ORCID Profile
0000-0002-9724-8816
Current Organisations
Griffith University Griffith Health
,
Gold Coast University Hospital
,
Bond University
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Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 15-06-2022
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-022-14118-9
Abstract: Advancements in technology and communication have revolutionised the twenty-first century with the introduction of mobile phones and smartphones. These phones are known to be platforms harbouring microbes with recent research shedding light on the abundance and broad spectrum of organisms they harbour. Mobile phone use in the community and in professional sectors including health care settings is a potential source of microbial dissemination. To identify the ersity of microbial genetic signature present on mobile phones owned by hospital medical staff. Twenty-six mobile phones of health care staff were swabbed. DNA extraction for downstream next generation sequencing shotgun metagenomic microbial profiling was performed. Survey questionnaires were handed to the staff to collect information on mobile phone usage and users’ behaviours. Each of the 26 mobile phones of this study was contaminated with microbes with the detection of antibiotic resistance and virulent factors. Taken together the sum of microbes and genes added together across all 26 mobile phones totalised 11,163 organisms (5714 bacteria, 675 fungi, 93 protists, 228 viruses, 4453 bacteriophages) and 2096 genes coding for antibiotic resistance and virulent factors. The survey of medical staff showed that 46% (12/26) of the participants used their mobile phones in the bathroom. Mobile phones are vectors of microbes and can contribute to microbial dissemination and nosocomial diseases worldwide. As fomites, mobile phones that are not decontaminated may pose serious risks for public health and biosecurity.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2021
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 17-05-2023
Abstract: Asthma is one of the most frequent reasons children visit a general practitioner (GP). The diagnosis of childhood asthma is challenging, and a variety of diagnostic tests for asthma exist. GPs may refer to clinical practice guidelines when deciding which tests, if any, are appropriate, but the quality of these guidelines is unknown. To determine (i) the methodological quality and reporting of paediatric guidelines for the diagnosis of childhood asthma in primary care, and (ii) the strength of evidence supporting diagnostic test recommendations. Meta-epidemiological study of English-language guidelines from the United Kingdom and other high-income countries with comparable primary care systems including diagnostic testing recommendations for childhood asthma in primary care. The AGREE-II tool was used to assess the quality and reporting of the guidelines. The quality of the evidence was assessed using GRADE. Eleven guidelines met the eligibility criteria. The methodology and reporting quality varied across the AGREE II domains (median score 4.5 out of 7, range 2–6). The quality of evidence supporting diagnostic recommendations was generally of very low quality. All guidelines recommended the use of spirometry and reversibility testing for children aged ≥5 years, however, the recommended spirometry thresholds for diagnosis differed across guidelines. There were disagreements in testing recommendations for 3 of the 7 included tests. The variable quality of guidelines, lack of good quality evidence, and inconsistent recommendations for diagnostic tests may contribute to poor clinician adherence to guidelines and variation in testing for diagnosing childhood asthma.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 16-03-2022
DOI: 10.1002/PBC.29621
Abstract: To synthesize existing qualitative research exploring the experiences of parents caring for children with cancer during the end‐of‐life phase, and the factors that influence parental decision‐making when choosing the location of end‐of‐life care and death for their child. This review included 15 studies of 460 parents of 333 children and adolescents who died from progressive cancer. Where reported, the majority (58%) of children died at home or in a hospital (39%), with only a small fraction dying in a hospice. Factors impacting decision‐making for the location of care included the quality of communication and the quality of care available. Themes related to choosing home for end‐of‐life care and death included honoring the child's wishes, the familiarity of home, and parents’ desire to be their child's primary carer. Preference for the location of death in the hospital included trust in hospital staff, practical logistics, and the safety of the hospital environment.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 07-10-2009
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 10-11-2009
Abstract: This retrospective case series describes the clinical spectrum of 43 children with pandemic (H1N1) 2009 admitted to a single hospital in Australia during the peak winter flu season. Clinical features, diagnoses, length of hospitalisation and complications were reviewed in children up to 17 years of age with proven pandemic (H1N1) 2009 by RT-PCR. The median age was 6 years, 42% had a pre-existing medical condition. The most common presentation was fever and cough, and 88% of patients met our criteria for flu-like illness. Consolidation on chest x ray was the most common diagnosis (n=20, 46%), followed by dehydration (n=13, 30%). Three (7%) had encephalopathy and two (5%) had diabetic ketoacidosis. There were two intensive care admissions and no deaths. Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 flu has a wide range of presentation in the paediatric population. The diagnosis should be considered during the current pandemic in any child with fever, or who is unwell.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 19-02-2018
