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Infectious diseases

Coronavirus may be no worse than seasonal flu: respiratory physician

The outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection has prompted a precautionary approach from Australian medical authorities but most people with the virus are experiencing mild disease according to the World Health Organization.  However...

The outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection has prompted a precautionary approach from Australian medical authorities...

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infectious-diseases

Childhood pneumonia and pleurisy lead to smaller lungs: Tasmanian study

Episodes of childhood pneumonia or pleurisy by age seven are associated with modestly smaller lung volumes in middle age, according to new research. The research, from the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study cohort, involved comprehensive measures of lung function in participants...

Episodes of childhood pneumonia or pleurisy by age seven are associated with modestly smaller lung volumes in middle age, according...
infectious-diseases

TB rates drop with active screening

Australian funded and supported research in Vietnam has demonstrated that active community-wide screening can substantially reduce the prevalence of tuberculosis in areas with a high burden of disease. The findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, support the...

Australian funded and supported research in Vietnam has demonstrated that active community-wide screening can substantially reduce the prevalence of tuberculosis...
infectious-diseases

miRNA can predict CAP complications

Quick and inexpensive microRNA analyses may be able to help predict severe complications in patients hospitalised with community acquired pneumonia (CAP). The 2019 ERS Congress was told specific miRNAs were associated with different pneumonia endotypes and could help differentiate which patients...

Quick and inexpensive microRNA analyses may be able to help predict severe complications in patients hospitalised with community acquired pneumonia...
infectious-diseases

Early wins in lab for inhaled TB vaccine

Australian researchers have developed a novel synthetic lipopeptide conjugate vaccine delivered via inhalation to the pulmonary mucosa that increased immunogenicity and efficacy against tuberculosis (TB) in a pre-clinical model. As reported in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, the experimental vaccine...

Australian researchers have developed a novel synthetic lipopeptide conjugate vaccine delivered via inhalation to the pulmonary mucosa that increased immunogenicity...
infectious-diseases

Azithromycin reduces rhinovirus replication in airways

Prophylactic treatment with azithromycin mitigates the impact of human rhinovirus infection in lung transplant recipients, Australian research shows. A WA study using large and small airway epithelial cells from five lung allograft recipients has confirmed rhinovirus caused significant cytotoxicity in both...

Prophylactic treatment with azithromycin mitigates the impact of human rhinovirus infection in lung transplant recipients, Australian research shows. A WA study...
infectious-diseases

Antibiotics prevent asthma exacerbations, but at a cost

There is a clear trade off between the use of macrolides to prevent exacerbations in severe asthma and the likelihood of patients experiencing adverse events such as gastrointestinal symptoms. Dr Chris Cates, co-ordinating editor of the Cochrane Airways Review Group in the...

There is a clear trade off between the use of macrolides to prevent exacerbations in severe asthma and the likelihood...
infectious-diseases

Flu antivirals may save lives if given early

Oseltamivir appears to be more effective against influenza A/H3N2 in a severely ill population than it is against A/H1N1 or influenza B but early treatment is essential. A Greek study of 1,330 patients admitted to intensive care or mechanically ventilated...

Oseltamivir appears to be more effective against influenza A/H3N2 in a severely ill population than it is against A/H1N1 or...
infectious-diseases

‘Pulmonary immunisation’ may offer better protection against TB

Australian researchers are a step closer to developing a more effective vaccine against tuberculosis based on a novel ‘pulmonary immunisation’ technique. Scientists at the Centenary Institute in Sydney have demonstrated how an influenza-based vaccine can be used to activate CD4+ memory T...

Australian researchers are a step closer to developing a more effective vaccine against tuberculosis based on a novel ‘pulmonary immunisation’...
infectious-diseases

Fully oral regimens for MDR-TB should help improve compliance: WHO

A rapid communication issued by the WHO highlights the immediate steps to be taken to ensure that people with multidrug resistant tuberculosis or rifampicin resistant tuberculosis receive treatment in accordance with the latest evidence on effectiveness and safety. “While understanding that it would not...

A rapid communication issued by the WHO highlights the immediate steps to be taken to ensure that people with multidrug resistant...
infectious-diseases

Machine learning could give early warning of respiratory epidemics

A national surveillance system for respiratory epidemics could use machine learning to analyse real time data and give early warning of emerging events such as thunderstorm asthma, an expert panel has been told. A national workshop of stakeholders convened in...

A national surveillance system for respiratory epidemics could use machine learning to analyse real time data and give early warning...
infectious-diseases

Hospital apologises for respiratory infection data breach

SA Health has apologised for a data breach in which test results for children with respiratory infections were published on a hospital website. Pathology test results relating to patients treated for respiratory infections such as pertussis at...

