Randomised controlled trials of behavioural nudges delivered through text messages to increase influenza and COVID-19 vaccines among pregnant women (the EPIC study): study protocol

BACKGROUND

Influenza and COVID-19 infections during pregnancy may have serious adverse consequences for women as well as their infants. However, uptake of influenza and COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy remains suboptimal. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of a multi-component nudge intervention to improve influenza and COVID-19 vaccine uptake among pregnant women.

METHODS

Pregnant women who receive antenatal care at five tertiary hospitals in South Australia, Western Australia and Victoria will be recruited to two separate randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Women will be eligible for the COVID-19 RCT is they have received two or less doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. Women will be eligible for the influenza RCT if they have not received the 2023 seasonal influenza vaccine. Vaccination status at all stages of the trial will be confirmed by the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). Participants will be randomised (1:1) to standard care or intervention group (n = 1038 for each RCT). The nudge intervention in each RCT will comprise three SMS text message reminders with links to short educational videos from obstetricians, pregnant women and midwives and vaccine safety information. The primary outcome is at least one dose of a COVID-19 or influenza vaccine during pregnancy, as applicable. Logistic regression will compare the proportion vaccinated between groups. The effect of treatment will be described using odds ratio with a 95% CI.

DISCUSSION

Behavioural nudges that facilitate individual choices within a complex context have been successfully used in other disciplines to stir preferred behaviour towards better health choices. If our text-based nudges prove to be successful in improving influenza and COVID-19 vaccine uptake among pregnant women, they can easily be implemented at a national level.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT05613751. Registered on November 14, 2022.

Protocol for a realist and social return on investment evaluation of the use of patient-reported outcomes in four value-based healthcare programmes

INTRODUCTION

There is growing recognition that in order to remain sustainable, the UK's National Health Service must deliver the best patient outcomes within available resources. This focus on outcomes relative to cost is the basis of value-based healthcare (VBHC) and has led to interest in the recording of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) to measure patient perspectives on the impact of a health condition on their lives. Every health board in Wales is now required to collect PROMS as part of routine care. We will evaluate the VBHC programme implemented in a lead health board. The study aim is to understand what works about PROMs collection, for whom, in what contexts and why in a VBHC context. In addition, we will assess the social value of integrating PROMs collection into routine care.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

A three-stage mixed-methods study comprising a realist evaluation integrated with social return on investment (SROI) analysis across four conditions; Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, heart failure and cataract surgery. Workstream 1: Development of logic models, informed by a scoping review, documentary analysis, patient and public involvement (PPI), staff and key stakeholder engagement. Workstream 2: Realist evaluation building on multiple data sources from stages 1 to 3 to test and refine the programme theories that arise from the logic model development. Workstream 3: SROI analysis using interview data with patients, staff and carers, stakeholder and PPI engagement, anonymised routinely collected data, and questionnaires to populate a model that will explore the social value generated by the implementation of PROMs. Findings across stages will be validated with key stakeholders.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study is approved by Wales Research Ethics Committee #5 (22/WA/0044). Outcomes will be shared with key stakeholders, published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international conferences.This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) licence, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build on this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited, appropriate credit is given, any changes made indicated, and the use is non-commercial.

Core protocol for the adaptive Platform Trial In COVID-19 Vaccine priming and BOOsting (PICOBOO)

BACKGROUND

The need for coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination in different age groups and populations is a subject of great uncertainty and an ongoing global debate. Critical knowledge gaps regarding COVID-19 vaccination include the duration of protection offered by different priming and booster vaccination regimens in different populations, including homologous or heterologous schedules; how vaccination impacts key elements of the immune system; how this is modified by prior or subsequent exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and future variants; and how immune responses correlate with protection against infection and disease, including antibodies and effector and T cell central memory.

METHODS

The Platform Trial In COVID-19 priming and BOOsting (PICOBOO) is a multi-site, multi-arm, Bayesian, adaptive, randomised controlled platform trial. PICOBOO will expeditiously generate and translate high-quality evidence of the immunogenicity, reactogenicity and cross-protection of different COVID-19 priming and booster vaccination strategies against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants/subvariants, specific to the Australian context. While the platform is designed to be vaccine agnostic, participants will be randomised to one of three vaccines at trial commencement, including Pfizer's Comirnaty, Moderna's Spikevax or Novavax's Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine. The protocol structure specifying PICOBOO is modular and hierarchical. Here, we describe the Core Protocol, which outlines the trial processes applicable to all study participants included in the platform trial.

DISCUSSION

PICOBOO is the first adaptive platform trial evaluating different COVID-19 priming and booster vaccination strategies in Australia, and one of the few established internationally, that is designed to generate high-quality evidence to inform immunisation practice and policy. The modular, hierarchical protocol structure is intended to standardise outcomes, endpoints, data collection and other study processes for nested substudies included in the trial platform and to minimise duplication. It is anticipated that this flexible trial structure will enable investigators to respond with agility to new research questions as they arise, such as the utility of new vaccines (such as bivalent, or SARS-CoV-2 variant-specific vaccines) as they become available for use.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12622000238774. Registered on 10 February 2022.