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 12-2019
DOI: 10.1136/BMJOPEN-2019-030516
Abstract: Acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure (AHRF) in children is the most frequent reason for non-elective hospital admission. During the initial phase, AHRF is a clinical syndrome defined for the purpose of this study by an oxygen requirement and caused by pneumonia, lower respiratory tract infections, asthma or bronchiolitis. Up to 20% of these children with AHRF can rapidly deteriorate requiring non-invasive or invasive ventilation. Nasal high-flow (NHF) therapy has been used by clinicians for oxygen therapy outside intensive care settings to prevent escalation of care. A recent randomised trial in infants with bronchiolitis has shown that NHF therapy reduces the need to escalate therapy. No similar data is available in the older children presenting with AHRF. In this study we aim to investigate in children aged 1 to 4 years presenting with AHRF if early NHF therapy compared with standard-oxygen therapy reduces hospital length of stay and if this is cost-effective compared with standard treatment. The study design is an open-labelled randomised multicentre trial comparing early NHF and standard-oxygen therapy and will be stratified by sites and into obstructive and non-obstructive groups. Children aged 1 to 4 years (n=1512) presenting with AHRF to one of the participating emergency departments will be randomly allocated to NHF or standard-oxygen therapy once the eligibility criteria have been met (oxygen requirement with transcutaneous saturation %/90% (dependant on hospital standard threshold), diagnosis of AHRF, admission to hospital and tachypnoea ≥35 breaths/min). Children in the standard-oxygen group can receive rescue NHF therapy if escalation is required. The primary outcome is hospital length of stay. Secondary outcomes will include length of oxygen therapy, proportion of intensive care admissions, healthcare resource utilisation and associated costs. Analyses will be conducted on an intention-to-treat basis. Ethics approval has been obtained in Australia (HREC/15/QRCH/159) and New Zealand (HDEC 17/NTA/135). The trial commenced recruitment in December 2017. The study findings will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at relevant conferences. Authorship of all publications will be decided by mutual consensus of the research team. ACTRN12618000210279
Publisher: American Medical Association (AMA)
Date: 03-2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 28-10-2019
Abstract: To determine the extent to which care received by Australian children presenting with croup is in agreement with Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs). Retrospective population-based s le survey. Croup clinical indicators were derived from CPGs. Medical records from three healthcare settings were s led for selected visits in 2012 and 2013 in three Australian states. Data were collected by nine experienced paediatric nurses, trained to assess eligibility for indicator assessment and adherence to CPGs. Surveyors undertook criterion-based medical record reviews using an electronic data collection tool. Documented guideline adherence was lower for general practitioners (65.9% 95% CI: 60.8–70.6) than emergency departments (91.1% 95% CI: 89.5–92.5) and inpatient admissions (91.3% 95% CI: 88.1–93.9). Overall adherence was very low for a bundle of 10 indicators related to assessment (4.5% 95% CI: 2.4–7.6) but higher for a bundle of four indicators relating to the avoidance of inappropriate therapy (83.1% 95% CI: 59.5–96.0). Most visits for croup were characterized by appropriate treatment in all healthcare settings. However, most children had limited documented clinical assessments, and some had unnecessary tests or inappropriate therapy, which has potential quality and cost implications. Universal CPG and clinical assessment tools may increase clinical consistency.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-04-2022
DOI: 10.1002/HPJA.487
Abstract: To evaluate population-level implementation of Confident Body, Confident Child (CBCC) an evidence-based program providing parenting strategies to promote healthy eating, physical activity and body satisfaction in children aged 2-6 years with community child health nurses (CHNs). This study utilised an implementation-effectiveness hybrid design, with dual focus on assessing: (a) CBCC implementation into Child Health Centres at a regional health service in Queensland, Australia (process evaluation) and (b) CBCC's effect on CHNs' knowledge and attitudes (outcomes evaluation). Process (CBCC reach, dose, fidelity) and outcome data (CHN knowledge of child body image and attitudes towards higher body weights) were collected during implementation, and pre- and post-intervention delivery to CHNs, respectively. Twenty-six CHNs (all female mean age 52.7 ± 9.5 years) participated in the study by attending a 1-day CBCC training workshop and completing demographic and outcome surveys. Process evaluation found that CBCC was implemented as planned and reached 56% of CHNs across the health service. Outcome evaluation showed small but non-significant improvements in CHN knowledge (P = .077) and attitudes towards overweight (using Anti-Fat Attitudes scale significant improvements on willpower sub-scale only (P < .05)). This is the first study to evaluate population-wide CBCC implementation in a real-world health service setting with CHNs. Findings highlight the potential for using pragmatic, implementation-focused methodologies to translate preventive eating disorder programs into community child health services.
