Infectious Diseases - Research Publications
Permanent URI for this collection
Search Results
1 - 10 of 15
-
ItemAccess, knowledge and experience with fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in infection management: a survey of Australia and New Zealand infectious diseases physicians and microbiologists(WILEY, 2019-05-01)BACKGROUND: Despite fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) being funded only for staging and restaging of some malignancies in Australia, there is evidence of benefit of FDG-PET/CT for infection indications such as pyrexia of unknown origin (PUO), prolonged neutropenic fever (NF) and prosthetic device infection. AIM: To evaluate the current knowledge, utilisation of and gaps in access to FDG-PET/CT for infectious indications by Australasian infectious diseases (ID) physicians and microbiologists. METHODS: An online survey was administered to ID and microbiology doctors practising in adult medicine in Australia and New Zealand through two established email networks. Using targeted questions and case-based examples, multiple themes were explored, including access to FDG-PET/CT, use and perceived benefit of FDG-PET/CT in diagnosis and monitoring of non-malignant conditions such as NF and PUO, and barriers to clinical use of FDG-PET/CT. RESULTS: A response was received from 120 participants across all states and territories. Onsite and offsite FDG-PET/CT access was 63% and 31% respectively. Eighty-six percent reported using FDG-PET/CT for one or more infection indications and all had found it clinically useful, with common indications being PUO, prosthetic device infections and use in the immunocompromised host for prolonged NF and invasive fungal infection. Thirty-eight percent reported barriers in accessing FDG-PET/CT for infection indications and 76% would utilise FDG-PET/CT more frequently if funding existed for infection indications. CONCLUSION: Access to FDG-PET/CT in Australia and New Zealand is modest and is limited by lack of reimbursement for infection indications. There is discrepancy between recognised ID indications for FDG-PET/CT and funded indications.
-
ItemImpact of a hospital-wide sepsis pathway on improved quality of care and clinical outcomes in surgical patients at a comprehensive cancer centre(WILEY, 2019-05-01)PURPOSE: Sepsis is a significant complication following cancer surgery. Although standardised care bundles improve sepsis outcomes in other populations, the benefits in cancer patients are unclear. The objectives of this study were to describe the epidemiology of sepsis in cancer patients post-surgery, and to evaluate the impact of a clinical sepsis pathway on management and clinical outcomes. METHODS: A standardised hospital-wide sepsis pathway was developed in 2013, and all cases of sepsis at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in 2014 were retrospectively evaluated. Inclusion criteria were sepsis onset during the 100-day period following a surgical procedure for cancer diagnosis. Patients were identified using ICD-10-AM sepsis discharge codes, audit documentation and the hospital's antimicrobial approval system. Sepsis episodes were classified as managed on- or off-pathway. RESULTS: A total of 119 sepsis episodes were identified. Of these, 71 (59.7%) were managed on the sepsis pathway. Episodes managed on-pathway resulted more frequently in administration of appropriate antibiotics compared to those off-pathway (94.4% vs. 66.7%, p < 0.001), and had shorter time to first-dose antibiotics (median 85 vs. 315 min, p < 0.001). Pathway utilisation was associated with significant reductions in need for inotropes (7% vs. 13%, p = 0.023), ventilation (3% vs. 10%, p = 0.006) and length of hospitalisation (median 15 vs. 30 days, p = 0.008). The most frequent source of infection was organ-space surgical site infection (24.4% of instances). CONCLUSIONS: A dedicated hospital-wide sepsis pathway had significant impact on the quality of care and clinical outcomes of sepsis in cancer surgery patients. Cost-benefit analysis of sepsis pathways for cancer patients is required.
-
Item
-
ItemNo Preview AvailableRisks and burden of viral respiratory tract infections in patients with multiple myeloma in the era of immunomodulatory drugs and bortezomib: experience at an Australian Cancer Hospital(SPRINGER, 2015-07-01)INTRODUCTION: Infections are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with multiple myeloma. The epidemiology, risk factors and outcomes of viral respiratory tract infections (vRTI) are not well described in patients with multiple myeloma managed with novel agents, the current standard of care. METHODS: Patients with myeloma from 2009 to 2012 who tested positive on respiratory virus multiplex polymerase chain reaction had clinical, radiological and microbiological records reviewed. The Fourth European Conference on Infections in Leukaemia (ECIL-4) definitions of RTI were applied. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis of risk factors was performed using vRTI as the evaluable outcome. RESULTS: Of 330 patients, 75 (22.7%) tested positive for a total of 100 vRTI episodes. All patients received thalidomide, lenalidomide or bortezomib in combination with myeloma therapies (median of three treatment regimens). vRTI occurred most commonly in patients with progressive disease, and receipt of more than three lines of myeloma therapy was associated with an increased risk of vRTI (p < 0.01). Amongst key respiratory pathogens, influenza was associated with the highest hospital admission rate (66.7%), ICU admission rate (41.6%) and mortality (33.3%) whilst RSV was associated with prolonged hospital stay. CONCLUSION: Patients with multiple myeloma and advanced disease managed with multiple lines of therapy are at risk for vRTI, and targeted interventions for prevention/treatment are required.
