Development of a cross-sectoral antimicrobial resistance capability assessment framework.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an urgent and growing global health concern, and a clear understanding of existing capacities to address AMR, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), is needed to inform national priorities, investment targets and development activities. Across LMICs, there are limited data regarding existing mechanisms to address AMR, including national AMR policies, current infection prevention and antimicrobial prescribing practices, antimicrobial use in animals, and microbiological testing capacity for AMR. Despite the development of numerous individual tools designed to inform policy formulation and implementation or surveillance interventions to address AMR, there is an unmet need for easy-to-use instruments that together provide a detailed overview of AMR policy, practice and capacity.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Knowledge, Beliefs, and Practices of Ni-Vanuatu Health Workers Regarding Antibiotic Prescribing and Antibiotic Resistance, 2018 and 2022: A Mixed Methods Study.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is included in the ten most urgent global public health threats. Global evidence suggests that antibiotics were over prescribed during the early waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Inappropriate use of antibiotics drives the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance.

Antibiotic Consumption in Vanuatu before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2018 to 2021: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis.

The study objectives were to examine antibiotic consumption at Vila Central Hospital (VCH), Vanuatu between January 2018 and December 2021 and the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on antibiotic consumption during this period. Data on antibiotic usage were obtained from the Pharmacy database. We used the WHO's Anatomical Therapeutic Classification/Defined Daily Dose (ATC/DDD) index, VCH's inpatient bed numbers and the hospital's catchment population to calculate monthly antibiotic consumption.

Strategies Used for Implementing and Promoting Adherence to Antibiotic Guidelines in Low- and Lower-Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review.

Containing antimicrobial resistance and reducing high levels of antibiotic consumption in low- and lower middle-income countries are a major challenge. Clinical guidelines targeting antibiotic prescribing can reduce consumption, however, the degrees to which clinical guidelines are adopted and adhered to are challenging for developers, policy makers and users. The aim of this study was to review the strategies used for implementing and promoting antibiotic guideline adherence in low- and lower middle-income countries.

Quality microbiological diagnostics and antimicrobial susceptibility testing, an essential component of antimicrobial resistance surveillance and control efforts in Pacific island nations.

Problem: Emerging bacterial antimicrobial (antibiotic) resistance (AMR) is a global threat to human health. However, most lower income countries do not have microbiological diagnostic testing for prompt, reliable confirmation of bloodstream infection and identification of AMR.

Context: Clinicians in Pacific island nations are increasingly challenged by patients who have infection due to antimicrobial-resistant bacteria.

Bacteriology and Antimicrobial Resistance in Vanuatu: January 2017 to December 2019.

drug resistance; antimicrobial; public health surveillance; Pacific Islands; bacteriology; epidemiology.

Antimicrobial resistance in Cambodia: a review.

Objectives: Following the launch of the Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (GLASS), antimicrobial resistance (AMR) rates in many countries remain poorly described. This review provides an overview of published AMR data from Cambodia in the context of recently initiated national human and food-animal surveillance.

Methods: PubMed and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched for articles published from 2000 to 2018, which reported antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) data for GLASS specific organisms isolated from Cambodia.

Antibiotic Resistance in Pacific Island Countries and Territories: A Systematic Scoping Review.

Several studies have investigated antimicrobial resistance in low- and middle-income countries, but to date little attention has been paid to the Pacific Islands Countries and Territories (PICTs). This study aims to review the literature on antibiotic resistance (ABR) in healthcare settings in PICTs to inform further research and future policy development for the region. Following the PRISMA-ScR checklist health databases and grey literature sources were searched.

Mycetoma in Timor-Leste and first report of nocardiosis.

Mycetoma is a neglected tropical disease with an unknown global burden. Although considered endemic to South-east Asia, it has not previously been reported from Timor-Lest. We describe two cases in Timor-Leste, highlighting the challenges surrounding microbiological diagnosis and management shared by many low to middle-income countries.

Leptospirosis: An important zoonosis acquired through work, play and travel.

Background: Leptospirosis is one of the most common zoonotic diseases worldwide. Infection occurs through contact with infected animals, or soil or water that has been contaminated by the urine of infected animals. Risk factors include occupational and recreational exposures, contact with floodwaters, and travel to areas with a high risk of leptospirosis, particularly tropical, developing countries.