SA Health has apologised for a data breach in which test results for children with respiratory infections were...
infectious-diseases

Immunotherapy against CMV to help organ recipients

Autologous adoptive T-cell therapy has been successfully used to fight recurrent or drug-resistant cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections in recipients of solid organ transplants. The phase 1 clinical trial, led by the QIMR Centre for Immunotherapy and Vaccine Development, treated 13 patients...

Autologous adoptive T-cell therapy has been successfully used to fight recurrent or drug-resistant cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections in recipients of solid...
infectious-diseases

Dr Noel Bayley recognised with AM for humanitarian work

He is a cardiology and respiratory medicine physician who has helped save the lives of dozens of young people with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) living in Timor Leste. Last week Victorian physician Dr Noel Bayley was honoured for his humanitarian work...

He is a cardiology and respiratory medicine physician who has helped save the lives of dozens of young people with...
infectious-diseases

Gene sequencing gives early warning on drug resistance in TB

Computer simulation of 3D protein structures associated with gene mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been used to predict resistance to pyrazinamide in tuberculosis treatment. The technology can be used to ‘pre-emptively identify likely resistance mutations in drug targets’ rather than waiting...

Computer simulation of 3D protein structures associated with gene mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been used to predict resistance to...
infectious-diseases

Phage therapy makes a comeback to counteract multidrug resistance

Dr Thomas Patterson’s wife was told to expect the worst after he contracted a multidrug resistant Acinebacter baumannii infection in Egypt in 2015. Despite being flown to Germany for treatment and eventually home to the US, he had developed an uncontrolled intra-abdominal...

Dr Thomas Patterson’s wife was told to expect the worst after he contracted a multidrug resistant Acinebacter baumannii infection in Egypt...
infectious-diseases

Direct acting antivirals expand organ donation

A surge in deaths from the opioid crisis in North America has expanded the potential pool of relatively young organ donors with excellent lung function - if transplant centres are prepared to use hepatitis C positive donors. Dr Marie Budev, from...

A surge in deaths from the opioid crisis in North America has expanded the potential pool of relatively young organ...
infectious-diseases

Sneezes on a plane: study shows in-flight respiratory infection transmission risk

An airline passenger with influenza or other respiratory infection will not transmit infection to passengers seated more than two seats away laterally or one row in front or back, US research...

An airline passenger with influenza or other respiratory infection will not...
infectious-diseases

1 in 6 cases of whooping cough are caused by this ‘hidden’ respiratory pathogen

A pathogen similar to Bordetella pertussis is responsible for as many one in six cases of whooping cough, Australian infectious disease specialists have confirmed. Bordetella holmesii causes a respiratory infection similar to...

A pathogen similar to Bordetella pertussis is responsible for as many...
infectious-diseases

Timing is everything: study shows pre-op physiotherapy beats post-op

A single, 30 minute physiotherapy session delivered before major abdominal surgery can halve the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications including pneumonia. A randomised controlled trial comprising 441 adults across three hospitals in Australia and New Zealand tested the addition of...

A single, 30 minute physiotherapy session delivered before major abdominal surgery can halve the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications including...
infectious-diseases

Call for vaccination as influenza confirmed as acute MI trigger

It’s been suspected as a trigger for heart attack for many years, but it has taken until now for researchers to confirm that influenza infection is linked to acute myocardial infraction . In a case control study involving 364 cases...

It’s been suspected as a trigger for heart attack for many years, but it has taken until now for researchers...
infectious-diseases

Why macrolides are a must for CAP

There is now overwhelming evidence to add macrolides to beta-lactams in empiric treatment of community acquired pneumonia (CAP), an Australian respiratory physician says. Despite controversy over the use of macrolides in CAP...

There is now overwhelming evidence to add macrolides to beta-lactams in...
infectious-diseases

Case detection of TB can be improved

Australian-led research has demonstrated that active case finding in household contacts of people with tuberculosis is more effective than the standard practice of waiting for family members to seek help for their symptoms. Part of the risk with standard practice is...

Australian-led research has demonstrated that active case finding in household contacts of people with tuberculosis is more effective than the...
infectious-diseases

UK moves to whole genome sequencing for identifying TB strains

England will be the first country in the world to conduct whole genome sequencing (WGS) on all tuberculosis (TB) samples in 2018, delegates attending the BTS Winter meeting have heard. In January, the London-based national mycobacterium reference service (NMRS) laboratory will...

England will be the first country in the world to conduct whole genome sequencing (WGS) on all tuberculosis (TB) samples...
infectious-diseases

Serious lung infections could be post-vax serotype replacement disease

A leading paediatric respiratory physician has called for enhanced surveillance to determine the impact of the 13-valent pneumococcal vaccine following preliminary data suggesting it might cause an increase in more virulent S. pneumoniae serotypes. Speaking ahead of the Asian Pacific Society...