-
ItemNo Preview AvailableOseltamivir Resistance in Adult Oncology and Hematology Patients Infected with Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Virus, Australia(CENTERS DISEASE CONTROL, 2010-07-01)We describe laboratory-confirmed influenza A pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in 17 hospitalized recipients of a hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) (8 allogeneic) and in 15 patients with malignancy treated at 6 Australian tertiary centers during winter 2009. Ten (31.3%) patients were admitted to intensive care, and 9 of them were HSCT recipients. All recipients of allogeneic HSCT with infection <100 days posttransplantation or severe graft-versus-host disease were admitted to an intensive care unit. In-hospital mortality rate was 21.9% (7/32). The H275Y neuraminidase mutation, which confers oseltamivir resistance developed in 4 of 7 patients with PCR positive for influenza after > or = 4 days of oseltamivir therapy. Three of these 4 patients were critically ill. Oseltamivir resistance in 4 (13.3%) of 30 patients who were administered oseltamivir highlights the need for ongoing surveillance of such resistance and further research on optimal antiviral therapy in the immunocompromised.
-
ItemNo Preview AvailableAn analysis of the utilisation of chemoprophylaxis against Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in patients with malignancy receiving corticosteroid therapy at a cancer hospital(NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP, 2005-03-14)Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) is associated with high mortality in immunocompromised patients without human immunodeficiency virus infection. However, chemoprophylaxis is highly effective. In patients with solid tumours or haematologic malignancy, several risk factors for developing PCP have been identified, predominantly corticosteroid therapy. The aims of this study were to identify the potentially preventable cases of PCP in patients receiving corticosteroid therapy at a tertiary care cancer centre and to estimate the frequency of utilisation of chemoprophylaxis in these patients. Two retrospective reviews were performed. Over a 10-year period, 14 cases of PCP were identified: no cases were attributable to failed chemoprophylaxis, drug allergy or intolerance. During a 6-month period, 73 patients received high-dose corticosteroid therapy (> or =25 mg prednisolone or > or =4 mg dexamethasone daily) for > or =4 weeks. Of these, 22 (30%) had haematologic malignancy, and 51 (70%) had solid tumours. Fewer patients with solid tumours received prophylaxis compared to patients with haematologic malignancy (3.9 vs 63.6%, P<0.0001). Guidelines for PCP chemoprophylaxis in patients with haematologic malignancy or solid tumours who receive corticosteroid therapy are proposed. Successful primary prevention of PCP in this population will require a multifaceted approach targeting the suboptimal prescribing patterns for chemoprophylaxis.
-
ItemThe impact of antimicrobial allergy labels on antimicrobial usage in cancer patients(BMC, 2015-06-01)BACKGROUND: Antibiotic allergy labels are associated with sub-optimal prescribing patterns and poorer clinical outcomes in non-cancer populations, but the effect of labelling on antimicrobial usage in patients with cancer is unknown. FINDINGS: A retrospective review of hospitalized patients admitted to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (2010-2012) identified 23 % of cancer patients (n = 198) with an antimicrobial allergy label (AA). Comparison of those with an antimicrobial allergy label to those without demonstrated increased antibiotic use per admission (3 vs. 2, p = 0.01), increased fluoroquinolone use (11 % vs. 6 %, p < 0.05), increased antibiotic course duration (15 vs. 13 days, p = 0.09), higher readmission rates (53 % vs. 28 %, p < 0.001) and poorer concordance with prescribing guidelines (47 % vs. 91 %, p < 0.001). Patients in the AA group on multivariate analysis had a higher number of antibiotics employed, longer duration of antibiotic therapy and higher rate of readmission. CONCLUSIONS: Antimicrobial usage, including the use of restricted antibiotics, is higher in patients with cancer. Antibiotic de-labelling strategies in cancer patients must be evaluated to aid antimicrobial stewardship initiatives.