Examining the interseasonal resurgence of respiratory syncytial virus in Western Australia

BACKGROUND

Following a relative absence in winter 2020, a large resurgence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) detections occurred during the 2020/2021 summer in Western Australia. This seasonal shift was linked to SARS-CoV-2 public health measures. We examine the epidemiology and RSV testing of respiratory-coded admissions, and compare clinical phenotype of RSV-positive admissions between 2019 and 2020.

METHOD

At a single tertiary paediatric centre, International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition Australian Modification-coded respiratory admissions longer than 12 hours were combined with laboratory data from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2020. Data were grouped into bronchiolitis, other acute lower respiratory infection (OALRI) and wheeze, to assess RSV testing practices. For RSV-positive admissions, demographics and clinical features were compared between 2019 and 2020.

RESULTS

RSV-positive admissions peaked in early summer 2020, following an absent winter season. Testing was higher in 2020: bronchiolitis, 94.8% vs 89.2% (p=0.01); OALRI, 88.6% vs 82.6% (p=0.02); and wheeze, 62.8% vs 25.5% (p<0.001). The 2020 peak month, December, contributed almost 75% of RSV-positive admissions, 2.5 times the 2019 peak. The median age in 2020 was twice that observed in 2019 (16.4 vs 8.1 months, p<0.001). The proportion of RSV-positive OALRI admissions was greater in 2020 (32.6% vs 24.9%, p=0.01). There were no clinically meaningful differences in length of stay or disease severity.

INTERPRETATION

The 2020 RSV season was in summer, with a larger than expected peak. There was an increase in RSV-positive non-bronchiolitis admissions, consistent with infection in older RSV-naïve children. This resurgence raises concern for regions experiencing longer and more stringent SARS-CoV-2 public health measures.

Novel method to select meaningful outcomes for evaluation in clinical trials

Background

A standardised framework for selecting outcomes for evaluation in trials has been proposed by the Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials working group. However, this method does not specify how to ensure that the outcomes that are selected are causally related to the disease and the health intervention being studied. Causal network diagrams may help researchers identify outcomes that are both clinically meaningful and likely to be causally dependent on the intervention, and endpoints that are, in turn, causally dependent on those outcomes. We aimed to (1) develop a generalisable method for selecting outcomes and endpoints in trials and (2) apply this method to select outcomes for evaluation in a trial investigating treatment strategies for pulmonary exacerbations of cystic fibrosis (CF).

Methods

We conducted a series of online surveys and workshops among people affected by CF. We used a modified Delphi approach to develop a consensus list of important outcomes. A workshop involving domain experts elicited how these outcomes were causally related to the underlying pathophysiological processes. Meaningful outcomes were prioritised based on the extent to which each outcome captured separate rather than common aspects of the underlying pathophysiological process.

Results

The 10 prioritised outcomes were: breathing difficulty/pain, sputum production/clearance, fatigue, appetite, pain (not related to breathing), motivation/demoralisation, fevers/night sweats, treatment burden, inability to meet personal goals and avoidance of gastrointestinal symptoms.

Conclusions

This proposed method for selecting meaningful outcomes for evaluation in clinical trials may improve the value of research as a basis for clinical decisions.

1238Estimating the non-specific effects of seasonal influenza vaccine on RSV-hospitalisations in children

Background

Seasonal influenza vaccine is effective against influenza hospitalisations, but little is known about non-specific effects on other respiratory pathogens with similar seasonal patterns. We aimed to assess the causal impact of seasonal influenza vaccine on laboratory-confirmed hospitalisations for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in children using an instrumental variable (IV) strategy.

Methods

We used population-based probabilistically linked data on births, childhood immunisations, deaths, hospitalisations, perinatal and statewide microbiology data (2000-2013) in Western Australia (WA). Our analysis cohort included children up to age 7 years. We exploited WA’s unique preschool influenza vaccination policy commencing in 2008 and used this as an instrument for vaccination status. We estimated a system of two simultaneous probit equations: determinants of influenza vaccine uptake, and determinants of RSV-confirmed hospitalisation.

Results

Influenza vaccine coverage was low prior to 2008 but increased to 33.7% in children aged 6-23 months in 2009. RSV-hospitalisations ranged from 3.5/1000 children (12-23 months) to 6.4/1000 (6-12 months). Receipt of seasonal influenza vaccine reduced RSV-hospitalisations in the population cohort of children aged &lt;2 years by an average of 0.21% in the same year (p &lt; 0.001).

Conclusions

To our knowledge, this is the first analysis utilising an IV estimation strategy to assess the impact of influenza vaccine on RSV-hospitalisations. We estimated a small, but highly statistically significant impact that warrants further investigation using contemporary data.

