Coordination is required to future‐proof Australia's capacity and leadership in public health genomics
Infectious diseases are an ever‐present risk to society, particularly because of globalisation and the threat of antimicrobial‐resistant organisms. Recently, a World Health Organization (WHO) team conducted a joint external evaluation of Australia's core capacities under the International Health Regulations. The evaluation gave Australia a high scorecard in all areas relevant to protecting health from emerging infectious disease threats.1 However, an area that the evaluation team highlighted for critical improvement was the integration of whole genome sequencing‐based surveillance into existing communicable diseases control systems in the Australian setting.1 While Australia scored highly for laboratory testing of priority diseases, the team recommended “integration of laboratory testing data with epidemiological data particularly in the context of whole genome sequencing”.1
The full article is accessible to AMA members and paid subscribers. Login to read more or purchase a subscription now.
Please note: institutional and Research4Life access to the MJA is now provided through Wiley Online Library.
- 1. World Health Organization. Joint external evaluation of IHR core capacities of Australia: mission report, 24 November ‐ 1 December 2017. Geneva: WHO, 2018. http://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/272362 (viewed Feb 2019).
- 2. Gardy JL, Loman NJ. Towards a genomics‐informed, real‐time, global pathogen surveillance system. Nat Rev Genet 2018; 19: 9–20.
- 3. Australian Government Department of Health. National Framework for Communicable Disease Control Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia, 2014. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ohp-nat-frame-communic-disease-control.htm (viewed Feb 2019).
- 4. Australian Government Department of Health. National Health Genomics Policy Framework 2018‐2021. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/national-health-genomics-policy-framework-2018-2021 (viewed Feb 2018).
- 5. Allard MW, Strain E, Melka D, et al. Practical value of food pathogen traceability through building a whole‐genome sequencing network and database. J Clin Microbiol 2016; 54: 1975–1983.
- 6. Kwong JC, Stafford R, Strain E, et al. Sharing is caring: international sharing of data enhances genomic surveillance of Listeria monocytogenes. Clin Infect Dis 2016; 63: 846–848.
- 7. Grant K, Jenkins C, Arnold C, et al. Implementing pathogen genomics: a case study. London: Public Health England, 2018. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/implementing-pathogen-genomics-a-case-study (viewed Feb 2018).
- 8. Dallman TJ, Byrne L, Ashton PM, et al. Whole‐genome sequencing for national surveillance of Shiga toxin‐producing Escherichia coli O157. Clin Infect Dis 2015; 61: 305–312.
- 9. Baker KS, Dallman TJ, Field N, et al. Genomic epidemiology of Shigella in the United Kingdom shows transmission of pathogen sublineages and determinants of antimicrobial resistance. Sci Rep 2018; 8: 7389.
- 10. Neuert S, Nair S, Day MR, et al. Prediction of phenotypic antimicrobial resistance profiles from whole genome sequences of non‐typhoidal Salmonella enterica. Front Microbiol 2018; 9: 592.
- 11. Williamson D, Howden B, Stinear T. Mycobacterium chimaera spread from heating and cooling units in heart surgery. N Engl J Med 2017; 376: 600–602.
- 12. Vasant BR, Stafford RJ, Jennison AV, et al. Mild Illness during outbreak of Shiga toxin‐producing Escherichia coli O157 infections associated with agricultural show, Australia. Emerg Infect Dis 2017; 23: 1686–1689.
- 13. Gurjav U, Outhred AC, Jelfs P, et al. Whole genome sequencing demonstrates limited transmission within identified Mycobacterium tuberculosis clusters in New South Wales, Australia. PLOS One 2016; 11: e0163612.
- 14. Kwong JC, Mercoulia K, Tomita T, et al. Prospective whole‐genome sequencing enhances national surveillance of Listeria monocytogenes. J Clin Microbiol 2016; 54: 333–342.
- 15. Kwong JC, Lane CR, Romanes F, et al. Translating genomics into practice for real‐time surveillance and response to carbapenemase‐producing Enterobacteriaceae: evidence from a complex multi‐institutional KPC outbreak. PeerJ 2018; 6: e4210.
No relevant disclosures