-
ItemImproving Antimicrobial Stewardship by Antibiotic Allergy Delabeling: Evaluation of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Throughout the Emerging Infections Network(OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC, 2016-06-01)Antibiotic allergy testing (AAT) practices of Emerging Infections Network infectious disease physicians were surveyed. Although AAT was perceived to be necessary for removal of inappropriate or unnecessary allergy labels, there was limited access to any form of testing. In this study, we discuss current antibiotic allergy knowledge gaps and the development of AAT practices within antimicrobial stewardship programs, which will potentially improve antimicrobial prescribing.
-
ItemPredicting Risk of Infection in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma: Utility of Immune Profiling(FRONTIERS MEDIA SA, 2017-10-05)BACKGROUND: A translational study in patients with myeloma to determine the utility of immune profiling to predict infection risk in patients with hematological malignancy was conducted. METHODS: Baseline, end of induction, and maintenance peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 40 patients were evaluated. Immune cell populations and cytokines released from 1 × 106 cells/ml cultured in the presence of a panel of stimuli (cytomegalovirus, influenza, S. pneumoniae, phorbol myristate acetate/ionomycin) and in media alone were quantified. Patient characteristics and infective episodes were captured from clinical records. Immunological variables associated with increased risk for infection in the 3-month period following sample collection were identified using univariate analysis (p < 0.05) and refined with multivariable analysis to define a predictive immune profile. RESULTS: 525 stimulant samples with 19,950 stimulant-cytokine combinations across three periods were studied, including 61 episodes of infection. Mitogen-stimulated release of IL3 and IL5 were significantly associated with increased risk for subsequent infection during maintenance therapy. A lower Th1/Th2 ratio and higher cytokine response ratios for IL5 and IL13 during maintenance therapy were also significantly associated with increased risk for infection. On multivariable analysis, only IL5 in response to mitogen stimulation was predictive of infection. The lack of cytokine response and numerical value of immune cells were not predictive of infection. CONCLUSION: Profiling cytokine release in response to mitogen stimulation can assist with predicting subsequent onset of infection in patients with hematological malignancy during maintenance therapy.
-
ItemNo Preview AvailableManaging haematology and oncology patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: interim consensus guidance(WILEY, 2020-05-13)INTRODUCTION: A pandemic coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, causes COVID-19, a potentially life-threatening respiratory disease. Patients with cancer may have compromised immunity due to their malignancy and/or treatment, and may be at elevated risk of severe COVID-19. Community transmission of COVID-19 could overwhelm health care services, compromising delivery of cancer care. This interim consensus guidance provides advice for clinicians managing patients with cancer during the pandemic. MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS: During the COVID-19 pandemic: In patients with cancer with fever and/or respiratory symptoms, consider causes in addition to COVID-19, including other infections and therapy-related pneumonitis. For suspected or confirmed COVID-19, discuss temporary cessation of cancer therapy with a relevant specialist. Provide information on COVID-19 for patients and carers. Adopt measures within cancer centres to reduce risk of nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 acquisition; support population-wide social distancing; reduce demand on acute services; ensure adequate staffing; and provide culturally safe care. Measures should be equitable, transparent and proportionate to the COVID-19 threat. Consider the risks and benefits of modifying cancer therapies due to COVID-19. Communicate treatment modifications, and review once health service capacity allows. Consider potential impacts of COVID-19 on the blood supply and availability of stem cell donors. Discuss and document goals of care, and involve palliative care services in contingency planning. CHANGES IN MANAGEMENT AS A RESULT OF THIS STATEMENT: This interim consensus guidance provides a framework for clinicians managing patients with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic. In view of the rapidly changing situation, clinicians must also monitor national, state, local and institutional policies, which will take precedence. ENDORSED BY: Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group; Australasian Lung Cancer Trials Group; Australian and New Zealand Children's Haematology/Oncology Group; Australia and New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine; Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases; Bone Marrow Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand; Cancer Council Australia; Cancer Nurses Society of Australia; Cancer Society of New Zealand; Clinical Oncology Society of Australia; Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand; National Centre for Infections in Cancer; New Zealand Cancer Control Agency; New Zealand Society for Oncology; and Palliative Care Australia.