A leading paediatric respiratory physician has called for enhanced surveillance to determine the impact of the 13-valent pneumococcal vaccine following...
infectious-diseases

Respiratory and ID specialist turf war stalling antibiotic stewardship

A rift between respiratory physicians and infectious diseases specialists could be stalling efforts to fight the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance in patients with respiratory infections, researchers claim. The study led by infectious disease specialist Associate Professor Jennifer Broome from the...

A rift between respiratory physicians and infectious diseases specialists could be stalling efforts to fight the growing problem of antimicrobial...
infectious-diseases

Researchers track the origin of Burkholderia pseudomallei

The Burkholderia pseudomallei organism that causes the infectious tropical disease meliodosis originated in Australia before being introduced to Southeast Asia, with subsequent spread to Africa and the Americas, international research has revealed. The researchers led by the UK’s Wellcome Trust Sanger...

The Burkholderia pseudomallei organism that causes the infectious tropical disease meliodosis originated in Australia before being introduced to Southeast Asia,...
infectious-diseases

Apply caution to latest vitamin D study

Experts have thrown cold water over the findings of a recent meta-analysis that concluded the prevention of acute respiratory tract infection was a “major new indication" for vitamin D supplementation. Writing in an editorial in The BMJ Associate Professor Mark Bolland...

Experts have thrown cold water over the findings of a recent meta-analysis that concluded the prevention of acute respiratory tract infection...
infectious-diseases

Researchers discover new mechanism of infection for TB

Mycrobacterium tuberculosis infects the body through a previously unknown route of entry, new research suggests. The authors of the mouse study published in Cell Reports say their findings could have significant implications for the development of new therapies to prevent tuberculosis...

Mycrobacterium tuberculosis infects the body through a previously unknown route of entry, new research suggests. The authors of the mouse study...
infectious-diseases

Perth melioidosis outbreak linked to contaminated saline

Continued use of a bottle of saline to irrigate wounds for at least three months after opening it has been linked to six cases of melioidosis in suburban Perth. This rare infection, caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, is usually restricted to tropics...

Continued use of a bottle of saline to irrigate wounds for at least three months after opening it has been...
infectious-diseases

The fight against TB shifts to fixing the immune system, not only bacteria

Tuberculosis (TB) has managed to remain a major global health problem, despite 100 years of research and more than 50 years of treatment being available. It still claims up to...

Tuberculosis (TB) has managed to remain a major global health...
infectious-diseases

Australian experience of amikacin in NTM disease

Amikacin causes little toxicity in carefully selected and closely monitored patients with non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) disease but is less effective than previously thought, according to a case series published by Brisbane respiratory physicians. Dr Claire Ellender, from the Princess Alexandra Hospital,...

Amikacin causes little toxicity in carefully selected and closely monitored patients with non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) disease but is less effective...
infectious-diseases

Government to tackle antibiotic apocalypse

The Australian Government has launched a new national strategy aimed at reducing the threat of antibiotic resistance. The National Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy 2015-2019 comes on the back of the new statistics showing Australia’s consumption of antibiotics is among the...

The Australian Government has launched a new national strategy aimed at reducing the threat of antibiotic resistance. The ...
infectious-diseases

TB and COPD ‘intimately’ connected

Tuberculosis is strongly linked to COPD an Australian review finds, calling into question the belief that people who recover from the disease do not have longer-term problems. Adults over the age of 40 with tuberculosis (TB) were three times more...

Tuberculosis is strongly linked to COPD an Australian review finds, calling into question the belief that people who recover...
infectious-diseases

Gram-negative resistance a “pressing” concern: experts

Multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacilli is a pressing contemporary concern, compounded by the paucity of new antibiotics say infectious disease experts. In a clinical focus article in the MJA the experts from the University of Queensland and Monash Health in Victoria explain...

Multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacilli is a pressing contemporary concern, compounded by the paucity of new antibiotics say infectious disease experts. In a...
infectious-diseases

Filming ferrets best for tracking flu

Ferrets used to track the pathogenesis of flu should be monitored by video, influenza researchers from Melbourne say. The method eliminates the limitations of manual scoring, where a 'blind' observer needs to recognise the normal behaviour of ferrets, the researchers led...

Ferrets used to track the pathogenesis of flu should be monitored by video, influenza researchers from Melbourne say. The method eliminates...
infectious-diseases

13 respiratory conditions on Cochrane priority list

Acute respiratory and airways conditions have made it onto the Cochrane priority list of topics to review 13 times. Published for the first time, Cochrane says the list sets out topics that 'best meet the needs of healthcare and health policy decision...

Acute respiratory and airways conditions have made it onto the Cochrane priority list of topics to review 13 times. Published for the...