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Mycobacterial mimicry in a man from Myanmar

David WJ Griffin, G Khai Lin Huang, Philippe Lachapelle, Steven YC Tong and Siddhartha Mahanty
Med J Aust 2019; 210 (8): . || doi: 10.5694/mja2.50133
Published online: 6 May 2019

A 26‐year‐old refugee from Myanmar was referred to the infectious diseases unit of an Australian teaching hospital for assessment of suspected recurrent pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). He had arrived in Australia 3 months earlier, after spending the preceding 5 years in Malaysia. He was diagnosed with presumed pulmonary TB in Malaysia in 2013, in the context of a productive cough and suspicious chest x‐ray findings, without microbiological confirmation. He completed treatment with 6 months of first line anti‐TB therapy (2 months of rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide and ethambutol, followed by 4 months of rifampicin and isoniazid).

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Acute kidney injury in Indigenous Australians in the Kimberley: age distribution and associated diagnoses

Joseph V Mohan, David N Atkinson, Johan B Rosman and Emma K Griffiths
Med J Aust 2019; 211 (1): . || doi: 10.5694/mja2.50061
Published online: 29 April 2019

Abstract

Objective: To describe the frequencies of acute kidney injury (AKI) and of associated diagnoses in Indigenous people in a remote Western Australian region.

Design: Retrospective population‐based study of AKI events confirmed by changes in serum creatinine levels.

Setting, participants: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents of the Kimberley region of Western Australia, aged 15 years or more and without end‐stage kidney disease, for whom AKI between 1 June 2009 and 30 May 2016 was confirmed by an acute rise in serum creatinine levels.

Main outcome measures: Age‐specific AKI rates; principal and other diagnoses.

Results: 324 AKI events in 260 individuals were recorded; the median age of patients was 51.8 years (IQR, 43.9–61.0 years), and 176 events (54%) were in men. The overall AKI rate was 323 events (95% CI, 281–367) per 100 000 population; 92 events (28%) were in people aged 15–44 years. 52% of principal diagnoses were infectious in nature, including pneumonia (12% of events), infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (10%), and urinary tract infections (7.7%). 80 events (34%) were detected on or before the date of admission; fewer than one‐third of discharge summaries (61 events, 28%) listed AKI as a primary or other diagnosis.

Conclusion: The age distribution of AKI events among Indigenous Australians in the Kimberley was skewed to younger groups than in the national data on AKI. Infectious conditions were common in patients, underscoring the significance of environmental determinants of health. Primary care services can play an important role in preventing community‐acquired AKI; applying pathology‐based criteria could improve the detection of AKI.

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  • 1 The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA
  • 2 Rural Clinical School of Western Australia, University of Western Australia, Broome, WA
  • 3 Curtin University, Perth, WA
  • 4 Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services, Broome, WA



Acknowledgements: 

We thank Julia Marley (Kimberley Research, University of Western Australia) for critically reviewing our manuscript.

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

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  • 28. Mehta RL, Burdmann EA, Cerdá J, et al. Recognition and management of acute kidney injury in the International Society of Nephrology 0by25 Global Snapshot: a multinational cross‐sectional study. Lancet 2016; 387: 2017–2025.
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Traumatic spinal cord injury in Victoria, 2007–2016

Ben Beck, Peter A Cameron, Sandra Braaf, Andrew Nunn, Mark C Fitzgerald, Rodney T Judson, Warwick J Teague, Alyse Lennox, James W Middleton, James E Harrison and Belinda J Gabbe
Med J Aust 2019; 210 (8): . || doi: 10.5694/mja2.50143
Published online: 29 April 2019

Abstract

Objective: To investigate trends in the incidence and causes of traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) in Victoria over a 10‐year period.

Design, setting, participants: Retrospective cohort study: analysis of Victorian State Trauma Registry (VSTR) data for people who sustained TSCIs during 2007–2016.

Main outcomes and measures: Temporal trends in population‐based incidence rates of TSCI (injury to the spinal cord with an Abbreviated Injury Scale [AIS] score of 4 or more).