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 10-01-2021
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-2022
DOI: 10.1111/JPC.15840
Abstract: The Streptococcus anginosus group (SAG) comprises three bacterial species colonising the mouth and gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts and capable of serious pyogenic infections. Although well-described in adults, studies in children are limited. Here, we characterise paediatric SAG infections from a single Australian centre. Hospitalised patients aged ≤18 years with positive SAG cultures from January 2009 to December 2019 were identified from Pathology Queensland's Gold Coast Laboratory database and their medical records were reviewed. Two-hundred children (62% male), median age 12 years (interquartile range 6-16), with positive SAG cultures were identified. Overall, 90% received intravenous antibiotics, 89% underwent surgical drainage, 23% were readmitted and 15% required additional surgery. The most common sites were the abdomen (39%), soft tissues (36%) and head and neck regions (21%). Since 2011, Pathology Queensland reported SAG at the species level (n = 133). Of these, S. anginosus was the most prevalent (39%), then S. constellatus (34%) and S. intermedius (27%). Compared with the other two species, S. intermedius was most commonly associated with head and neck infections (relative risk (RR) = 2.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4-3.5), while S. constellatus (RR = 1.7, 95% CI 1.2-2.4) and S. anginosus (RR = 1.5, 95% CI 1.0-2.0) were each associated with a higher risk of intra-abdominal infection than S. intermedius. Since February 2015, the number of children admitted with SAG-associated intra-abdominal infection per 1000 hospitalisations increased by 29% annually compared with an annual decline of 8% in previous years. SAG infections occur at various anatomical sites. Despite antibiotics and surgical management, almost one-quarter are re-hospitalised for further treatment.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 16-11-2017
DOI: 10.1111/JPC.13780
Publisher: Massachusetts Medical Society
Date: 03-07-2003
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMOA022226
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 19-06-2023
DOI: 10.1111/JPC.16454
Abstract: To determine the quality of paediatric guidelines relevant to diagnosis of three of the most common conditions in primary care: fever, gastroenteritis and constipation. We undertook a meta‐epidemiological study of paediatric guidelines for fever, gastroenteritis and gastroenteritis. We systematically searched MEDLINE, Embase, Trip Database, Guidelines International Network, the National Guideline Clearinghouse and WHO from February 2011 to September 2022 for guidelines from high‐income settings containing diagnostic recommendations. We assessed the quality of guideline reporting for included guidelines using the AGREE II tool. We included 16 guidelines: fever ( n = 7) constipation ( n = 4) and gastroenteritis ( n = 5). The overall quality across the three conditions was graded moderate (median AGREE II score 4.5/7, range 2.5–6.5) with constipation guidelines rated the highest (median 6/7), and fever rated the lowest (median 3.8/7). Major methodological weaknesses included consideration of guideline applicability. Half of the guidelines did not report involving parent representatives, and 56% did not adequately declare or address their competing interests. Substantial variations exist in the quality of paediatric guidelines related to the diagnosis of primary care presentations. Better quality guidance is needed for general practitioners to improve diagnosis for children in primary care.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 29-06-2020
DOI: 10.1111/PUAR.13224
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.CHIABU.2016.03.005