Key messages

RSV is a leading cause of childhood morbidity. The role of influenza vaccine offering cross protection to RSV could be further explored prior to RSV vaccines being commercially available.

1324Clinical Registry for Acute Respiratory Infections in Children in Western Australia

Background

Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are the leading cause for emergency presentation and a major driver for antibiotic use in children. In 2020, we established an ARI clinical registry to: evaluate clinical care for ARI to inform clinical guidelines; and as a platform for clinical trials assessing antimicrobial interventions.

Methods

Any child &lt;16 years presenting to Perth Children’s Hospital Emergency Department (ED) with cough, fever, sore throat and/or difficulty breathing was eligible for enrolment. Using an automated survey sent to parents’ mobile phones, each enrolled child was followed weekly until 28 days or disease recovery (whichever occurred first). Data collected included clinical symptoms, antibiotic prescription, adherence, and duration to return to regular activity (recovery).

Results

From Feb 2020-April 2021, 448 participants were enrolled (84% &lt;5 years). Fever and cough were the most frequently reported symptoms. Of 448, 274 (61%) ARI cases completed all surveys until recovered. The median recovery length was 9 days (IQR:6-12). The recovery days were longer, although not statistically significant (p &gt; 0.05), in: children who received antibiotics versus those who did not (9.5 days vs. 8); children &lt;5 years versus those over (9 days vs. 7); and children with chronic illnesses versus those without (9 days vs. 8).

Conclusions

Most children presenting to ED with ARI recover within 10 days. The length of recovery does not vary significantly by age, chronic illnesses, or antibiotic usage.

Key messages

Registry data provides baseline data to inform clinical trials assessing the role and duration of antibiotics for ARI.

473Preventable pertussis burden in Australia within the first year of life by improving vaccination timeliness

Background

Previous Australian studies have shown that on-time Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTP) vaccination coverage is 50-60% in certain subpopulations. We estimated the potentially preventable burden of pertussis if, 1) the full primary course and, 2) each dose was given on-time.

Methods

Perinatal, immunisation, pertussis notification, and death data were linked for 1,412,984 infants born in two Australian states in 2000-2012. A DTP dose administered &gt;15 days after the recommended age was categorised as delayed. For aim 1, pertussis rates up to 1-year of age were compared in infants with ≥1 dose delayed versus all doses on-time, using Poisson regression methods. For aim 2, the expected number of cases preventable by each dose was calculated as the product of the number of cases observed during the period of delay and (1 – dose-specific vaccine effectiveness).

Results

58% of infants had all primary DTP doses on time. We estimated that 85 (95% CI: 61-109) cases per 100,000 infants, aged 39-days to 1-year, could have been prevented if all infants had been vaccinated on time; 77% of these infants had received ≥1 DTP dose within the first year of life. Estimated preventable burden attributable to delayed DTP1 (58/100,000) was higher than for DTP2 (26/100,000) and DTP3 (15/100,000).

Conclusions and Key messages

Poor vaccine timeliness, especially delayed DTP1, is a key contributor to the residual burden of pertussis. These findings can inform cost-benefit analyses of targeted programs and public health messaging to reduce delays.

383Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is effective against hypoxic pneumonia in Laos, Mongolia and Papua New Guinea

Background

We describe a novel approach to determine PCV13 effectiveness (VE) against hypoxic pneumonia in children admitted with pneumonia in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos), Mongolia and Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Methods

A 3-5 year prospective hospital-based observational study of children &lt; =59 months admitted with pneumonia was undertaken. Pneumonia was defined using the 2013 WHO definition. Hypoxia was defined as an oxygen saturation &lt;90% in room air or requiring oxygen supplementation during hospitalisation. PCV13 status was determined by written record. VE was calculated using logistic regression comparing the odds of hypoxia between vaccinated and under-vaccinated pneumonia cases. To handle potential confounding, a propensity score (PS) analysis using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPW) was used. In Laos, multiple imputation (MI) analysis was undertaken for missing data.

Results

The VE against hypoxic pneumonia were: in Laos, unadjusted 23% (95% CI: -9, 46%; p = 0·14), IPW adjusted 37% (6, 57%; p = 0.02), MI and IPW adjusted 35% (7, 55%; p = 0.02); in Mongolia, unadjusted 33% (26, 40%; p &lt; 0.001), IPW adjusted 33% (16, 47%; p &lt; 0.001); and in PNG, unadjusted 6% (-15, 24%; p = 0.53), IPW adjusted 36% (17, 51%; p = 0.001).

Conclusions

Our novel approach shows that PCV13 is effective against hypoxic pneumonia. PCV13 will contribute to reducing child mortality.

Key messages

We describe a novel, single hospital-based approach for determining VE that can be applied to other similar settings. This is one of the first studies showing PCV13 to be effective against hypoxic pneumonia in children in Asia.

The role of Kingella kingae in pre-school aged children with bone and joint infections

OBJECTIVES

The Pre-school Osteoarticular Infection (POI) study aimed to describe the burden of disease, epidemiology, microbiology and treatment of acute osteoarticular infections (OAI) and the role of Kingella kingae in these infections.

