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Biomedical subjects

Ivan Bastian

Publications and source records attributed to Ivan Bastian.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

Detection and discrimination of herpes simplex viruses, Haemophilus ducreyi, Treponema pallidum, and Calymmatobacterium (Klebsiella) granulomatis from genital ulcers.

BACKGROUND: Genital ulcer disease (GUD) is commonly caused by pathogens for which suitable therapies exist, but clinical and laboratory diagnoses may be problematic. This collaborative project was undertaken to address the need for a rapid, economical, and sensitive approach to the detection and diagnosis of GUD using noninvasive techniques to sample genital ulcers. METHODS: The genital ulcer disease multiplex polymerase chain reaction (GUMP) was developed as an inhouse nucleic acid amplification technique targeting serious causes of GUD, namely, herpes simplex viruses (HSVs), H. ducreyi, Treponema pallidum, and Klebsiella species. In addition, the GUMP assay included an endogenous internal control. Amplification products from GUMP were detected by enzyme linked amplicon hybridization assay (ELAHA). RESULTS: GUMP-ELAHA was sensitive and specific in detecting a target microbe in 34.3% of specimens, including 1 detection of HSV-1, three detections of HSV-2, and 18 detections of T. pallidum. No H. ducreyi has been detected in Australia since 1998, and none was detected here. No Calymmatobacterium (Klebsiella) granulomatis was detected in the study, but there were 3 detections during ongoing diagnostic use of GUMP-ELAHA in 2004 and 2005. The presence of C. granulomatis was confirmed by restriction enzyme digestion and nucleotide sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene for phylogenetic analysis. CONCLUSIONS: GUMP-ELAHA permitted comprehensive detection of common and rare causes of GUD and incorporated noninvasive sampling techniques. Data obtained by using GUMP-ELAHA will aid specific treatment of GUD and better define the prevalence of each microbe among at-risk populations with a view to the eradication of chancroid and donovanosis in Australia.

Calymmatobacterium↗

Tuberculosis notifications in Australia, 2004.

The National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System received 1,076 tuberculosis (TB) notifications in 2004, of which 1,043 were new cases and 33 were relapses. The incidence of TB in Australia has remained at a stable rate since 1985 and was 5.4 cases per 100,000 population in 2004. The high-incidence groups remain people born overseas and Indigenous Australians at 21.7 and 8.1 cases per 100,000 population, respectively. By contrast, the incidence of TB in the non-Indigenous Australian-born population was 1.0 cases per 100,000 population. Comparison of the 2004 TB notification data against the performance indicators set by National Tuberculosis Advisory Committee highlights that enhanced TB control measures should be considered among these high-risk groups.

Adolescent↗

Tuberculosis in Australia: bacteriologically confirmed cases and drug resistance, 2004: a report of the Australian Mycobacterium Reference Laboratory Network.

The Australian Mycobacterium Reference Laboratory Network collected and analysed laboratory data on new cases of disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in the year 2004. A total of 787 cases were identified by bacteriology, representing an annual reporting rate of 3.9 cases per 100,000 population. Almost all isolates were identified as M. tuberculosis (n = 785), the remaining isolates being one each of Mycobacterium africanum and Mycobacterium canettii. Seven children under 10 years of age (female n = 5, male n = 2) had bacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis (gastric aspirate n = 4, lymph node n = 1, pleural n = 1, thigh wound n = 1). Results of in vitro drug susceptibility testing were available for all 787 isolates for isoniazid (H), rifampicin (R), ethambutol (E), and pyrazinamide (Z). A total of 71 (9.0%) isolates of M. tuberculosis were resistant to at least one of these anti-tuberculosis agents. Resistance to at least both H and R (defined as multidrug resistance) was detected in 12 (1.5%) isolates; 10 were from the respiratory tract (sputum n = 7, bronchoscopy n = 3). The country of birth was known for 68/71 (95.8%) cases with a drug resistant strain; eight were Australian, 60 were overseas born, and three were unknown. Of the 60 migrants with drug resistant disease, 37 (61.7%) were from three countries; Viet Nam (n = 20), China (n = 9) and India (n = 8).

Adolescent↗

The tsunami of tuberculosis.

The annual death toll from tuberculosis in the Indian Ocean region is 2-3 times higher than the toll from the recent tsunami.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Investigation of spa pools associated with lung disorders caused by Mycobacterium avium complex in immunocompetent adults.

Three cases of Mycobacterium avium complex-related lung disorders were associated with two poorly maintained spa pools by genotypic investigations. Inadequate disinfection of the two spas had reduced the load of environmental bacteria to less than 1 CFU/ml but allowed levels of M. avium complex of 4.3 x 10(4) and 4.5 x 10(3) CFU/ml. Persistence of the disease-associated genotype was demonstrated in one spa pool for over 5 months until repeated treatments with greater than 10 mg of chlorine per liter for 1-h intervals eliminated M. avium complex from the spa pool. A fourth case of Mycobacterium avium complex-related lung disease was associated epidemiologically but not genotypically with another spa pool that had had no maintenance undertaken. This spa pool contained low numbers of mycobacteria by smear and was culture positive for M. avium complex, and the nonmycobacterial organism count was 5.2 x 10(6) CFU/ml. Public awareness about the proper maintenance of private (residential) spa pools must be promoted by health departments in partnership with spa pool retailers.