Dominance of IMP-4-producing enterobacter cloacae among carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in Australia.

The prevalence of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) has been increasing worldwide. blaIMP has been reported to be the predominant carbapenemase-encoding gene within Enterobacteriaceae in Australia. However, there are limited data currently available on CPE from Queensland, Australia.

Laparoscopic nephrectomy for adult polycystic kidney disease: safety, feasibility, and early outcomes.

Background And Purpose: Indications for laparoscopic renal surgery are increasing; however, benefits in adult polycystic kidney disease (APKD) remain uncertain. Our objective was to systematically synthesize the reported literature on safety, feasibility, complications, and early outcomes of laparoscopic nephrectomy in APKD to determine clinical benefits for surgical practice.

Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis of the published literature reporting on laparoscopic nephrectomy in APKD between 1991 and 2013.

Parenteral nutrition-associated bloodstream infection in an Australian teaching hospital--an 8-year retrospective study of over 11,000 PN-days.

Background: Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are a well-recognized complication of parenteral nutrition (PN). However, their epidemiology and clinical consequences are incompletely described.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed, from 2002 to 2009, of all hospital inpatients who were administered PN, outside the intensive care setting, at a major tertiary hospital in Queensland, Australia.

Mitomycin C instillation following ureterorenoscopic laser ablation of upper urinary tract carcinoma.

Introduction: Instillation of Mitomycin C (MMC) should prevent implantation of cancer cells released during endoscopic treatment and prevent recurrences as seen in carcinoma of the bladder.

Aim: TO DEVELOP AND EVALUATE A PROTOCOL FOR A SINGLE DOSE MMC INSTILLATION FOLLOWING HOLMIUM: YAG laser ablation of upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma (UUT-TCC).

Setting And Design: A single institute prospective study.

Transperitoneal laparoscopic renal denervation for the management of loin pain haematuria syndrome.

Objectives: To assess the role of laparoscopic renal denervation as a surgical option in loin pain-haematuria syndrome (LPHS), refractory to conservative treatment.

Material And Methods: Nine patients between 2000 and 2010 with a diagnosis of LPHS following extensive investigations. The data collection from medical records and electronic databases included demographic details, details of surgical procedures, perioperative outcomes, pain recurrences and ongoing analgesia requirements.

Laparoscopic en bloc resection of ureter with a cuff of bladder during radical nephroureterectomy for lower ureteric tumors: a matched-paired analysis.

Background: Surgical management of the lower end of the ureter during laparoscopic nephroureterectomy remains a matter of debate. The commonest method during laparoscopic nephroureterectomy-endoscopic incision-has been shown to have a higher recurrence rate compared with open surgical excision with a cuff of bladder. In addition, the literature still lacks comparative studies between different approaches to support and guide the current clinical practice.

Relapse of imported Plasmodium vivax malaria is related to primaquine dose: a retrospective study.

Background: Relapsing Plasmodium vivax infection results in significant morbidity for the individual and is a key factor in transmission. Primaquine remains the only licensed drug for prevention of relapse. To minimize relapse rates, treatment guidelines have recently been revised to recommend an increased primaquine dose, aiming to achieve a cumulative dose of ≥6 mg/kg, i.

Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis 'down under': case series and literature review.

Infective endocarditis is a common complication of Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia, but literature reports of community-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA) endocarditis are relatively uncommon and mostly comprise intravenous drug users (IVDUs) with the USA300 strain. We report 5 cases of CA-MRSA endocarditis in previously healthy young Australian adults, 4 in IVDUs.

Long-term oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for kidney cancer resection: Dundee cohort and metaanalysis of observational studies.

Background: The long-term oncologic outcome of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy compared with that of open radical nephrectomy remains unclear. A few case series with follow-up periods longer than 5 years are reported in the literature. The existing literature is focused primarily on early and intermediate outcomes of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy.

A novel technique for repair of testicular rupture after blunt trauma.

Objective: To present a simple technique for the repair of a ruptured testis after blunt trauma when extruded but viable testicular tissue prevents closure of the testicular capsule during surgical exploration. Preservation of viable testicular tissue is important because the risk of impaired fertility and hormone function is minimized.

Methods: A 25-year-old male sustained a ruptured right testis confirmed by ultrasound.