METHODS

Information about children 3-60 months of age who were hospitalized with an OAI to 11 different hospitals across Australia and New Zealand between January 2012 and December 2016 was collected retrospectively.

RESULTS

A total of 907 cases (73%) were included. Blood cultures grew a likely pathogen in only 18% (140/781). The peak age of presentation was 12 to 24 months (466/907, 51%) and Kingella kingae was the most frequently detected microorganism in this age group (60/466, 13%). In the majority of cases, no microorganism was detected (517/907, 57%). Addition of PCR to culture increased detection rates of K. kingae. However, PCR was performed infrequently (63/907, 7%).

CONCLUSIONS

This large multi-national study highlights the need for more widespread use of molecular diagnostic techniques for accurate microbiological diagnosis of OAI in pre-school aged children. The data from this study supports the hypothesis that a substantial proportion of pre-school aged children with OAI and no organism identified may in fact have undiagnosed K. kingae infection. Improved detection of Kingella cases is likely to reduce the average length of antimicrobial treatment.

Nasopharyngeal density of respiratory viruses in childhood pneumonia in a highly vaccinated setting: findings from a case-control study

Background

Detection of pneumonia-causing respiratory viruses in the nasopharynx of asymptomatic children has made their actual contribution to pneumonia unclear. We compared nasopharyngeal viral density between children with and without pneumonia to understand if viral density could be used to diagnose pneumonia.

Methods

Nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) were collected from hospitalised pneumonia cases at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) and contemporaneous age-matched controls at PMH outpatient clinics and a local immunisation clinic in Perth, Australia. The density (copies/mL) of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza A virus (InfA), human metapneumovirus (HMPV) and rhinovirus in NPS was determined using quantitative PCR. Linear regression analysis was done to assess the trend between viral density and age in months. The association between viral density and disease status was examined using logistic regression. Area under receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curves were assessed to determine optimal discriminatory viral density cut-offs.

Results

Through May 2015 to October 2017, 230 pneumonia cases and 230 controls were enrolled. Median nasopharyngeal density for any respiratory virus was not substantially higher in cases than controls (p>0.05 for each). A decreasing density trend with increasing age was observed—the trend was statistically significant for RSV (regression coefficient −0.04, p=0.004) but not for other viruses. After adjusting for demographics and other viral densities, for every log₁₀ copies/mL density increase, the odds of being a case increased by six times for RSV, three times for HMPV and two times for InfA. The AUROC curves were <0.70 for each virus, suggesting poor case–control discrimination based on viral density.

Conclusion

The nasopharyngeal density of respiratory viruses was not significantly higher in children with pneumonia than those without; however, the odds of being a case increased with increased density for some viruses. The utility of viral density, alone, in defining pneumonia was limited.

Antibiotic prescribing in neonatal sepsis: an Australian nationwide survey

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate quality and variation in antibiotic prescribing for neonatal sepsis.

DESIGN

We analysed prescribing in hospitalised neonates using the National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey in Australian neonates from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2018.

SETTING

Data from antibiotic point prevalence surveys performed in hospitals, ranging from rural hospitals to tertiary paediatric and maternity hospitals within Australia.

PATIENTS

Admitted neonates <28 days of age from participating hospitals.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Variation and appropriateness in prescribing for neonatal sepsis and variation in dosing for gentamicin and benzylpenicillin across hospitals.

RESULTS

A total of 415 prescriptions among 214 neonates from 39 different hospitals were included. The majority of prescriptions (342, 82.4%) were for neonates <7 days of age. The most commonly prescribed antibiotics were gentamicin and benzylpenicillin, with 323 (77.8%) prescriptions. Dosing variability was substantial, with doses ranging from 2 to 8 mg/kg for gentamicin (median 5 mg/kg, IQR 4-5) and from 45 to 72 mg/kg for benzylpenicillin (median 60 mg/kg, IQR 50-60), although only 13 (3.2%) and 19 (4.6%) prescriptions were locally assessed as inappropriate or non-compliant with guidelines, respectively. At time of audit, 22% of antibiotics had been given for more than 48 hours and 9% more than 72 hours, although microbiologically confirmed infection was documented in only nine (4.2%) neonates.

CONCLUSIONS

Prescribing for neonatal sepsis was dominated by use of benzylpenicillin and gentamicin with substantial variation in dosing. A small minority had culture-confirmed infection. Efforts to standardise antibiotic dosing and duration for suspected neonatal sepsis are recommended.

Infant, maternal and demographic predictors of delayed vaccination: A population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

Receiving vaccines at or close to their due date (vaccination timeliness) is a now key measure of program performance. However, studies comprehensively examining predictors of delayed infant vaccination are lacking. We aimed to identify predictors of short and longer-term delays in diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccination by dose number and ethnicity.