Abstract: The study objective was to determine paediatricians' experience with female genital mutilation (FGM) in Australian children and adolescents. A cross-sectional, pilot-tested national survey of paediatricians practising in Australia and contributing to the Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit was conducted. Clinicians' knowledge, attitudes and clinical experience with FGM, awareness of clinical guidelines and education/training needs were recorded. Of 1311 paediatricians surveyed, 497 (38%) responded. Fifty-seven percent were aged 50 years or more, and 51.3% were males. Over half believed that FGM was performed in children in Australia and most were aware of its complications, but few asked about or examined for FGM. Fifty (10.3%) had seen at least one case of FGM in girls aged <18 years during their clinical career, including 16 (3.3%) in the past 5 years. Most were aware that FGM is illegal in Australia (93.9%), agreed all types of FGM were harmful (97.4%) and agreed that FGM violated human rights (98.2%). Most (87.6%) perceived FGM as a traditional cultural practice, although 11.6% thought it was required by religion. The majority (81.8%) knew notification of FGM to child protection authorities was mandatory. Over half (62.0%) were aware of the WHO Statement on FGM, but only 22.0% knew the WHO classification of FGM. These novel data indicate a minority of paediatricians in Australia have clinical experience with or education about FGM. Educational programs, best-practice clinical guidelines and policies are required to address knowledge gaps and help paediatricians identify, manage and prevent FGM in children.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 25-10-2019
Publisher: American Medical Association (AMA)
Date: 17-01-2023
Abstract: Nasal high-flow oxygen therapy in infants with bronchiolitis and hypoxia has been shown to reduce the requirement to escalate care. The efficacy of high-flow oxygen therapy in children aged 1 to 4 years with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure without bronchiolitis is unknown. To determine the effect of early high-flow oxygen therapy vs standard oxygen therapy in children with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. A multicenter, randomized clinical trial was conducted at 14 metropolitan and tertiary hospitals in Australia and New Zealand, including 1567 children aged 1 to 4 years (randomized between December 18, 2017, and March 18, 2020) requiring hospital admission for acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. The last participant follow-up was completed on March 22, 2020. Enrolled children were randomly allocated 1:1 to high-flow oxygen therapy (n = 753) or standard oxygen therapy (n = 764). The type of oxygen therapy could not be masked, but the investigators remained blinded until the outcome data were locked. The primary outcome was length of hospital stay with the hypothesis that high-flow oxygen therapy reduces length of stay. There were 9 secondary outcomes, including length of oxygen therapy and admission to the intensive care unit. Children were analyzed according to their randomization group. Of the 1567 children who were randomized, 1517 (97%) were included in the primary analysis (median age, 1.9 years [IQR, 1.4-3.0 years] 732 [46.7%] were female) and all children completed the trial. The length of hospital stay was significantly longer in the high-flow oxygen group with a median of 1.77 days (IQR, 1.03-2.80 days) vs 1.50 days (IQR, 0.85-2.44 days) in the standard oxygen group (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.83 [95% CI, 0.75-0.92] P & .001). Of the 9 prespecified secondary outcomes, 4 showed no significant difference. The median length of oxygen therapy was 1.07 days (IQR, 0.50-2.06 days) in the high-flow oxygen group vs 0.75 days (IQR, 0.35-1.61 days) in the standard oxygen therapy group (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.78 [95% CI, 0.70-0.86]). In the high-flow oxygen group, there were 94 admissions (12.5%) to the intensive care unit compared with 53 admissions (6.9%) in the standard oxygen group (adjusted odds ratio, 1.93 [95% CI, 1.35-2.75]). There was only 1 death and it occurred in the high-flow oxygen group. Nasal high-flow oxygen used as the initial primary therapy in children aged 1 to 4 years with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure did not significantly reduce the length of hospital stay compared with standard oxygen therapy. anzctr.org.au Identifier: ACTRN12618000210279
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 02-2017
DOI: 10.1111/JPC.13382
No related grants have been discovered for Susan Moloney.