Results: There were 706 cases of TSCI, most the result of transport events (269 cases, 38%) or low falls (197 cases, 28%). The overall crude incidence of TSCI was 1.26 cases per 100 000 population (95% CI, 1.17–1.36 per 100 000 population), and did not change over the study period (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.01; 95% CI, 0.99–1.04). However, the incidence of TSCI resulting from low falls increased by 9% per year (95% CI, 4–15%). The proportion of TSCI cases classified as incomplete tetraplegia increased from 41% in 2007 to 55% in 2016 (P < 0.001). Overall in‐hospital mortality was 15% (104 deaths), and was highest among people aged 65 years or more (31%, 70 deaths).

Conclusions: Given the devastating consequences of TSCI, improved primary prevention strategies are needed, particularly as the incidence of TSCI did not decline over the study period. The epidemiologic profile of TSCI has shifted, with an increasing number of TSCI events in older adults. This change has implications for prevention, acute and post‐discharge care, and support.

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  • 1 Monash University, Melbourne, VIC
  • 2 The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC
  • 3 Victorian Spinal Cord Service, Austin Hospital, Melbourne, VIC
  • 4 National Trauma Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC
  • 5 Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC
  • 6 University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC
  • 7 Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC
  • 8 Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC
  • 9 Kolling Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW
  • 10 Agency for Clinical Innovation, Sydney, NSW
  • 11 Research Centre for Injury Studies, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA
  • 12 Health Data Research UK, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom


Correspondence: ben.beck@monash.edu

Acknowledgements: 

We thank the Victorian State Trauma Outcome Registry and Monitoring (VSTORM) group for providing Victorian State Trauma Registry data. We also thank Sue McLellan for her assistance with providing the data. The VSTR is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, Victoria and the Transport Accident Commission. Ben Beck was supported by an Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award Fellowship (DE180100825). Peter Cameron was supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Practitioner Fellowship (545926). Warwick Teague's role as director of trauma services was supported by a grant from the Royal Children's Hospital Foundation. Belinda Gabbe was supported by an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (FT170100048).

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

  • 1. Bickenbach JR, Officer A, Shakespeare T, et al. International perspectives on spinal cord injury. Geneva: World Health Organization; International Spinal Cord Society, 2013. http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/94190/1/9789241564663_eng.pdf?ua=1 (viewed May 2017).
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Early success with room for improvement: influenza vaccination of young Australian children

Frank H Beard, Alexandra J Hendry and Kristine Macartney
Med J Aust 2019; 210 (11): . || doi: 10.5694/mja2.50141
Published online: 29 April 2019
Correction(s) for this article: Erratum | Published online: 7 April 2025

Immunisation providers should offer annual influenza vaccination for children aged 6 months to 5 years and report it to the Australian Immunisation Register


  • 1 National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW
  • 2 University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW



Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

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Qualified privilege legislation to support clinician quality assurance: balancing professional and public interests

Susannah Ahern, Ingrid Hopper and Erwin Loh
Med J Aust 2019; 210 (8): . || doi: 10.5694/mja2.50124
Published online: 22 April 2019

A review of the legislation may be warranted to assess the balance between professional and public interests

Patient health‐related datasets are protected by national and state‐based privacy laws which establish requirements for data security that safeguard identified patient information.1,2,3 Nevertheless, these data may potentially be accessed by third parties in accordance with the law — for example, in connection with freedom of information requests or legal proceedings — by statutory bodies such as the Australian Health Practitioner Regulatory Agency, or by jurisdictional health complaints commissions. Patient information from health service medical records is regularly used in medico‐legal proceedings, a recent significant example of which was the Bawa‐Garba case in the United Kingdom,4 discussed below.