Adult↗

Tuberculosis notifications in Australia, 2003.

The National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (NNDSS) received 982 tuberculosis (TB) notifications in 2003, of which 947 were new cases, 33 were relapses and two were cases with unknown history. The incidence of TB in Australia has remained at a stable rate since 1985 and was 4.9 cases per 100,000 population in 2003. The high-incidence groups remain people born overseas and Indigenous Australians at 19.9 and 8.7 cases per 100,000 population, respectively. By contrast the incidence in non-Indigenous Australians was 0.9 per 100,000. Comparison of the 2003 TB notification data against the performance indicators set by National Tuberculosis Advisory Committee highlights that enhanced TB control measures should be considered among these high-risk groups.

Adolescent↗

Tuberculosis in Australia: bacteriologically confirmed cases and drug resistance, 2003. A report of the Australian Mycobacterium Reference Laboratory Network.

The Australian Mycobacterium Reference Laboratory Network collected and analysed laboratory data on new cases of disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in the year 2003. A total of 784 cases were identified by bacteriology, representing an annual reporting rate of 3.9 cases of laboratory confirmed tuberculosis per 100,000 population. The most commonly encountered culture-positive specimens were sputum (n = 351), lymph node (n = 176) and from bronchoscopy (n = 97). Smears containing acid fast bacilli were present in sputum (53.0%), bronchoscopy (32.0%) and lymph node (23.3%). Five children (female n = 3, male n = 2) under 10 years of age had bacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis. Eighty isolates of M. tuberculosis and one of Mycobacterium africanum (10.3%) were resistant to at least one of the standard anti-tuberculosis agents. Mono-resistance to isoniazid, ethambutol, rifampicin, and pyrazinamide was detected in 45, three, two, and one isolates respectively. Multidrug-resistance (MDRTB) defined as resistance to both isoniazid and rifampcin was observed in seven (0.9%) isolates. Of the seven MDRTB isolates, six were from the respiratory tract and four were from smear positive specimens. Of the 81 patients with drug resistant isolates, 78 (96.3%) were classified as having initial resistance; two had acquired resistance and no information was available for one isolate; five were Australian-born; and 76 (93.8%) had migrated from a total of 30 countries.

Adolescent↗

Current thinking on the management of tuberculosis.

High-income countries are moving toward tuberculosis (TB) elimination. Sophisticated diagnostic tests and effective treatment regimens are readily available. The range of available resources even makes effective treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDRTB) possible. The introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy and specific TB control measures has reduced the incidence of HIV-associated TB disease. Unfortunately, the situation in low-income countries that carry 95% of the global TB burden is less positive. TB diagnosis still relies upon sputum smear microscopy. The management of MDRTB remains problematic though guidelines for DOTS-plus programs have been developed, and cheaper second-line drugs are becoming available. The HIV epidemic continues to confound TB control efforts, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The appropriate package of interventions for controlling HIV/TB disease remains undefined and unimplemented. The international community must provide the funding and technical support to address the alarming dichotomy in TB control that exists between rich and poor countries.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Tuberculosis in Australia: bacteriologically confirmed cases and drug resistance, 2001.

The Australian Mycobacterium Reference Laboratory Network collected and analysed laboratory data on new cases of disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in the year 2001. A total of 771 cases were identified, representing an annual reporting rate of 4.0 cases of laboratory-confirmed tuberculosis per 100,000 population. The predominant specimen type was sputum, (n=369) and a further 111 were collected at bronchoscopy. Smears were positive for 214 of 369 (58.0%) sputum and 42 of 111 (37.8%) bronchoscopy specimens respectively. Seven children (male n=5, female n=2) under 10 years of age had bacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis. A total of 69 isolates (8.9%), comprising 67 M. tuberculosis, one M. africanum, and one M. bovis, were resistant to at least one of the anti-tuberculosis agents. Excluding the M. bovis isolate, 61 of 64 (93.5%) were classified as having initial resistance, three had acquired resistance, and no data were available on the presence or absence of previous treatment for four patients. Resistance to at least isoniazid and/or rifampicin was noted for 67 isolates (8.7%), with resistance to both isoniazid and rifampicin (i.e. defined as multidrug-resistant disease) observed in 12 (1.6%) isolates. All of the multidrug-resistant isolates were M. tuberculosis, 10 were from the respiratory tract. The country of birth was known for 63 of 68 (92.6%) patients with a drug-resistant strain of M. tuberculosis or M. africanum; five were Australian-born and 58 (92.1%) had migrated from a total of 22 countries. One hundred and seven respiratory specimens had a nucleic acid amplification testing performed; 89 of 90 (98.9%) smear positives were nucleic acid amplification testing positive, whilst only 13 of 17 (76.5%) smear negative specimens were nucleic acid amplification testing positive. The 2001 laboratory data reveals a stable incidence rate and level of drug resistance in isolates from Australian patients with tuberculosis.

Adult↗

Tuberculosis notifications in Australia, 2002.

