Strongyloidiasis in Auckland: A ten-year retrospective study of diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of a predominantly Polynesian and Fijian migrant cohort.

Background: Strongyloides stercoralis is not endemic in Aotearoa New Zealand (AoNZ). However, approximately one third of Auckland residents are born in endemic countries. This study aimed to describe the epidemiology and management of strongyloidiasis in Auckland, with a focus on migrants from Pacific Island Countries and Territories.

Evaluation of a remote monitoring service for patients with COVID-19 discharged from University College London Hospital.

Introduction: In May 2020 a virtual ward for COVID-19 patients seen at University College London Hospital (UCLH) was established. The aim of this study was to see if specific factors can be used to predict the risk of deterioration and need for Emergency Department (ED) reattendance or admission.

Methods: We performed a service evaluation of the COVID-19 virtual ward service at UCLH between 24/10/2020 and 12/2/2021.

Description and accuracy of antibiotic allergy labels at North Shore Hospital.

Aims: Antibiotic allergy labels are common and associated with adverse care. Most people with an antibiotic allergy label are found to be non-allergic on investigation. The aims of this study were to evaluate the burden and accuracy of antibiotic allergy labels at North Shore Hospital and to identify and assess beta-lactam specific allergies, and the potential impact of an inpatient antibiotic allergy service.

Chest radiograph classification and severity of suspected COVID-19 by different radiologist groups and attending clinicians: multi-reader, multi-case study.

Objectives: To quantify reader agreement for the British Society of Thoracic Imaging (BSTI) diagnostic and severity classification for COVID-19 on chest radiographs (CXR), in particular agreement for an indeterminate CXR that could instigate CT imaging, from single and paired images.

Methods: Twenty readers (four groups of five individuals)-consultant chest (CCR), general consultant (GCR), and specialist registrar (RSR) radiologists, and infectious diseases clinicians (IDR)-assigned BSTI categories and severity in addition to modified Covid-Radiographic Assessment of Lung Edema Score (Covid-RALES), to 305 CXRs (129 paired; 2 time points) from 176 guideline-defined COVID-19 patients. Percentage agreement with a consensus of two chest radiologists was calculated for (1) categorisation to those needing CT (indeterminate) versus those that did not (classic/probable, non-COVID-19); (2) severity; and (3) severity change on paired CXRs using the two scoring systems.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome following mild COVID-19 in an unvaccinated Tongan adult.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A), is a rare post-infectious complication of COVID-19. We describe an illustrative case of MIS-A in an otherwise well, SARS-CoV-2 unvaccinated 25-year-old Tongan man who presented to hospital 30 days after mild COVID-19 illness. We highlight the progression of his illness, including treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for cardiogenic shock, and detail temporal evolution of clinical, laboratory and radiographic features of his illness.

Fetal Loss and Preterm Birth Caused by Intraamniotic Haemophilus influenzae Infection, New Zealand.

Invasive Haemophilus influenzae infection during pregnancy can cause preterm birth and fetal loss, but the mechanism is unclear. We investigated 54 cases of pregnancy-associated invasive H. influenzae disease in 52 unique pregnancies in the Auckland region of New Zealand during October 1, 2008‒September 30, 2018.

Treatment and outcomes of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Auckland, 1995-2018.

Background: New Zealand has a low burden of tuberculosis; however, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) still represents a challenge for clinicians. This is the first description of clinical aspects of MDR-TB in New Zealand.

Aims: To evaluate the treatment and outcomes of patients with MDR-TB disease in Auckland.

Short durations of corticosteroids for hospitalised COVID-19 patients are associated with a high readmission rate.

Objective: Our objective was to describe the characteristics of patients admitted, discharged and readmitted, due to COVID-19, to a central London acute-care hospital during the second peak, in particular in relation to corticosteroids use.

Methods: We reviewed patients admitted from the community to University College Hospital (UCH) with COVID-19 as their primary diagnosis between 1st-31st December 2020. Re-attendance and readmission data were collected for patients who re-presented within 10 days following discharge.

The Impact of the Auckland Cellulitis Pathway on Length of Hospital Stay, Mortality Readmission Rate, and Antibiotic Stewardship.

Background: The Dundee classification of cellulitis severity, previously shown to predict disease outcomes, provides an opportunity to improve the management of patients with cellulitis.

Methods: We developed and implemented a pathway to guide the management of adults with cellulitis based on their Dundee severity class, and measured its effect on patient outcomes. We compared the outcomes in patients admitted to Auckland City Hospital (ACH) between July 2014 and July 2015 (the baseline cohort) with those in patients admitted between June 2017 and June 2018 (the intervention cohort).

Association of the Dundee severity classification with mortality, length of stay and readmission in adult inpatients with cellulitis.

Background: The Dundee classification is a simple severity assessment tool that could optimize treatment decisions and clinical outcomes in adult patients with cellulitis; however, it has not been validated in a large cohort.

Objectives: To determine whether the Dundee classification reliably identified those patients with cellulitis who had a higher mortality, a longer length of hospital stay or an increased risk of readmission.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study of all adults with a primary discharge diagnosis of cellulitis admitted to Auckland City Hospital from August 2013 to June 2015.