A5032368849- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Influenza Virus Research Studies
- Antibiotic Use and Resistance
- Dermatological diseases and infestations
- Data-Driven Disease Surveillance
- Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
- Dermatology and Skin Diseases
- COVID-19 and healthcare impacts
- Infection Control in Healthcare
- Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy
- COVID-19 Digital Contact Tracing
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Emergency and Acute Care Studies
- demographic modeling and climate adaptation
- Bacterial Identification and Susceptibility Testing
- Nosocomial Infections in ICU
- Nail Diseases and Treatments
- Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
- Patient Satisfaction in Healthcare
- Agricultural risk and resilience
- COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts
- Enterobacteriaceae and Cronobacter Research
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- Healthcare Policy and Management
Monash University
2019-2025
Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute
2023-2024
Government of Victoria
2020-2024
The Alfred Hospital
2020-2022
Department of Health and Human Services
2020-2021
Government of Western Australia Department of Health
2021
The University of Melbourne
2017-2020
Murdoch Children's Research Institute
2017-2019
Royal Children's Hospital
2017-2019
Peter Doherty Institute
2017
COVID-19 is highly transmissible and containing outbreaks requires a rapid effective response. Because infection may be spread by people who are pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic, substantial undetected transmission likely to occur before clinical cases diagnosed. Thus, when there need anticipate which populations locations at heightened risk of exposure. In this work, we evaluate the utility aggregate human mobility data for estimating geographical distribution risk. We present simple...
Since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in 2019 through to mid-2021, much Australian population lived a COVID-19-free environment. This followed broadly successful implementation strong suppression strategy, including international border closures. With availability COVID-19 vaccines early 2021, national government sought transition from state minimal incidence and activities one high vaccine coverage reduced restrictions but with still-manageable transmission. is articulated ‘re-opening’ plan...
Quantifying the extent to which previous infections and vaccinations confer protection against future infection or disease outcomes is critical managing transmission consequences of infectious diseases. We present a general statistical model for predicting strength conferred by different immunising exposures (numbers, types, strains both vaccines infections), multiple interest, whilst accounting immune waning. predict key clinical outcomes: developing symptoms, hospitalisation, death. also...
Abstract During 2020, Victoria was the Australian state hardest hit by COVID-19, but successful in controlling its second wave through aggressive policy interventions. We calibrated a detailed compartmental model of Victoria’s to multiple geographically-structured epidemic time-series indicators. achieved good fit overall and for individual health services combination time-varying processes, including case detection, population mobility, school closures, physical distancing face covering...
Healthcare associated infections are of significant burden in Australia and globally. Previous estimates have relied on single-site studies, or combinations thereof, which suggested the these is high Australia. Here, we estimate five healthcare (HAIs) Australian public hospitals using a standard international framework, compare to those observed Europe.We used data from an point prevalence survey HAIs amongst adults incidence-based approach, introduced by ECDC Burden Communicable Diseases...
In controlling transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the effectiveness border quarantine strategies is a key concern for jurisdictions in which local prevalence and immunity low. settings like this such as China, Australia, New Zealand, rare outbreak events can lead to escalating epidemics trigger imposition large-scale lockdown policies. Here, we develop apply an individual-based model COVID-19 simulate case importation from managed under various vaccination scenarios. We...
Australian states and territories used test–trace–isolate–quarantine (TTIQ) systems extensively in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic 2020-2021. We report on an analysis of case data estimate impact SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Our uses a novel mathematical modelling framework detailed surveillance cases including dates infection isolation. First, we directly translate empirical distribution times from isolation into reductions potential for onward transmission during periods relatively low...
ABSTRACT We report on an analysis of Australian COVID-19 case data to estimate the impact TTIQ systems SARS-CoV-2 transmission in 2020–21. that a low prevalence period state New South Wales (tens cases per day), contributed 54% reduction transmission. In higher Victoria (hundreds 42% Our results also suggest case-initiated contact tracing can support timely quarantine times system stress. Contact for Australia were highly effective and adaptable supporting national suppression strategy...
Households are an important location for the transmission of communicable diseases. Social contact between household members is typically more frequent, greater intensity, and likely to involve people different age groups than occurring in general community. Understanding structure populations therefore fundamental explaining patterns disease these populations. Indigenous Australia tend live larger households non-Indigenous populations, but limited data available on households, how they...
Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on healthcare including increased awareness of infection prevention and control (IPC). aim this study was to explore if the heightened IPC measures implemented in response influenced rates associated infections (HAI) using positive bloodstream urine cultures as proxy measure. Methods A 3 year retrospective review laboratory data from 5 hospitals (4 acute public, 1 private) two states Australia undertaken. Monthly culture...
To quantify the childhood infectious disease burden and antibiotic use in Northern Territory's East Arnhem region through synthesis analysis of historical data resources.We combined primary health clinic originally reported three separate publications stemming from Healthy Skin Project (Jan-01 to Sep-07). Common statistical techniques were used explore prevalence conditions seasonality infections, measure rates use.There was a high monthly respiratory (mean: 32% [95% confidence interval...
Abstract Background Since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), there have been multiple waves infection and rounds vaccination rollouts. Both prior can prevent future reduce severity outcomes, combining to form hybrid immunity against COVID-19 at individual population level. Here, we explore how different combinations affect size near-future Omicron waves. Methods To investigate role immunity, use an agent-based model transmission with waning simulate outbreaks in populations varied past...
Disease surveillance data was critical in supporting public health decisions throughout the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. At same time, unprecedented circumstances of pandemic revealed many shortcomings systems for viral respiratory pathogens. Strengthening identified as a priority recently established Australian Centre Control, which represents opportunity to review pre-pandemic and practices, decide on future priorities, during both inter-pandemic periods. On 20 October...
Prevalence of impetigo (skin sores) remains high in remote Australian Aboriginal communities, Fiji, and other areas socio-economic disadvantage. Skin sore infections, driven primarily these settings by Group A Streptococcus (GAS) contribute substantially to the disease burden areas. Despite this, estimates for force infection, infectious period basic reproductive ratio-all necessary construction dynamic transmission models-have not been obtained. By utilising three datasets each containing...
Prevalence of skin sores and scabies in remote Australian Aboriginal communities remains unacceptably high, with Group A Streptococcus (GAS) the dominant pathogen. We aim to better understand drivers GAS transmission using mathematical models. To estimate force infection, we quantified age first infection by pooling historical data from three studies conducted across five for children born between 2001 2005. estimated Kaplan-Meier estimator; parametric exponential mixture model; Cox...
ABSTRACT Since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in 2019 through to mid-2021, much Australian population lived a COVID-19 free environment. This followed broadly successful implementation strong suppression strategy, including international border closures. With availability vaccines early 2021, national government sought transition from state minimal incidence and activities one high vaccine coverage reduced restrictions but with still-manageable transmission. is articulated “re-opening” plan...
Abstract Since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), there have been multiple waves infection and rounds vaccination rollouts. Both prior can prevent future reduce severity outcomes, combining to form hybrid immunity against COVID-19 at individual population level. Here, we explore how different combinations affect size near-future Omicron waves. To investigate role immunity, use an agent-based model transmission with waning simulate outbreaks in populations varied past attack rates...
Background Following widespread exposure to Omicron variants, COVID-19 has transitioned endemic cir- culation. Populations now have diverse infection and vaccination histories, resulting in heterogeneous immune landscapes. Careful consideration of is required through the post-Omicron phase management minimise disease burden. We assess impact cost-effectiveness targeted strategies support global recommendations. Methods integrated immunological, transmission, clinical models, simulated...
Households are an important location for the transmission of communicable diseases. Social contact between household members is typically more frequent, greater intensity, and likely to involve people different age groups than occurring in general community. Understanding structure populations therefore fundamental explaining patterns disease these populations. Indigenous Australia tend live larger households non populations, but limited data available on households, how they differ remote...
Abstract Background Hospitals in any given region can be considered as part of a network, where facilities are connected to one another – and hospital pathogens potentially spread through the movement patients between them. We sought describe admission patterns known colonised with carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE), compare them CPE-negative patients. Methods performed linkage study Victoria, Australia, including datasets notifiable diseases (CPE notifications) admissions...
Abstract We developed a flexible infectious disease model framework that combines detailed individual-based of arrival pathways (quarantine model) and an the arrivals environment (community to inform border risk assessments. The work was motivated by Australia’s desire safely increase international volumes, which had been heavily constrained since early 2020 as result COVID-19 pandemic. These analyses supported decisions on quarantine policy in context Australian government’s national...
Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) are an emerging public health concern globally as they resistant to a broad spectrum of antibiotics. Colonisation with CPE typically requires patients be managed under ‘contact precautions’, which creates additional physical bed demands in healthcare facilities. This study examined the potential impact revised isolation guidelines introduced late 2023 Victoria, Australia, that relaxed requirement for indefinite CPE-colonised contact precautions,...