METHODS

Perinatal, notification, death and immunisation databases were linked for 1.3 million births in 2000-11 from two Australian states (Western Australia and New South Wales), with follow-up data until 2013. Ordinal logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted relative risks (RR) by degree of delay. Separate models were constructed for each vaccine dose and for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children.

RESULTS

Each dose-specific cohort included at least 49,000 Aboriginal and 1.1 million non-Aboriginal children. Delayed receipt was more common among Aboriginal than non-Aboriginal children (eg for the first dose of DTP [DTP1] 19.4 v 8.1%). Risk factors for delayed vaccination were strongest for DTP1, and delayed receipt of DTP1 was a key driver of subsequent delays; every week DTP1 was delayed was associated with a 1.6 to 2-fold increased risk of delayed DTP2 receipt. For DTP1, ≥3 previous pregnancies (the only factor more strongly associated with longer than shorter delays; RR ≥5 compared to no previous pregnancies), and children born to mothers <20 years of age (RR ≥2 compared to ≥35 years) were at highest risk of delay. Other independent predictors were prematurity, maternal smoking during pregnancy, and being born in Western Australia (if Aboriginal) or another country in the Oceania region.

CONCLUSION

The sub-populations at risk for delayed vaccination we have identified are likely generalisable to other high-income settings. Measures to improve their dose 1 timeliness, particularly for children with older siblings, are likely to have significant flow-on benefits for timeliness of later doses.

Influenza epidemiology in patients admitted to sentinel Australian hospitals in 2016: the Influenza Complications Alert Network (FluCAN)

During the period 1 April to 30 October 2016 (the 2016 influenza season), 1,952 patients were admitted with confirmed influenza to one of 17 FluCAN sentinel hospitals. Of these, 46% were elderly (e65 years), 18% were children (<16 years), 5% were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, 3% were pregnant and 76% had chronic co-morbidities.

Changing epidemiology of candidaemia in Australia

Objectives

Knowledge of contemporary epidemiology of candidaemia is essential. We aimed to identify changes since 2004 in incidence, species epidemiology and antifungal susceptibilities of Candida spp. causing candidaemia in Australia.

Methods

These data were collected from nationwide active laboratory-based surveillance for candidaemia over 1 year (within 2014-2015). Isolate identification was by MALDI-TOF MS supplemented by DNA sequencing. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed using Sensititre YeastOne™.

Results

A total of 527 candidaemia episodes (yielding 548 isolates) were evaluable. The mean annual incidence was 2.41/105 population. The median patient age was 63 years (56% of cases occurred in males). Of 498 isolates with confirmed species identity, Candida albicans was the most common (44.4%) followed by Candida glabrata complex (26.7%) and Candida parapsilosis complex (16.5%). Uncommon Candida species comprised 25 (5%) isolates. Overall, C. albicans (>99%) and C. parapsilosis (98.8%) were fluconazole susceptible. However, 16.7% (4 of 24) of Candida tropicalis were fluconazole- and voriconazole-resistant and were non-WT to posaconazole. Of C. glabrata isolates, 6.8% were resistant/non-WT to azoles; only one isolate was classed as resistant to caspofungin (MIC of 0.5 mg/L) by CLSI criteria, but was micafungin and anidulafungin susceptible. There was no azole/echinocandin co-resistance.

Conclusions

We report an almost 1.7-fold proportional increase in C. glabrata candidaemia (26.7% versus 16% in 2004) in Australia. Antifungal resistance was generally uncommon, but azole resistance (16.7% of isolates) amongst C. tropicalis may be emerging.

Linking the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register to population-based perinatal datasets to assess coverage in at-risk groups

ABSTRACT ObjectiveImmunisation remains one of the most important public health interventions. However, linkage of population-based immunisation registers to perinatal and health outcome datasets to evaluate immunisation programs is limited. We have conducted the first-ever linkages of immunisation records from Australia’s Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) for the purposes of evaluating Australia’s unique national immunisation program. As an initial outcome of our linkage study we present estimates of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) coverage for the 3rd dose assessed at 12 months of age in extremely preterm children (gestational age <28 weeks), in whom a funded vaccination program was established in 2001 prior to a universal funded program for all children in 2005. ApproachIndividual immunisation records from ACIR, hospital admissions, deaths and infectious diseases notifications were linked to perinatal records for a cohort of births from 1996 to 2012 in two Australian states. Three separate data linkage units were involved in the process with varying procedures for linkage. The perinatal datasets were used to identify extremely preterm children. ResultsThe birth cohort for the study included 1,958,537 live births in New South Wales (1,492,399) and Western Australia (461,620). Linkage weights based on sensitivity and positive predictive value of >99% were used to identify immunisation records from ACIR to link to the birth cohort. A unique scrambled pin on ACIR was used to link immunisation records to birth cohort datasets. The final cohort consisted of 1,954,019 children with 95.5% linking to at least 1 ACIR record from a total of >26.6 million ACIR records. In 2001, coverage of the 3rd dose of PCV in extremely preterm children was 0.9% and increased to 69.1% in 2004 (overall coverage 2001-2004: 25.3%). From 2005 to 2012, coverage increased to an average of 89.7%. ConclusionThese are the first results of cross-jurisdictional linkages of immunisation records to state-based administrative datasets in Australia. This process has identified some improvements that are needed to streamline future linkage projects of this scale. Linkage of perinatal datasets to ACIR has enabled us to assess the first-ever coverage estimates in specific medically at-risk population subgroups. Future analyses will focus on the predictors and timeliness of vaccination coverage and population based estimates of vaccine effectiveness.

