Clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 in a low-prevalence, well resourced setting, Sydney, Australia.

Background: The Northern Sydney Local Health District was one of the first health regions to be affected by COVID-19 in Australia.

Aims: To describe the clinical characteristics, risk factors and outcomes in our low-prevalence Australian population.

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of 517 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases between January and June 2020.

Use of Infliximab to Treat Paradoxical Tuberculous Meningitis Reactions.

We documented dramatic responses to infliximab in 4 tuberculous meningitis cases with severe paradoxical reactions after effective antibacterial treatment, despite high-dose steroids. In every instance, infliximab was used as a last resort after all other options were exhausted, resulting in delayed initiation that may have adversely affected patient outcomes.

Tocilizumab for severe COVID-19 pneumonia: Case series of 5 Australian patients.

Aim: To describe the first Australian cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) disease (COVID-19) pneumonia treated with the interleukin-6 receptor antagonist tocilizumab.

Methods: Retrospective, open-label, real-world, uncontrolled, single-arm case series conducted in 2 tertiary hospitals in NSW, Australia and 1 tertiary hospital in Victoria, Australia. Five adult male patients aged between 46 and 74 years with type 1 respiratory failure due to COVID-19 pneumonia requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission and biochemical evidence of systemic hyperinflammation (C-reactive protein greater than 100 mg/L; ferritin greater than 700 μg/L) were administered variable-dose tocilizumab.

Healthcare-acquired infections: prevention strategies.

Healthcare-acquired infections (HAI) impact on patient care and have cost implications for the Australian healthcare system. The management of HAI is exacerbated by rising rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Health-care workers and a contaminated hospital environment are increasingly implicated in the transmission and persistence of multi-resistant organisms (MRO), as well as other pathogens, such as Clostridium difficile.

Aggregatibacter aphrophilus Sacroiliitis Following Gastroscopy in a Young Sportsman.

We report a case of Aggregatibacter aphrophilus sacroiliitis in a young sportsman, presenting 48 hours after endoscopy and biopsy. Microbiological diagnosis was made only after repeated attempt at joint aspiration. The patient was cured after radiologically guided drainage and a prolonged course of directed antibiotics.

Failure of oral antibiotic therapy, including azithromycin, in the treatment of a recurrent breast abscess caused by Salmonella enterica serotype Paratyphi A.

We report a case of recurrent, multifocal Salmonella enterica serotype Paratyphi A breast abscesses, resistant to ciprofloxacin, which relapsed despite surgery, aspiration and multiple courses of antibiotics, including co-trimoxazole and azithromycin. The patient was cured after a prolonged course of intravenous ceftriaxone.