Immunisation is second only to clean water and sanitation as a life-saving activity. Vaccine safety is considered to be very important by the general public, the media and the health professions. With so many diseases controlled and now rare, the safety of vaccines assumes greater importance. Research is needed on new and safer vaccines, using e.g. a needle-free approach, against old foes, like influenza, and new enemies (like MERS) with vaccine safety more important than ever.
Optimising Patient Outcomes Following Surgery: Bridging The Fields Of Antimicrobial Stewardship, Microbiology And Infection Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,000.00
Summary
Over 2.4 million surgeries are performed yearly in Australia. Up to 15% of procedures are complicated by infection leading to patient suffering. These infections are also implicated in the emergence of antibiotic resistance. My research will help us understand how infections develop, how to prevent these infections and how to incorporate best-practice into patient care. My research will bridge these key areas to help improve outcomes for patients undergoing surgical procedures.
Understanding And Preventing Airborne Transmission Of Infectious Respiratory Aerosols
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$393,894.00
Summary
This project aims to significantly advance our understanding of how infectious bacteria are transmitted through the air, and what basic control measures are most effective at preventing this. This research is focused on persons with cystic fibrosis (CF), as they may be particularly susceptible to such transmission, but our results will also help us better understand how other infections are spread through the air. This is especially important given the recent global influenza pandemic.
Modulation Of Leishmaniasis By The Proinflammatory Cytokines TNF
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$288,911.00
Summary
We have established a mouse model that has been genetically modified and cannot produce the cytokine tumour necrosis factor. This cytokine is secreted in the beginning of the inflammatory response. If these mice are infected with a parasite they are not able to heal the infection and die quickly. We can demonstrate that these mice cannot regulate the beginning inflammatory response and do not form a cellular infiltrate at the site of infection.
Do Rapid Detection & Isolation Of Colonised Patients Reduce MRSA Spread? An Epidemiological, Economic & Modelling Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$354,299.00
Summary
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is the antibiotic resistant form of Golden Staph. It is one of the most common causes of hospital acquired infection. Despite the presence of MRSA for more than 40 years in our hospitals, the most efficient ways of controlling it are still debated. Some experts recommend swabbing all high risk patients for MRSA, isolating those found to be carriers it in single rooms or with other carriers and using special precautions, such as gowns and gloves, ....Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is the antibiotic resistant form of Golden Staph. It is one of the most common causes of hospital acquired infection. Despite the presence of MRSA for more than 40 years in our hospitals, the most efficient ways of controlling it are still debated. Some experts recommend swabbing all high risk patients for MRSA, isolating those found to be carriers it in single rooms or with other carriers and using special precautions, such as gowns and gloves, when in contact with these patients. One of the problems with this approach is that it takes 2-3 days to detect MRSA from swabs using the usual culture methods in the microbiology laboratory. This means that there are delays in instituting control measures, which may reduce their effectiveness. We plan to test whether use of isolation and special precautions is better than our current practices in preventing the spread of MRSA from patient to patient in the Royal Melbourne Hospital intensive care unit. Patients will be swabbed several times during their admission to see if they are carrying MRSA. We will use new, rapid laboratory methods that can detect MRSA within hours from these patient specimens. This will mean that if patients are found to be carriers, isolation and special precautions can be implemented early. We will compare how many people get MRSA in the time when we are not using any special precautions with how many get it in the time when we are. We are also going to undertake an economic analysis to see whether, even if these new diagnostic methods are more expensive that standard methods, they may still be worth the cost if we can prevent infections in patients. This study will help infection control practitioners to decide whether patients should be isolated with special precautions if they are MRSA carriers. The results of this study will contribute to better patient outcomes, lower hospital costs and more efficient use of resources.Read moreRead less
A Detailed Asssessment Of Severe Malaria And Severe Non Malarial Illness In Papua New Guinean Children.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$39,171.00
Summary
PNG has the highest infant and childhood mortality in the Pacific with malaria accounting for 15% of infant mortality. Diagnosing and investigating malaria in this setting is hard because the symptoms are similar to other diseases. We aim to accurately describe clinical and laboratory features and risk factors for malaria, severe non malarial disease and mortality. We are investigating an outbreak of unexplained encephalitis as well.
Urinary tract infections (UTI) are among the most common infectious diseases of humans and a major cause of morbidity and mortality. In the USA, UTI accounts for >$1.6 billion in medical expenses each year. It is estimated that 50% of women will develop a UTI in their lifetime. This research aims to understand the processes by which bacteria colonize the human bladder. The work has implications for the development of new approaches to prevent and treat UTI.
Finding Therapeutic Targets For An Opportunistic Human Fungal Pathogen
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$404,068.00
Summary
Penicillium marneffei is a fungus that causes disease in patients with depressed immunity. This project models this infection in zebrafish, which have advantages for modelling infectious disease. It uses fluorescent fungi and fish with fluorescent immune cells to study the way white blood cells fight this infection, and mutant zebrafish and mutant fungi to find new therapeutic targets in the host-pathogen interaction.