Real-time safety surveillance of seasonal influenza vaccines in children, Australia, 2015

Increased febrile reactions in Australian children from one influenza vaccine brand in 2010 diminished confidence in influenza immunisation, highlighting the need for improved vaccine safety surveillance. AusVaxSafety, a national vaccine safety surveillance system collected adverse events in young children for 2015 influenza vaccine brands in real time through parent/carer reports via SMS/email. Weekly cumulative data on 3,340 children demonstrated low rates of fever (4.4%) and medical attendance (1.1%). Fever was more frequent with concomitant vaccination.

Mucormycosis in Australia: contemporary epidemiology and outcomes

Mucormycosis is the second most common cause of invasive mould infection and causes disease in diverse hosts, including those who are immuno-competent. We conducted a multicentre retrospective study of proven and probable cases of mucormycosis diagnosed between 2004-2012 to determine the epidemiology and outcome determinants in Australia. Seventy-four cases were identified (63 proven, 11 probable). The majority (54.1%) were caused by Rhizopus spp. Patients who sustained trauma were more likely to have non-Rhizopus infections relative to patients without trauma (OR 9.0, p 0.001, 95% CI 2.1-42.8). Haematological malignancy (48.6%), chemotherapy (42.9%), corticosteroids (52.7%), diabetes mellitus (27%) and trauma (22.9%) were the most common co-morbidities or risk factors. Rheumatological/autoimmune disorders occurred in nine (12.1%) instances. Eight (10.8%) cases had no underlying co-morbidity and were more likely to have associated trauma (7/8; 87.5% versus 10/66; 15.2%; p <0.001). Disseminated infection was common (39.2%). Apophysomyces spp. and Saksenaea spp. caused infection in immuno-competent hosts, most frequently associated with trauma and affected sites other than lung and sinuses. The 180-day mortality was 56.7%. The strongest predictors of mortality were rheumatological/autoimmune disorder (OR = 24.0, p 0.038 95% CI 1.2-481.4), haematological malignancy (OR = 7.7, p 0.001, 95% CI 2.3-25.2) and admission to intensive care unit (OR = 4.2, p 0.02, 95% CI 1.3-13.8). Most deaths occurred within one month. Thereafter we observed divergence in survival between the haematological and non-haematological populations (p 0.006). The mortality of mucormycosis remains particularly high in the immuno-compromised host. Underlying rheumatological/autoimmune disorders are a previously under-appreciated risk for infection and poor outcome.

Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae in paediatric meningitis patients at Goroka General Hospital, Papua New Guinea: serotype distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility in the pre-vaccine era

BACKGROUND

Bacterial meningitis remains an important infection globally, with the greatest burden in children in low-income settings, including Papua New Guinea (PNG). We present serotype, antimicrobial susceptibility and outcome data from paediatric meningitis patients prior to introduction of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) in PNG, providing a baseline for evaluation of immunisation programs.

METHODS

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was collected from children admitted to Goroka General Hospital with suspected meningitis between 1996 and 2005. Culture and sensitivity was conducted, and pneumococci and H. influenzae were serotyped. Laboratory findings were linked to clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

We enrolled 1884 children. A recognised pathogen was identified in 375 children (19.9%). Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 180) and Hib (n = 153) accounted for 88.8% of pathogens isolated. 24 different pneumococcal serogroups were identified; non-PCV types 2, 24 and 46 accounted for 31.6% of pneumococcal meningitis. 10- and 13-valent PCVs would cover 44.1% and 45.4% of pneumococcal meningitis respectively. Pneumococcal isolates were commonly resistant to penicillin (21.5%) and 23% of Hib isolates were simultaneously resistant to ampicillin, co-trimoxazole and chloramphenicol. The case fatality rate in patients with a recognised bacterial pathogen was 13.4% compared to 8.5% in culture-negative patients.

CONCLUSIONS

If implemented in routine expanded programme of immunisation (EPI) with high coverage, current PCVs could prevent almost half of pneumococcal meningitis cases. Given the diversity of circulating serotypes in PNG serotype replacement is of concern. Ongoing surveillance is imperative to monitor the impact of vaccines. In the longer term vaccines providing broader protection against pneumococcal meningitis will be needed.

