A5024151984- Bacterial Identification and Susceptibility Testing
- Diphtheria, Corynebacterium, and Tetanus
- Hepatitis B Virus Studies
- Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment
- Mycobacterium research and diagnosis
- Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Hepatitis C virus research
- Dermatological diseases and infestations
- Hepatitis Viruses Studies and Epidemiology
- Gender Diversity and Inequality
- Streptococcal Infections and Treatments
- Sex and Gender in Healthcare
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Infective Endocarditis Diagnosis and Management
- Toxin Mechanisms and Immunotoxins
- Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens research
- Neonatal and Maternal Infections
- HIV Research and Treatment
- Diversity and Career in Medicine
- HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions
- Sepsis Diagnosis and Treatment
- Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus
- Indigenous Health, Education, and Rights
James Cook University
2019-2025
Australian Government
2024
Government of Western Australia Department of Health
2024
Breast Cancer Network Australia
2024
Island Hospital
2019-2021
Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine
2021
Port Kennedy Association
2020
Bond University
2014
University of Oxford
2014
Background Sepsis is defined as dysregulated host response to infection that leads life-threatening organ dysfunction. Biomarkers characterising the in sepsis are lacking. We aimed develop gene expression signatures predict dysfunction children with bacterial or viral infection. Methods This cohort study was done emergency departments and intensive care units of four hospitals Queensland, Australia, recruited aged 1 month 17 years who, upon admission, underwent a diagnostic test, including...
Significance Factors that influence the virulence of HIV are direct relevance to ongoing efforts contain, and ultimately eradicate, epidemic. We here investigate in Botswana South Africa, countries severely affected by HIV, impact on adaptation protective HLA alleles such as HLA-B*57. In Botswana, where epidemic started earlier reached higher adult seroprevalence than replication capacity is lower. also better adapted HLA-B*57, which has no effect, contrast its Africa. Modelling studies...
Sepsis is a life-threatening disease caused by dysregulated host response to infection, resulting in 11 million deaths globally each year. Vascular endothelial cell dysfunction results the loss of barrier integrity, which contributes sepsis-induced multiple organ failure and mortality. Erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular carcinoma (Eph) receptors their ephrin ligands play key role vascular disruption but are currently not therapeutic target sepsis. Using cecal ligation puncture (CLP)...
(Background) With optimal antenatal and perinatal care immunisation, the risk of transmission hepatitis B virus (HBV) approaches zero. However, it can be logistically challenging to deliver this culturally linguistically diverse populations those individuals who are living in remote Australian communities. This study examined management pregnant women with chronic (CHB) their children Far North Queensland (FNQ). It was hoped that would identify successes limitations current FNQ HBV programme...
The burden of scabies in Far North Queensland (FNQ), tropical Australia is incompletely defined. We reviewed the results every skin scraping collected FNQ’s public health system between 2000 and 2023; 121/4345 (2.8%) were positive, including 19/1071 (1.8%) last 5 years study; proportion tests that positive for declined over study period (rs=-0.62, p=0.0001) Individuals who tested no more likely to have had a prior diagnosis ARF or RHD compared matched controls (1/101 (1%) versus 3/101 (3%);...
We used the Queensland acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and heart disease (RHD) register to describe clinical phenotype characteristics of consecutive individuals diagnosed with ARF in Far North Queensland, tropical Australia between January 2012 December 2023. There were 830 episodes 740 during study period; 785/830 (95%) occurred First Nations Australians 696/824 (84%) areas socioeconomic disadvantage. was no significant change overall incidence period (rs=0.51, p=0.09). The median...
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians living with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection have a significant burden of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The prevalence comorbidities that increase the risk HCC in this population is incompletely defined.
The purpose of this article is to evaluate the COVID-19 Care in Home (CCITH) program during first omicron wave across Torres Strait and Cape York region Far North Queensland 2022. A mixed-method study: An online survey semi-structured interviews CCITH internal external stakeholders participants was utilised develop a greater understanding perspectives program. Survey n=140. Most respondents did not attend hospital, emergency, or primary healthcare centre isolation for medical assistance...
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) genetic diversity poses a challenge to reliable viral load monitoring. Discrepancies between different testing platforms have been observed, especially for non-clade-B virus. Therefore we compare, in antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve South African subjects predominantly infected with HIV-1 clade-C, three commercially available assays: the COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan Test version 2.0 by Roche (CAP/CTM v2.0), BioMérieux NucliSens Version Easy...
