The Arthroplasty Surgical Antibiotic Prophylaxis (ASAP) Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,509,985.00
Summary
The demand for total joint replacement surgery will double over the next decade. Infection involving the surgical wound is a devastating complication of this surgery. Half of all infections are due to methicillin resistant Staphylococcus (such as MRSA) and Enterococcus. This multicentre randomised controlled trial aims to investigate whether the addition of vancomycin at the time of surgery reduces the incidence of surgical wound infections; is safe and is cost-effective.
Antibiotic Loading Of Bone Allografts For The Prevention Of Peri-operative Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$300,847.00
Summary
Bone is the second most often transplanted tissue after blood, with thousands of grafts done every year in Australia. Allograft bone (taken from another person) is used to replace bone removed due to cancer, but is prone to infection. Infected grafts must be removed, and can lead to amputation. We are developing a process to put antibiotics into allograft bone, to prevent infections from taking hold. Reducing infections can increase the success of limb salvage surgery for cancer patients.
Translating Bacterial Molecular Epidemiology Into Information To Improve Infectious Disease Risk Assessment And Control
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$494,500.00
Summary
Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) and group B streptococcus (GBS) are important pathogenic bacteria, which cause septicaemia and meningitis in young infants, the elderly and people with certain chronic diseases. Both consist of a number of different types, some of which are more likely to cause disease than others. Pneumococcal vaccines that protect against the commonest pathogenic types are used in Australia in people most at risk.Antibiotic resistance is an increasing problem, which shou ....Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) and group B streptococcus (GBS) are important pathogenic bacteria, which cause septicaemia and meningitis in young infants, the elderly and people with certain chronic diseases. Both consist of a number of different types, some of which are more likely to cause disease than others. Pneumococcal vaccines that protect against the commonest pathogenic types are used in Australia in people most at risk.Antibiotic resistance is an increasing problem, which should be partly off-set by immunisation. Giving antibiotics during labour, to women colonised with GBS, can reduce infection rates in newborns, but there are many disadvantages of this approach, including the risk of increased antibiotic resistance. Vaccines against GBS are mpt yet available. We have developed methods to identify detailed fingerprints of these bacteria which allow us to identify types, antibiotic resistance and, for GBS, other characteristics which can distinguish highly pathogenic strains from the majority that are carried harmlessly and unlikely to cause disease. The methods are still quite slow and expensive and produce complex patterns,which are difficult to interpret rapidly. We plan to develop a new, rapid and relatively inexpensive, fingerprinting system for these bacteria and computer programs to analyse and interpret the results. They will allow us to check the strains of pneumococci that cause disease to make sure that new ones, not covered by the vaccine, do not become more common and reduce the effectiveness of vaccine and that antibiotic resistance does not increase further. The methods will also allow us to study differences between the small proportion of GBS strains that cause neonatal infection and the majority that are carried harmlessly by pregnant women and are of little risk to their babies. Eventually this should allow doctors to identify women whose babies are most at risk, reduce unnecessary antibiotic use.Read moreRead less
Clinical Studies Of Novel Antiviral Therapies In Advanced Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$64,631.00
Summary
There is an urgent need to develop therapies for treating and preventing Hepatitis B antiviral resistance, particularly in patients with advanced liver disease. Investigator-initiated clinical studies will be performed to examine a) the most effective therapy for preventing antiviral resistance and Hepatitis B recurrence following liver transplantation and b) the effect of a novel Hepatitis B antiviral, tenofovir, on multi-resistant chronic Hepetatis B infection.
Effect Zoledronic Acid And Risedronate On The Preservation Of The Femoral Head In A Rat Model Of Perthes Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$199,750.00
Summary
Perthes Disease (Legg-Perthes Disease) is a common childhood disorder, which leads to collapse and deformity of the growing hip joint. This can lead to arthritis in adult life, as well as a short leg on the affected side. The cause is as yet unknown. A class of drugs called bisphosphonates has been shown to help children with osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease). We believe, based on our extensive studies of the effect of these drugs on bone healing, that they could also help children ....Perthes Disease (Legg-Perthes Disease) is a common childhood disorder, which leads to collapse and deformity of the growing hip joint. This can lead to arthritis in adult life, as well as a short leg on the affected side. The cause is as yet unknown. A class of drugs called bisphosphonates has been shown to help children with osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease). We believe, based on our extensive studies of the effect of these drugs on bone healing, that they could also help children with Perthes disease. Although proving to be safe and effective in children with osteogenesis imperfecta, before exposing children with Perthes disease to the risk of any side effects, animal studies are needed. A certain type of rat called the spontaneously hypertensive rat gets a condition almost exactly the same as Perthes disease. This study will treat a large number of these rats and perform detailed study into whether it has a positive effect on preserving the shape of the hip joint, as well as looking into how this actually occurs. A successful outcome would pave the way for trials in children with Perthes disease, and could result in the avoidance of surgery and improved health outcomes for the children.Read moreRead less
Antimicrobial Stewardship - Establishing Effective Programs For Australian Hospitals
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,232,361.00
Summary
This project will examine strategies to improve the use of antimicrobial drugs in Australian hospitals. It will evaluate the impact of antimicrobial stewardship programs on antibiotic prescribing practices in Victorian tertiary hospitals and determine the organisational factors associated with success. It will also examine the needs, and establish models for antimicrobial stewardship beyond the tertiary hospital setting, in private hospitals, small metropolitan and rural hospitals.
The Epidemiology And Treatment Of Infections Due To Multiresistant Gram Negative Bacteria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$274,946.00
Summary
This fellowship application deals with the treatment of infections due to antibiotic resistant bacteria. The World Economic Forum recently discussed threats to our modern way of life. The highest ranked threats were climate change, terrorism and antibiotic resistance. During this Fellowship, two large clinical trials of treatment strategies for antibiotic resistant bacteria will be supervised by Professor Paterson.
Implementation Research To Guide The Elimination Of HIV Transmission In NSW
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,499,409.00
Summary
The implementation of new biomedical forms of HIV prevention since 2015 has been accompanied by a 40% reduction in HIV diagnoses in gay and bisexual men in New South Wales (NSW). Reductions in HIV have been much smaller in the overseas-born, the young, and in those living outside of inner Sydney. We propose a 5-year program of implementation research, integrated with the NSW HIV Strategy 2021-25, which will see NSW become the first jurisdiction globally to virtually eliminate HIV.