Influenza epidemiology in adults admitted to sentinel Australian hospitals in 2014: the Influenza Complications Alert Network (FluCAN)

The Influenza Complications Alert Network (FluCAN) is a sentinel hospital-based surveillance program that operates at sites in all states and territories in Australia. This report summarises the epidemiology of hospitalisations with laboratory-confirmed influenza during the 2014 influenza season. In this observational study, cases were defined as patients admitted to one of the sentinel hospitals with an acute respiratory illness with influenza confirmed by nucleic acid detection. During the period 3 April to 31 October 2014 (the 2014 influenza season), 1,692 adult patients (>16 years) were admitted with confirmed influenza to one of 15 of 17 FluCAN sentinel hospitals (excluding 2 paediatric hospitals). Of these, 47% were over 65 years of age, 10% were Indigenous Australians, 3.3% were pregnant and 85% had chronic co-morbidities. The majority of cases were due to influenza A. Influenza B was detected in 7% of patients. There were a large number of hospital admissions detected with confirmed influenza in this national observational surveillance system in 2014. These are estimated to represent a national annual burden of around 15,000 admissions and almost 100,000 bed-days nationally.

Factors affecting visual acuity after one year of follow up after repeated intravitreal ranibizumab for macular degeneration

Aim

Providing intravitreal ranibizumab therapy for neovascular age related macular degeneration (nARMD) is a source of increasing strain for many UK eye departments. Whilst most units attempt to adhere to the product licence of following up patients at four weekly intervals; delays in follow up appointments can and do occur. We aim to see if mean follow up intervals during the maintenance phase are correlated with visual outcomes at one year and perform a multivariate analysis of patient factors in a bit to understand the factors affecting visual acuity outcomes.

Method

A continuously updated prospective audit of patients receiving ranibizumab therapy at the Royal Gwent Hospital was accessed and a coefficient of determination and Spearman’s rank test undertaken to see whether mean follow up delays resulted in visual acuity penalties after nine months of maintenance. Multivariate analysis using ANOVA was then undertaken to examine in more detail the various factors affecting visual acuity outcomes.

Results

805 eyes of 708 patients were included in the study. Mean follow up intervals varied between 28.0 and 96.3 days over the first six treatments of the maintenance phase (mean 49.2 – SD 10.7) with a mean change in visual acuity from baseline of +7.1 letters at 12 weeks and +4.6 letters at 52 weeks. There was a negative correlation seen between visual acuity gains after nine months of the maintenance phase and increasing clinic follow up times although Spearman’s rank analysis demonstrated a correlation coefficient of only −0.078, which was not statistically significant. Variability in follow up appointments resulting in worse outcomes was however significant (p < 0.01), as was increasing age at presentation (p = 0.04). Smoking was found to decrease age of presentation by six years (74.2 years vs 80.0 years). The adjusted R² for the whole analysis was 0.44.

Conclusion

Wide variation in follow up intervals was associated with a worse visual acuity outcome although longer mean follow up interval was not. Smokers presented at a significantly younger age than non-smokers or ex-smokers. This was a large study with an adjusted R² of 0.44. The results are relevant to other macular degeneration service providers around the world.

Febrile seizures following measles and varicella vaccines in young children in Australia

BACKGROUND

Febrile seizures (FS) are common in childhood with incidence peaking in the second year of life when measles and varicella-containing vaccines are administered. This study aimed to examine the vaccine-attributable risk of FS following separate administration of MMR and monovalent varicella vaccines (VV) prior to a planned change to MMRV as the second dose of measles-containing vaccine at 18 months of age.

METHODS

All FS cases in children aged <5 years from 1st January 2012 to 30th April 2013 were identified from emergency department (ED) and inpatient databases at five Australian tertiary paediatric hospitals participating in PAEDS (Paediatric Active Enhanced Disease Surveillance). Immunization records were obtained from the Australian Childhood Immunization Register (ACIR). The relative incidence (RI) of FS following MMR dose 1 (MMR1) and VV in children aged 11-23 months was determined using the self-controlled case series (SCCS) method and used to calculate attributable risk.

RESULTS

There were 2013 FS episodes in 1761 children. The peak age at FS was 18 months. The risk of FS was significantly increased 5-12 days post receipt of MMR1 at 12 months (RI=1.9 [95% CI: 1.3-2.9]), but not after VV at 18 months (RI=0.6 [95% CI: 0.3-1.2]. The estimated excess annual number of FS post MMR1 was 24 per 100,000 vaccinated children aged 11-23 months (95% CI=7-49 cases per 100,000) or 1 per 4167 doses.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study detected the expected increased FS risk post MMR1 vaccine at 12 months, but monovalent varicella vaccine at age 18 months was not associated with increased risk of FS. This provides baseline data to assess the risk of FS post MMRV, introduced in Australia as the second dose of measles-containing vaccine at 18 months of age in July 2013.