  • Monash University, Melbourne, VIC


Correspondence: susannah.ahern@monash.edu

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

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Updated Australian consensus statement on management of inherited bleeding disorders in pregnancy

Scott Dunkley, Julie A Curtin, Anthony J Marren, Robert P Heavener, Simon McRae and Jennifer L Curnow
Med J Aust 2019; 210 (7): . || doi: 10.5694/mja2.50123
Published online: 15 April 2019

Abstract

Introduction: There have been significant advances in the understanding of the management of inherited bleeding disorders in pregnancy since the last Australian Haemophilia Centre Directors’ Organisation (AHCDO) consensus statement was published in 2009. This updated consensus statement provides practical information for clinicians managing pregnant women who have, or carry a gene for, inherited bleeding disorders, and their potentially affected infants. It represents the consensus opinion of all AHCDO members; where evidence was lacking, recommendations have been based on clinical experience and consensus opinion.

Main recommendations: During pregnancy and delivery, women with inherited bleeding disorders may be exposed to haemostatic challenges. Women with inherited bleeding disorders, and their potentially affected infants, need specialised care during pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum, and should be managed by a multidisciplinary team that includes at a minimum an obstetrician, anaesthetist, paediatrician or neonatologist, and haematologist. Recommendations on management of pregnancy, labour, delivery, obstetric anaesthesia and postpartum care, including reducing and treating postpartum haemorrhage, are included. The management of infants known to have or be at risk of an inherited bleeding disorder is also covered.

Changes in management as a result of this statement: Key changes in this update include the addition of a summary of the expected physiological changes in coagulation factors and phenotypic severity of bleeding disorders in pregnancy; a flow chart for the recommended clinical management during pregnancy and delivery; guidance for the use of regional anaesthetic; and prophylactic treatment recommendations including concomitant tranexamic acid.


  • 1 Institute of Haematology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW
  • 2 The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW
  • 3 Australian Haemophilia Centres Directors’ Organisation, Melbourne, VIC
  • 4 Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW
  • 5 Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA
  • 6 Haemophilia Treatment Centre, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, NSW


Correspondence: scottmdunkley@gmail.com

Acknowledgements: 

We are grateful to Steph P'ng, John Rowell, Tim Brighton, Huyen Tran and Ian Douglas for their helpful feedback and comments. We acknowledge Ruth Hadfield for medical writing and editing assistance.

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

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Resilient health systems: preparing for climate disasters and other emergencies

Gerard J FitzGerald, Anthony Capon and Peter Aitken
Med J Aust 2019; 210 (7): . || doi: 10.5694/mja2.50115
Published online: 15 April 2019

A system that integrates all aspects of health care is essential for facing future challenges

After another Australian summer of record‐breaking temperatures, bushfires, floods and widespread drought, it is clear that our health systems should be strengthened to cope with the challenges of climate change. We must also reduce the carbon footprint of health care,1 and continue to advocate that Australia play its part in dealing with the fundamental causes of climate change. In May, the 21st biennial congress of the World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine (WADEM) will be hosted by Brisbane. The congress will bring together investigators and practitioners from around the world to discuss disaster health care, future risks, community vulnerabilities, and the strategies required by resilient health systems.


  • 1 Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD
  • 2 Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW
  • 3 Health Disaster Management Unit, Queensland Health, Brisbane, QLD


Correspondence: gj.fitzgerald@qut.edu.au

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

  • 1. Malik A, Lenzen M, McAlister S, McGain F. The carbon footprint of Australian health care. Lancet Planet Health 2018; 2: e27–e35.
  • 2. Hanna EG, McIver LJ. Climate change: a brief overview of the science and health impacts for Australia. Med J Aust 2018; 208: 311–315. https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2018/208/7/climate-change-brief-overview-science-and-health-impacts-australia
  • 3. Kishore N, Marqués D, Mahmud A, et al. Mortality in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. N Engl J Med 2018; 379: 162–170.
  • 4. Burns P, Douglas K, Hu W. Primary care in disasters: opportunity to address a hidden burden of health care. Med J Aust 2019; 210: 297–299.
  • 5. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Emergency department care 2017–18: Australian hospital statistics (Cat. No. HSE 216; Health Services Series No. 89). Canberra: AIHW, 2018.
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Primary care in disasters: opportunity to address a hidden burden of health care

