

Introduction: In 2005, the National Immunisation Program implemented a varicella vaccine for children aged 18 months, and in 2016, a herpes zoster (HZ) vaccine for adults aged 70-79 years. This epidemiological review analyses national trends in varicella and HZ for the years 1998-2015 to examine the impact of a funded varicella vaccine and provide a baseline for monitoring the impact of a funded HZ vaccine.

Methods: Varicella and HZ notifications (2002-2015), hospitalisations (1999-2013) and deaths (1998-2013) were sourced.

Effect of Comorbidity Assessed by the Charlson Comorbidity Index on the Length of Stay, Costs and Mortality among Older Adults Hospitalised for Acute Stroke.

The burden of comorbidity among stroke patients is high. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of comorbidity on the length of stay (LOS), costs, and mortality among older adults hospitalised for acute stroke. Among 776 older adults (mean age 80.

Prevention of perinatal hepatitis B virus transmission: are we following guidelines?

It is recommended that infants born to women with hepatitis B infection should have serological review following completion of a four dose vaccination schedule. A review was undertaken on 102 neonates who received hepatitis B immunoglobulin to ascertain the proportion that were fully immunised and then followed up. Of the 66 infants for whom data were available, 65 (98.

An outbreak of salmonellosis associated with duck prosciutto at a Northern Territory restaurant.

In June 2015, an outbreak of salmonellosis occurred among people who had eaten at a restaurant in Darwin, Northern Territory over 2 consecutive nights. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of diners who ate at the restaurant on 19 and 20 June 2015. Diners were telephoned and a questionnaire recorded symptoms and menu items consumed.

An outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul gastroenteritis after attending a school camp in the Northern Territory, Australia.

An outbreak of salmonellosis occurred following attendance at a school camp between 5 and 8 August 2014 in a remote area of the Northern Territory, Australia. We conducted a retrospective cohort study via telephone interviews, using a structured questionnaire that recorded symptoms and exposures to foods and activities during the camp. A case was anyone with laboratory confirmed Salmonella Saintpaul infection or a clinically compatible illness after attending the camp.

Investigation into High Barmah Forest Virus Disease Case Numbers Reported in the Northern Territory, Australia in 2012-2013.

Between October 2012 and October 2013, unprecedented high numbers of Barmah Forest virus (BFV) disease cases were reported in the Northern Territory (NT). An investigation was launched by the NT Department of Health in cooperation with the Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries and the Department of Land Resource Management to investigate possible causes for this phenomenon. The investigation included virus isolations from mosquitoes collected in Darwin urban areas, BFV antibody testing in peri-urban small mammals and a human BFV disease case series investigation of recent cases.

Salmonella in the tropical household environment--Everyday, everywhere.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of Salmonella in the environment of case and control houses, and compare serovars isolated from cases and their houses.

Methods: From 2005 to 2008, we tested samples from houses of 0-4 year old cases and community controls in Darwin and Palmerston for Salmonella. Case isolates were compared with environmental isolates.

The changing epidemiology of Murray Valley encephalitis in Australia: the 2011 outbreak and a review of the literature.

Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) is the most serious of the endemic arboviruses in Australia. It was responsible for six known large outbreaks of encephalitis in south-eastern Australia in the 1900s, with the last comprising 58 cases in 1974. Since then MVEV clinical cases have been largely confined to the western and central parts of northern Australia.

Measles transmission by 'fly-in fly-out' workers in Australia.

Objective: To describe the outbreak investigation and control measures for a cluster of measles cases involving 'fly-in fly-out' (FIFO) workers on an off-shore industrial vessel.

Methods: Following Australian guidelines, measles cases were interviewed and at-risk contacts on the Australian mainland received measles vaccine, immunoglobulin or health advice. For the industrial vessel: (i) exposed FIFO workers who had already left the vessel received health advice through their employer; (ii) workers remaining on the vessel were offered measles vaccine; and (iii) FIFO workers joining the vessel for 21 days following the prodrome onset of the last case of measles on the vessel were offered measles vaccine.

No evidence of increasing Haemophilus influenzae non-b infection in Australian Aboriginal children.

Background: High, or increasing, rates of invasive Haemophilus influenzae (Hi) type a disease have been reported from North American native children from circumpolar regions, raising the question of serotype replacement being driven by vaccination against Hi type b (Hib). Indigenous Australians from remote areas had high rates of invasive Hib disease in the past, comparable to those in North American Indigenous populations.

Objective: Evaluate incidence rates of invasive Hi (overall and by serotype) in Indigenous Australian children over time.

Seroepidemiologic effects of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 in Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore.

To estimate population attack rates of influenza A(H1N1)pdm2009 in the Southern Hemisphere during June-August 2009, we conducted several serologic studies. We pooled individual-level data from studies using hemagglutination inhibition assays performed in Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. We determined seropositive proportions (titer ≥40) for each study region by age-group and sex in pre- and postpandemic phases, as defined by jurisdictional notification data.

Imported malaria in the Northern Territory, Australia--428 consecutive cases.

Malaria is a notifiable disease in Australia with an average of 600 notifications per year in returned travellers or newly arrived refugees, migrants and visitors. Although endemic disease has been eliminated from the tropical north of Australia, the region remains malaria receptive due to the presence of efficient mosquito vectors. This study analyses enhanced surveillance data collected by the Centre for Disease Control on all cases of malaria notified in the Northern Territory from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2010.

The end of the Australia antigen? An ecological study of the impact of universal newborn hepatitis B vaccination two decades on.

Background: A universal newborn hepatitis B (HBV) vaccination program was introduced in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1990, followed by a school-based catch-up program. We evaluated the prevalence of hepatitis B infection in birthing women up to 20 years after vaccination and compared this to women born before the programs commenced.

Methods: A cohort of birthing mothers was defined from Northern Territory public hospital birth records between 2005 and 2010 and linked to laboratory confirmed notifications of chronic HBV, based principally on a record of hepatitis B surface antigen detection.