Evidence of the circulation of pandemic influenza (H1N1) 2009 with D222D/G/N/S hemagglutinin polymorphisms during the first wave of the 2009 influenza pandemic

BACKGROUND

The hemagglutinin HA1 D222G substitution may be associated with adverse outcomes in pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 infections by enhancing the binding capacity of α2-3 sialyl receptors to pandemic influenza (H1N1) 2009 viruses.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the emergence of the D222G mutation and other polymorphisms at this position during the first southern hemisphere pandemic wave in 2009.

STUDY DESIGN

A total of 127 samples that were nucleic acid test positive for pandemic influenza (H1N1) 2009 virus were subjected to a sequence-based genotypic assessment of viral populations. Specimens showing polymorphisms at position 222 were further cloned to characterise the viral quasispecies.

RESULTS

A high proportion of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions (20%) and outpatients with mild symptoms (11.3%) carried polymorphisms of D/G/N/S at position 222 in hemagglutinin. Viral quasispecies derived from the upper and lower respiratory tract (URT and LRT) in ICU patients showed comparable levels of 222G populations.

CONCLUSION

The detection of 222G quasispecies present in the URT in both ICU and outpatient groups suggest ready transmission of these variants, and its frequent detection (and clusters) in outpatients imply local community transmission.

Blood loss in elective coronary artery surgery: a comparison of centrifugal versus roller pump heads during cardiopulmonary bypass

OBJECTIVES

To compare the effects of centrifugal pumps versus roller pumps for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in routine cardiac surgery on hematologic parameters in the context of modern practice.

DESIGN

Prospective, randomized, partially blinded.

SETTING

University teaching hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Elective coronary artery surgery patients (n = 113)

INTERVENTION

Patients were randomized to be perfused with either a roller head (group R, n = 56) or a centrifugal head (group C, n = 57) pump. Patients received epsilon-aminocaproic acid before and during CPB. Core body temperatures were allowed to drift down to approximately 32 degrees C.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Postoperative chest tube blood loss, blood product requirements, hemoglobin, and platelet counts were assessed. There were no significant differences in preoperative or intraoperative parameters, including CPB time, complexity of procedure, and minimum core temperature. There were the expected reductions in hemoglobin and platelet levels post-CPB in both groups to a similar extent. Chest tubes remained in situ for similar durations, and the final volume of drainage was not significantly different (group C, 1300 +/- 92 mL; group R 1117 +/- 83 mL; p = 0.14). Allogeneic blood was given to 23% of patients in group C and 18% in group R (p = 0.63). Aspirin was associated with an increase in early chest tube drainage.

CONCLUSIONS

In this surgical and perfusion environment, the authors were unable to show an advantage, from the hematologic point of view, in the routine use of a centrifugal pump head in elective coronary artery surgical patients. The use of antifibrinolytic agents and mild hypothermia may have effects on hemostasis that overshadow the influence of pump head design in this type of surgery.

Neuropsychologic testing within 18 hours after cardiac surgery

OBJECTIVE

To undertake neuropsychologic testing within 18 hours of cardiac surgery after fast-track anesthesia.

DESIGN

Prospective study.

SETTING

University hospital, single center.

PARTICIPANTS

Fifty patients undergoing first-time elective coronary artery surgery.

INTERVENTIONS

A neuropsychologic test battery was administered preoperatively and 18 hours and 5 days after surgery.

MAIN RESULTS

Seven patients were withdrawn, and 9 patients did not attempt the postoperative tests (on both occasions) because of medical complications. Thirty patients completed > or =4 tests at both postoperative occasions. Of these, 9 patients (30%) showed a deficit in > or =2 tests at 18 hours postoperatively, and 3 (10%) showed a deficit at 5 days postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

In the absence of medical complications and despite the difficulties, early postoperative neuropsychologic testing is possible after fast-track anesthesia. Such testing has the potential to more clearly define the course of cognitive decline after cardiac surgery.

Superficial and deep cervical plexus block for carotid artery surgery: a prospective study of 1000 blocks

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Cervical plexus blocks are performed for carotid surgery to allow neurological assessment of the awake patient. The aim of this study was to establish the frequency of success, complications, and patient acceptance of the technique.

METHODS

One thousand superficial and deep cervical blocks were performed in 924 patients having carotid artery surgery. Data about the blocks were recorded prospectively and patients were followed up postoperatively by an independent anesthesiologist to assess patient acceptance of the technique.

RESULTS

Lidocaine was the most frequently used anesthetic (88%). Surgical supplementation of the blocks was required in 53% of operations. Six blocks (0.6%) had clinical evidence of intravascular injection of local anesthetic. Sedation was required in 66% of operations and conversion to general anesthesia occurred in 25 (2.5%) of operations. Ninety-one percent of patients reported no problems with the block, and 93% stated that they would have the same anesthetic for any future similar surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that superficial and deep cervical plexus block has a high success rate, low complication rate, and high patient acceptance rate. Caution should, however, be exercised to ensure a low intravascular injection rate which is of most concern with this technique, because blood was aspirated in 30% of patients during performance of the block.