Communicable diseases intelligence (2018)最新文献

Abstract: The Australian National Neisseria Network (NNN) comprises reference laboratories in each state and territory that report data on antimicrobial susceptibility testing to an agreed group of antimicrobial agents for the Australian Gonococcal Surveillance Programme (AGSP). The AGSP data are presented quarterly in tabulated form, as well as in the AGSP annual report. This report presents national gonococcal antimicrobial resistance surveillance data from 1 October to 31 December 2024.

Abstract: Data contained in quarterly reports are restricted to a description of case numbers of IMD by jurisdiction and serogroup, where known and expanded in 2024 to include antimicrobial resistance data for ceftriaxone, penicillin, ciprofloxacin and rifampicin. A full analysis of laboratory confirmations of IMD in each calendar year are contained in the AMSP annual reports.

Abstract: In 2019, state and territory health departments in Australia received 55,622 notifications of enteric diseases potentially related to food. Consistent with previous years, the majority of all notified infections were either campylobacteriosis (n = 36,451; 66%) or salmonellosis (n = 14,676; 26%). A total of 133 gastrointestinal outbreaks, including 121 foodborne outbreaks, were reported in 2019. The remaining 12 outbreaks were due to environmental or probable environmental transmission (six outbreaks); animal-to-person or probable animal-to-person transmission (four outbreaks); and waterborne or probable waterborne transmission (two outbreaks). Foodborne outbreaks affected 2,428 people, resulting in at least 402 hospital admissions and four deaths. Eggs continue to be a source of Salmonella Typhimurium infection across the country, with 26 reported egg-related outbreaks affecting at least 936 people.

Abstract: We write in supplement of the early 2024 outbreak of dengue on Mer Island in the Torres Strait which was published in Volume 48 of Communicable Disease Intelligence. During a three-day period in November 2024, four residents presented to the Masig (Yorke) Island Primary Healthcare Centre in the Torres Strait with fever, myalgia, and headache. None reported any recent overseas travel. The Torres and Cape Public Health Unit recommended testing with the point-of-care and all four patients returned positive dengue rapid tests (three NS1 reactive, one IgM and IgG reactive). Confirmatory pathology was collected for laboratory testing. A local dengue outbreak was declared, and a public health response immediately initiated. As with prior dengue outbreaks in the region, the public health response included harbourage spraying, active case finding and health promotion. The dengue rapid antigen tests proved reliable, acceptable, and easy-to-use. Their use enabled prompt outbreak detection and a swift public health response in this remote setting where there is an ongoing risk of dengue outbreaks.

Abstract: In 2018, state and territory health departments in Australia received 51,174 notifications of enteric diseases potentially related to food. This was 28% higher than the five-year average number of notifications for enteric diseases in Australia. Consistent with previous years, most notified infections were either campylobacteriosis (n = 33,143; 65%) or salmonellosis (n = 14,144; 28%). In total, 137 gastrointestinal outbreaks, including 127 foodborne outbreaks, were reported in 2018. The remaining ten outbreaks were due to environmental or probable environmental transmission (nine outbreaks) and waterborne or probable waterborne transmission (one outbreak). Foodborne outbreaks affected 1,644 people, resulting in at least 283 hospital admissions and thirteen deaths. Eggs continue to be a source of Salmonella Typhimurium infection across the country, with 26 egg-related outbreaks, affecting at least 535 people, reported across five jurisdictions in 2018.

Abstract: Data contained in quarterly reports are restricted to a description of case numbers of IMD by jurisdiction and serogroup, where known and expanded in 2024 to include antimicrobial resistance data for ceftriaxone, penicillin, ciprofloxacin and rifampicin. A full analysis of laboratory confirmations of IMD in each calendar year are contained in the AMSP annual reports.

Introduction: Achieving the World Health Organization's 2030 hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination goals necessitates robust and outcome-focussed surveillance. In Australia, HCV is a nationally notifiable condition, with state and territory health authorities leading surveillance and public health response. This study aimed to examine Queensland's HCV surveillance system and to identify barriers to, and solutions for, implementing notification-driven linkage to care.

Methods: This study was conducted in two parts. System mapping and gap identification were conducted through consultation with key stakeholders operationally involved in HCV surveillance. Secondly, a proof-of-concept descriptive analysis of two months of notification data (January to February 2023), coinciding with a period of enhanced surveillance work, was conducted to scope the magnitude of follow-up and to provide insights into groups needing targeted support. Cases were grouped into indeterminate, active and cleared categories.

Results: System mapping and gap analysis identified significant constraints, including the absence of automated data processes and key data elements. These factors impeded the implementation of surveillance case definitions and hindered the identification of priority groups for linkage to care. Of 2,257 cases, 1,218 (54.0%) were individuals who had cleared HCV infection. There were 305 cases with incomplete diagnostic testing; 92/305 (30.2%) were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. Incomplete diagnostic testing was significantly more likely to occur for cases tested in the community compared to those tested in a correctional setting (p < 0.001). Of 734 active cases, 83.1% were male, 53.3% were tested in corrections, and 36.0% were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

Conclusion: To strengthen Queensland's HCV surveillance and enable effective linkage to care, several recommendations are proposed. These include amending public health regulations to require negative HCV RNA testing notification; establishing systematic real-time or close to real-time linkage of related datasets, including treatment data; automating the reporting of Point of Care Testing results; implementing a HCV clearance cascade; and adopting a centralised state-wide public health model. Addressing these barriers will be essential to achieving optimal HCV surveillance and care in Queensland.