Penelope L Burns, Kirsty A Douglas and Wendy Hu
Med J Aust 2019; 210 (7): . || doi: 10.5694/mja2.50067
Published online: 15 April 2019

General practitioners provide a flexible response to the changed needs of the disaster‐affected population

In Australia, “a land … of droughts and flooding rains,”1 disasters affect our lives annually, the majority of which are weather‐related.2 They are a part of the landscape, taking the form of cyclones, floods, bushfires, droughts and other phenomena. Cyclone Debbie, which hit northern Queensland in 2017, the Tathra bushfires, which affected the south coast of New South Wales in 2018, and the thunderstorm asthma event in Melbourne in 2016 are just a few recent examples. Such catastrophic events affect rural and urban communities and coastal and inland locations. No community in Australia is exempt, which is reflected in the recent shift in focus by national and international disaster management policy to prioritise improving local community capacity to respond and recover.3,4


  • 1 Australian National University, Canberra, ACT
  • 2 Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW


Correspondence: Penelope.Burns@anu.edu.au

Acknowledgements: 

We thank the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Foundation for their support on some early work in this field.

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

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The importance of public health genomics for ensuring health security for Australia

Deborah A Williamson, Martyn D Kirk, Vitali Sintchenko and Benjamin P Howden
Med J Aust 2019; 210 (7): . || doi: 10.5694/mja2.50063
Published online: 15 April 2019

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


  • 1 University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC
  • 2 National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT
  • 3 University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW



Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures

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The impact of rapid molecular diagnostic testing for respiratory viruses on outcomes for emergency department patients

Nasir Wabe, Ling Li, Robert Lindeman, Ruth Yimsung, Maria R Dahm, Kate Clezy, Susan McLennan, Johanna Westbrook and Andrew Georgiou
Med J Aust 2019; 210 (7): . || doi: 10.5694/mja2.50049
Published online: 8 April 2019

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for influenza and respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV) in emergency departments (EDs) is associated with better patient and laboratory outcomes than standard multiplex PCR testing.

Design, setting: A before‐and‐after study in four metropolitan EDs in New South Wales.

Participants: 1491 consecutive patients tested by standard multiplex PCR during July–December 2016, and 2250 tested by rapid PCR during July–December 2017.

Main outcome measures: Hospital admissions; ED length of stay (LOS); test turnaround time; patient receiving test result before leaving the ED; ordering of other laboratory tests.

Results: Compared with those tested by standard PCR, fewer patients tested by rapid PCR were admitted to hospital (73.3% v 77.7%; P < 0.001) and more received their test results before leaving the ED (67.4% v 1.3%; P < 0.001); the median test turnaround time was also shorter (2.4 h [IQR, 1.6–3.9 h] v 26.7 h [IQR, 21.2–37.8 h]). The proportion of patients admitted to hospital was also lower in the rapid PCR group for both children under 18 (50.6% v 66.6%; P < 0.001) and patients over 60 years of age (84.3% v 91.8%; P < 0.001). Significantly fewer blood culture, blood gas, sputum culture, and respiratory bacterial and viral serology tests were ordered for patients tested by rapid PCR. ED LOS was similar for the rapid (7.4 h; IQR, 5.0–12.9 h) and standard PCR groups (6.5 h; IQR, 4.2–11.9 h; P = 0.27).

Conclusion: Rapid PCR testing of ED patients for influenza virus and RSV was associated with better outcomes on a range of indicators, suggesting benefits for patients and the health care system. A formal cost–benefit analysis should be undertaken.

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  • 1 Centre for Health Systems and Safety Research, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW
  • 2 NSW Health Pathology, Sydney, NSW
  • 3 Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW
  • 4 Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW


Correspondence: nasir.wabe@mq.edu.au

Acknowledgements: 

The project was part of a partnership project funded by a National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia Partnership Project Grant (APP1111925), in partnership with NSW Health Pathology and the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare.23

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

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