Anti-sporulation Strategies For Clostridium Difficile Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$651,559.00
Summary
Hospital-acquired infections with the bacterium Clostridium difficile are a major global public health concern with highly virulent isolates emerging overseas in 2002 and in Australia in 2010. These strains have spread through our hospitals and are also found in the community. This project will increase our understanding of how these strains spread and will provide knowledge that is critical for developing improved strategies for preventing these infections.
Protecting Australia And The Region From Emerging And Re-emerging Infectious Diseases.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$774,540.00
Summary
The world is facing unprecedented threats from epidemics. In 2014 Ebola showed that issues such as quarantine, personal protective equipment and improved health system capacity are just as critical as drugs and vaccines, yet these are under-researched. Professor MacIntyre is an international expert epidemic control. She will lead a strategic research program to improve control of emerging and re-emerging infections, using her expertise in vaccines, personal protective equipment and biosecurity.
REACH: Researching Effective Approaches To Cleaning In Hospitals
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$657,862.00
Summary
Healthcare associated infections are a major challenge for hospitals. Infections can spread via the patient environment, because colonized patients and staff can contaminate surfaces and equipment with micro-organisms. Cleaning is a vital component of patient care, but is a complex process with little real evidence to inform practice. This project will take a targeted approach to improving hospital cleaning to reduce infection rates; and examine the cost-effectiveness of this approach.
Optimising Patient Outcomes Following Surgery: Bridging The Fields Of Antimicrobial Stewardship, Microbiology And Infection Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,000.00
Summary
Over 2.4 million surgeries are performed yearly in Australia. Up to 15% of procedures are complicated by infection leading to patient suffering. These infections are also implicated in the emergence of antibiotic resistance. My research will help us understand how infections develop, how to prevent these infections and how to incorporate best-practice into patient care. My research will bridge these key areas to help improve outcomes for patients undergoing surgical procedures.
Real Time Models To Inform Prevention And Control Of Emerging Infectious Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$549,728.00
Summary
This proposed research addresses the need for real-time tracking of emerging infectious diseases (EID), both spatially and temporally, to inform international and national outbreak response teams, aid in the implementation of real-time containment strategies and ultimately the timely control of emerging infectious diseases. Outcomes will directly enhance & inform policy-making and EID preparedness at a national and international level.
The SAVE Trial: Securing All IntraVenous Devices Effectively In Hospitals. A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$980,393.00
Summary
Going to hospital usually means having an IV drip in your hand or arm vein. Almost half of all IV drips fall out or fail because they are not well secured to the skin. This means patients miss out on treatment and have additional painful needlesticks to insert new devices. Serious infections can also occur. This study will find the best dressings to use on IV drips. Patients will have their drips glued in with medical superglue, or have one of two new dressings, compared with current usual care.
Intravascular Device Administration Sets: Replacement After Standard Versus Prolonged Use (The RSVP Trial)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,611,239.00
Summary
Most hospital patients need an IV drip, a small plastic tube in a vein, often the hand/arm. 14 million/yr are used in Australia. IV drips are connected to plastic tubing through which fluid & medicine is given. IV tubing is needed for a week or more, but is only used for 3-4 days as it was thought this might prevent infection. It is now thought that IV tubing can be used for a week. This would save $1 billion/year & reduce nurses workload. The research will test the safety of this approach.
Centre For Research Excellence In Reducing Healthcare Associated Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,495,795.00
Summary
Each year in Australia 180,000 patients suffer a healthcare associated infection. Risk can be reduced with relatively simple technology but substantial costs arise with system wide adoption and monitoring. The economic paradigm is that funds can be invested for infection reduction to save costs and lives. The CRE will reveal the cost-effectiveness of infection control programmes and show health services decision-makers how to improve patient outcomes, save resources and save lives.
The Centre for Research Excellence in Nursing Interventions for Hospitalised Patients will provide evidence to improve the nursing care of a broad range of hospitalised patients who are at risk of complications related to compromised skin integrity and poor pain/anxiety management. Systematic reviews and clinical trials will provide the basis for developing clinical practice guidelines to assist nurses in providing high quality care to the 3.5 million Australians admitted to hospital each year.
Clinical Impact Of Clonal Pseudomonas Aeruginosa In Cystic Fibrosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$547,238.00
Summary
In patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), the normal defence mechanisms are compromised by an inherent genetic fault which results in an extremely sticky and dehydrated mucus. The respiratory system is unable to eradicate microbes (infection) from the lungs of patients with CF which begin to multiply and cause infection and inflammation. Recurring infections are treated with multiple courses of antibiotics and frequent hospitalisation and eventually result in premature death. This study focuses on ....In patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), the normal defence mechanisms are compromised by an inherent genetic fault which results in an extremely sticky and dehydrated mucus. The respiratory system is unable to eradicate microbes (infection) from the lungs of patients with CF which begin to multiply and cause infection and inflammation. Recurring infections are treated with multiple courses of antibiotics and frequent hospitalisation and eventually result in premature death. This study focuses on the major bacterial problem, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Several studies from Australia and the UK, including our own have shown that about 30% to 45% of patients share the same strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa within a centre. We know that two dominant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa are found in CF centres on the eastern board of Australia. This is unexpected as this bacterium is usually acquired from the environment. The emergence of these clonal strains is causing increasing anxiety in the CF community. This study is designed to provide vitally needed information on the clinical implications of being infected by an clonal strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the risk factors for the acquisition of an clonal strain. This new information will provide a rationale basis for the need for changes to infection control policies (including patient segregation), better outcome predictors for patients infected with clonal strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.Read moreRead less