In 2002, there were 1,028 cases of tuberculosis (TB) reported to the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System, of which 997 were new cases, 30 were relapses and 1 unknown. The incidence rate of TB in Australia in 2002 was 5.2 cases per 100,000 population. The highest incidence of TB was reported in people born overseas (20.2 cases per 100,000 population), followed by Indigenous Australians (8.5 cases per 100,000 population). By contrast, the incidence rate of TB in the nonIndigenous Australian-born population was 1.1 cases per 100,000 population. This pattern of TB incidence rates amongst the sub-populations of Australia has been observed for over 10 years. The rates were evaluated against the performance indicators set by the National Tuberculosis Advisory Committee to ensure that Australia's record of TB control is maintained and improved.

Adolescent↗

Tuberculosis in Australia: bacteriologically confirmed cases and drug resistance, 2002: a report of the Australian Mycobacterium Reference Laboratory Network.

The Australian Mycobacterium Reference Laboratory Network collected and analysed laboratory data on new cases of disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in the year 2002. A total of 712 cases were identified by bacteriology, representing an annual reporting rate of 3.6 cases of laboratory-confirmed tuberculosis per 100,000 population. The most commonly encountered culture-positive specimens were sputum (n=325), lymph node (n=142) and bronchoscopy (n=100). Smears containing acid fast bacilli were present in sputum (53.2%), bronchoscopy (37.9%) and lymph node (21.2%). Eight children (male n=3, female n=5) under 10 years of age had bacteriologically-confirmed tuberculosis. A total of 55 isolates (7.7%) of M. tuberculosis were resistant to at least one of the standard anti-tuberculosis agents. Resistance to at least isoniazid and/or rifampicin was noted for 53 isolates (7.4%), with multidrug-resistance (MDRTB) observed in 12 (1.9%) isolates. Of the 12 MDRTB isolates, eight were from the respiratory tract and five were from smear positive specimens. Of the patients with drug resistant M. tuberculosis isolates, 51/55 (92.7%) were classified as having initial resistance, none had acquired resistance during treatment in Australia. The country of birth was known for 54 of 55 such patients; four were Australian-born, and 50 (90.9%) had migrated from a total of 17 countries. Nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) was performed on 139 (19.5%) of the 712 culture-positive specimens. Of smear positive respiratory specimens, 74/80 (92.5%) were NAAT positive. For smear negative respiratory specimens, 12/17 (70.6%) reported a NAAT positive result. Importantly, false-negative NAAT results were obtained from 1/16 and 5/64 of smear positive bronchoscopy and sputum specimens respectively.

Adolescent↗

Tuberculosis in Australia: bacteriologically confirmed cases and drug resistance, 2000: report of the Australian Mycobacterium Laboratory Reference Network.

The Australian Mycobacterium Reference Laboratory Network collected and analysed laboratory data on new diagnoses of disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in the year 2000. A total of 765 cases were identified, representing an annual reporting rate of 4.0 cases of laboratory-confirmed tuberculosis (TB) per 100,000 population. Pulmonary disease was diagnosed in 64.9 per cent of cases with a male:female ratio of 1.5:1. Smears were positive for 209/365 (57.3%) of sputum isolates and 39/117 (33.3%) bronchoscopy isolates. Sputum from males was more likely to be smear-positive (63.3%) than from females (47.5%). Isolates from lymph node accounted for 136 (17.7%) of all cases; only 28.7 per cent were smear-positive. Eighty-four (11.0%) isolates, comprising 82 M. tuberculosis and 2 M. bovis strains, demonstrated in vitro resistance to at least one of the standard anti-TB medications. Resistance to at least isoniazid and rifampicin (defined as multidrug-resistant TB) was observed for only 8 (1.0%) strains, a rate similar to previous years. Almost all (96.3%) of patients with drug resistant strains were classified as having initial resistance. The country of birth was known for 76 (92.7%) of 82 patients with a drug resistant strain of M. tuberculosis; 6 were Australian-born and 70 (92.1%) had migrated from a total of 17 countries. Of these 70 migrants with drug-resistant disease, 68.6 per cent had migrated from one of the following countries: Vietnam (n=15), China (n=11), Philippines (n=11), India (n=6), and Indonesia (n=5).

Adolescent↗

Tuberculosis notifications in Australia, 2001.

In 2001, there were 997 cases of tuberculosis (TB) reported to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System, of which, 967 were new cases of TB and 30 cases were relapses. The incidence rate of TB in Australia in 2001 was 5.1 cases per 100,000 population. The highest incidence of TB was reported in people born overseas (19.3 cases per 100,000 population), followed by Indigenous Australians (9.8 cases per 100,000 population). In contrast, the incidence rate of TB in the non-Indigenous Australian-born population was 1.0 cases per 100,000 population. This pattern of TB incidence rates amongst the sub-populations of Australia has been observed for over 10 years. Eighty-six per cent of TB cases completed treatment in 2001. Treatment was unsuccessful in 7 cases and only 22 cases defaulted. The National Tuberculosis Advisory Committee has published a National Strategic Plan with performance indicators to ensure that this enviable record of TB control is maintained and improved.

Adult↗