The effects of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence factor pyocyanin (PCN) on contractile function porcine coronary arteries was investigated in vitro. Artery rings (5 mm) were suspended organ baths containing Krebs' solution for measurement isometric tension. effect PCN resting and precontracted initially with various agents. Arteries prostaglandin (PG) F2α or potassium chloride endothelium-dependent relaxations induced by agents presence PCN. Pyocyanin (0.1-10 μmol/L) evoked...
Burkholderia pseudomallei, a bacterium that lives in the soil of tropics, causes disease melioidosis. This retrospective study investigated temporospatial epidemiology 49 laboratory-confirmed melioidosis cases Torres Straits Islands tropical Australia between 1997 and 2017. An identifiable risk factor for was present 43/49 (88%) 35/36 (97%) with complete clinical data. The mean incidence varied across region, from 0/100,000 persons/year Eastern Island Cluster to 116.1/100,000 Near Western...
A coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak was declared in the remote Torres and Cape region of Far North Queensland soon after border opened for quarantine-free domestic travel December 2021, with a total 7,784 cases notified during first ten-month period. We report crude attack rate among residents 25.6% (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 25.1–26.1%), hospitalisation 1.6% CI: 1.3–1.9%) case fatality 0.05% 0.01–0.13%). Hospitalisation rates were similar First Nations non-Indigenous...
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians living in remote locations suffer disproportionately from chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Defining the temporospatial epidemiology of disease-and assessing ability local clinicians to deliver optimal care-is crucial improving patient outcomes these settings.The demographic, laboratory radiology findings all patients diagnosed with CHB after 1990, presently residing Far North Queensland (FNQ), tropical Australia, were correlated their management...
Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is almost entirely preventable, but its incidence in indigenous Australians remains one of the highest world. A community-based echocardiogram screening program 862 Torres Strait Islander children identified 25 (2.9%) new cases RHD. Among these children, 5/7 (71%) prior acute rheumatic fever presentations had not been recognized. There was a history microbiologically confirmed group Streptococcus infection 17/25 (68%) with RHD compared 9/25 (36%) controls (odds...
RRH: Rural and Remote Health. Published article number: 7657 - Seeking to improve access COVID-19 therapeutics in the remote Torres Cape communities of Far North Queensland during first omicron outbreak
Abstract Toxigenic diphtheria is rare in Australia with generally fewer than 10 cases reported annually; however, since 2020, there has been an increase toxin gene-bearing isolates of Corynebacterium diphtheriae North Queensland, approximately 300% escalation 2022. Genomic analysis on both and non-toxin C. isolated from this region between 2017 2022 demonstrated that the surge was largely due to one sequence type (ST), ST381, all which carried gene. ST381 collected 2020 were highly...
Abstract Background The prevalence of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians Far North Queensland (FNQ) is greater than twice that the general Australian population. CHB common Islanders diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) – Aboriginals HCC living Northern Territory however, FNQ very rarely have CHB. explanation for this apparent disparity uncertain. Aims To determine HBV genotypes population their correlation clinical phenotype. Methods We...
Objective: To ascertain the gender distribution across public health boards in Australia. Design & Setting: Analysis of data and information obtained from a cross sectional audit online publicly listed within Australia October to December 2019. Results: The majority have close equal representation women as board members however are underrepresented Chair roles. Victoria has significantly more on boards, whereas New South Wales less positions. Conclusions: Further efforts required drive...
Background There is a high burden of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) – including cellulitis among Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander peoples living in remote communities. In tropical environments, such as the Strait, accounts for 37% potentially preventable hospitalisations. This study aimed to evaluate safety, effectiveness community acceptance outpatient antibiotic treatment management Strait. Methods was 12-month prospective, observational commencing January 2019 involving 295...
BackgroundRates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) for some pathogens in Australia are considerably higher rural and remote compared to urban regions. The inaugural Hot North Antimicrobial Academy was a 9-month educational programme aimed build workforce knowledge capacity use, audit, stewardship, surveillance drug primary health care.MethodsThe advertised Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander, regional healthcare workers. Participants were practitioners, nurses, pharmacists doctors from...