Background: An increase in gastrointestinal infections in Early Childhood Education and Care notified to the public health unit in the Metro South area of Brisbane, Australia, coincided with the peak of the first Omicron wave in 2022. This made public health messaging and advice on outbreak management challenging. We hypothesised that gastrointestinal symptoms were a feature of the Omicron variant infection. At the time, there was a paucity of data on presenting symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 among Australian children.

Objectives: To describe the symptom profile of COVID-19 in children residing in a large Metropolitan area in Queensland during the first Omicron wave.

Methods, setting, and participants: Participation was invited from cases of COVID-19 notified in those 17 years or younger via the Queensland Notifiable Conditions System between 7 February and 13 March 2022. A retrospective self-reported survey of these children was conducted at the end of May 2022 to understand the symptom profile and severity of infection.

Results: Of the 285 responses received, 91% reported being symptomatic; the most common symptoms noted were fever (75%), fatigue (57%), sore throat (55%), headache (55%), cough (50%) and runny nose (48%). Gastrointestinal symptoms were reported in 33% of cases. A majority of the children had either fever (31%) or respiratory symptoms (40%) as the first symptom, with only 7% reporting gastrointestinal symptoms as their first symptom. Close to three-quarters of the children had symptoms that lasted for four days or less. Medical advice/treatment was sought by 17% of symptomatic cases.

Conclusions: The majority of children with COVID-19 during the Omicron wave had fever or respiratory related symptoms as their first symptoms. Gastrointestinal symptoms were uncommon as the first symptom or in conjunction with other symptoms. Understanding the symptom profile in children helps inform institutional settings of their infection control practices and public health messaging.

Abstract: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) became notifiable in Tasmania on 1 July 2022. This study describes the epidemiology and data quality of all notifications of laboratory confirmed RSV that had a specimen collection date from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023 in Tasmania. Descriptive analysis was undertaken by age group, sex, month of notification and residential location; data quality was assessed through completeness of reporting. There were 4,491 notifications of RSV in Tasmania, equating to a notification rate of 779 per 100,000 population per year. The highest proportion of RSV notifications were in children, there was a seasonal increase during winter and higher notification rates in the North region. Data completeness was greater than 98% for most person, place and time variables. This analysis of RSV notifications provides a baseline for the ongoing surveillance of RSV in Tasmania.

Abstract: This report from the Australian Rotavirus Surveillance Program describes the circulating rotavirus genotypes identified in children and adults during the period 1 January to 31 December 2023. During this period, 1,942 faecal samples were referred for rotavirus G- and P- genotype analysis; of these samples, 1,781 were confirmed as rotavirus positive. This is the highest number of rotavirus-positive confirmed samples by the Australian Rotavirus Surveillance Program in the past > 20 years of operation of the program. Of these confirmed rotavirus positive samples, 1,554 of 1,781 (87.3%) were identified as wildtype rotavirus, and 226 of 1,781 (12.7%) were identified as the Rotarix vaccine-like strain. G3P[8] was the dominant genotype nationally (n = 1,117/1,554; 71.9%), comprised of both human G3P[8] (n = 662/1,554; 42.6%) and the equine-like G3P[8] variant (455/1,554; 29.3%). Other frequently identified genotypes included G2P[4] (n = 146/1,554; 9.4%), G12P[8] (n = 100/1,554; 6.4%), G1P[8] (n = 40/1,554; 2.6%), G9P[4] (n = 32/1,554; 2.1%) and G8P[8] (n = 21/1,554; 1.4%). Genotype distribution was consistent amongst most jurisdictions, with human G3P[8] and equine-like G3P[8] the two dominant genotypes in all jurisdictions, with the exception of the Northern Territory and Western Australia where G2P[4] (7/103; 6.8%) and G12P[8] (54/241; 22.4%) were the second most dominant genotypes respectively. Consistent with observations in 2022, a small number of unusual genotypes were identified (n = 42/1,554; 2.7%), including G2P[8] (n = 18/1,554; 1.2%), and G3P[4] (n = 6/1,554; 0.4%). The high number of rotavirus positive samples received by the program reflected the notifications for rotavirus disease reported to the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance Service. The ability to monitor the genotypes of rotavirus strains causing disease across ages and across jurisdictions provides important data on assessing the performance of the national rotavirus vaccine program and to inform public health interventions during outbreaks. This Australian Rotavirus Surveillance Program also provides important data to monitor annual variations in genotypic patterns and to provide diagnostic laboratories with quality assurance by reporting incidences of wildtype, vaccine-like, or false positive rotavirus results.