ORCID Profile
0000-0002-4339-1801
Current Organisations
NSW Health
,
The Kirby Institute
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Publisher: University of New South Wales
Date: 17-02-2023
DOI: 10.31646/GBIO.189
Abstract: COVID-19 associated encephalitis has been reported in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 since February 2020. The index case was reported in Japan, but since then, reports have emerged worldwide, with a global incidence rate of 0.215%, and regional incidence rates of up to 18%. While in the acute phase of infection, COVID-19-associated encephalitis can biologically mimic infectious limbic encephalitis, immune-inflammatory-mediated encephalopathy, herpes simplex encephalitis, produce hyperintensities in multiple regions of the brain, and mimic Alzheimer’s Disease. With a high mortality rate of 13.4%, COVID-19-associated encephalitis poses a significant burden on health systems and resources, requiring a combination diagnostic approach, supportive treatment regimens, and regular monitoring for secondary worsening of symptoms. COVID-19-associated encephalitis can emerge up to six weeks post-infection, and elevated risk levels can persist for six months post-infection. Despite emerging evidence and research, significant longitudinal research is required to ascertain the true prevalence and lifetime health risk of developing encephalitis following SARS-CoV-2 infection. This report aims to provide a summary of COVID-19 associated encephalitis.
Publisher: University of New South Wales
Date: 20-05-2022
DOI: 10.31646/GBIO.157
Abstract: On October 2nd, 2021, a case of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) was notified to the World Health Organisation from the Rivne Oblast of Ukraine. The index case was a seventeen-month-old unvaccinated girl who had an onset of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) on September 1st, 2021. A second cVDPV2 case of an unvaccinated 2-year-old boy was reported from Transcarpathia Oblast on December 13th, 2021, who subsequently developed AFP on December 24th, 2021. A further 19 close contacts were identified with cVDPV2 that did not develop AFP that were all linked to the index case. Poliomyelitis outbreaks have occurred infrequently in the Ukraine since 2015, after being certified polio-free in 2002. The current outbreak has occurred against the backdrop of suboptimal vaccination coverage across the Ukraine since the previous outbreak saw a serious vaccine push across the country. However, the latest vaccine push in February 2022 has stalled due to the Russia-Ukraine war, leaving citizens displaced in shelters and border crossings, unable to access healthcare or routine immunisations.
Publisher: University of New South Wales
Date: 19-12-2022
DOI: 10.31646/GBIO.169
Abstract: Objectives: To review the evidence of the transmissibility and severity of infection with the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 in children.Design: Systematic review. Data sources: PubMed, Embase, medRxiv, Web of Science, and WHO COVID database.Study selection: English language original articles, case reports, commentaries, and letters with relevant primary data, which examined evidence for the transmissibility and severity of infection with the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 in children.Methods: Five databases were searched for articles from the period October 2020 to March 2022. Reference lists of eligible studies and grey literature were hand searched for additional studies for inclusion. Articles that provided adequate epidemiological data including infection, transmission, or severity (including hospitalisation and death) with probable or confirmed cases of the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 in children (aged ≤9 years) and adolescents (aged 10 to 19 years) were included. Data were extracted for country of origin participant characteristics (age and sex) s le size vaccination status and outcomes, including incidence, secondary attack rate, hospitalisation, ICU, and mortality. All included studies were assessed for bias using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal checklists.Results: 298 studies were found through database searching. After screening, 21 studies were included in the systematic review. Of the included studies, all were deemed to be of moderate to high quality, therefore all were included in the final analysis. Increased incidence was reported in two population studies in the USA and Australia during the period of Delta predominance. Age-related data were available for 14 studies and showed higher rates of infection in older children compared to younger children. Attack rates in educational settings were higher when an adult was the primary case. Data on severity were available from 12 studies and showed that severe disease remained rare, with increasing hospitalisation numbers in proportion to increasing paediatric cases. Vaccination was protective for severe disease, with studies in the United States, Israel and Europe showing less healthcare encounters, emergency department presentations and hospitalisations amongst vaccinated adolescents. Several studies pointed to educational and household settings as key sites for paediatric infection with the Delta variant.Conclusion: A growing proportion of COVID-19 cases were diagnosed in children during the study period due to increased transmissibility of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant, with an increasing number of outbreaks observed in household and educational settings likely attributed to low vaccine coverage among children. While severe disease remains uncommon, the impact of vaccination in both adults and adolescents has been shown to reduce paediatric hospitalisation rates.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 07-06-2022
DOI: 10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0269484
Abstract: The aim of this study was to capture Australian frontline healthcare workers’ (HCWs) experiences with personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. This was a cross-sectional study using an online survey consisting of five domains: demographics self-assessment of COVID risk PPE access PPE training and confidence and anxiety. Participants were recruited from community and hospital healthcare settings in Australia, including doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, paramedics, and aged care and support staff. Data analysis was descriptive with free-text responses analysed using qualitative content analysis and multivariable analysis performed for predictors of confidence, bullying, staff furlough and anxiety. The 2258 respondents, comprised 80% women, 49% doctors and 40% nurses, based in hospital (39%) or community (57%) settings. Key findings indicated a lack of PPE training (20%), calls for fit testing, insufficient PPE (25%), reuse or extended use of PPE (47%) confusion about changing guidelines (48%) and workplace bullying over PPE (77%). An absence of in-person workplace PPE training was associated with lower confidence in using PPE (OR 0.21, 95%CI 0.12, 0.37) and a higher likelihood of workplace bullying (OR 1.43 95% CI 1.00, 2.03) perhaps reflecting deficiencies in workplace culture. Deficiencies in PPE availability, access and training linking to workplace bullying, can have negative physical and psychological impacts on a female dominant workforce critical to business as usual operations and pandemic response.
Publisher: University of New South Wales
Date: 20-12-2022
DOI: 10.31646/GBIO.181
Abstract: On September 20th, 2022, a case of ebola virus disease was confirmed in Uganda by the World Health Organization. The presumed index case of a 24-year-old male was sequenced and identified as the Sudan strain. This was the first known outbreak of ebola in Uganda since 2012. At the time of publication, 43 cases have been confirmed, including nine deaths. Of all confirmed, suspected, and probable cases, 63 have been identified, with 29 deaths. The current outbreak has spread across five districts within Uganda. The rapid increase in a short period and the growing list of close contacts make outbreak control difficult. Furthermore, a lack of viable vaccines preventing protection and poor health infrastructure with limited finances seem to contribute to the current outbreak. Whilst the true natural reservoir and how spillover to human hosts occurs remains unknown, these outbreaks of EVD will continue to occur in African countries where the virus remains endemic.
Location: Australia
No related grants have been discovered for Damian Honeyman.