Significant healthcare resource utilisation in the management of skin and soft tissue infections in the Torres Strait, Australia.

INTRODUCTION: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples (First Nations Australians) living in remote communities are hospitalised with skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) at three times the rate of non-First Nations Australians. The Torres Strait in tropical northern Australia has a highly dispersed population mainly comprising First Nations Australians. This study aimed to define the health service utilisation and health system costs associated with SSTIs in the Torres Strait and to improve the quality of regional healthcare delivery. METHODS: The research team conducted a retrospective, de-identified audit of health records for a 2-year period, 2018-2019. The aim was to define health service utilisation, episodes of outpatient care, emergency department care, inpatient care and aeromedical retrieval services for SSTIs. RESULTS: Across 2018 - 2019, there were 3509 outpatient episodes of care for SSTIs as well as 507 emergency department visits and 100 hospitalisations. For individuals with an SSTI, the mean outpatient clinic episode cost $240; the mean emergency department episode cost $400.85, the mean inpatient episode cost $8403.05 while an aeromedical retrieval service cost $18,670. The total costs to the health system for all services accessed for SSTI management was $6,169,881 per year, 3% of the total annual health service budget. CONCLUSION: Healthcare costs associated with SSTIs in the Torres Strait are substantial. The implementation of effective preventative and primary care interventions may enable resources to be reallocated to address other health priorities in the Torres Strait.

Low-dose CT: A safe and effective imaging modality in post-operative pelvic & acetabular fixation.

INTRODUCTION: Post-operative pelvic & acetabular fixation patients are conventionally imaged using 3-view radiographs (AP, inlet and outlet). The efficacy of such radiographs is inconsistent due to technical difficulties capturing an adequate view, often necessitating repeat radiographs and therefore increasing radiation exposure. Radiographs can be difficult to interpret, limiting the assessment of fracture reduction and fixation, especially with respect to metalwork positioning around articular surfaces. Traditionally, post-operative pelvic & acetabular fixation patients undergo repeat 3-view radiographs post-operatively, at 6 weeks, followed by at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. We propose a new pathway, in which patients have one low-dose pelvic CT immediately post-operatively, followed by one radiograph (AP pelvis) at the same time points. METHODS: A new pelvic CT protocol was created to provide high quality 3D imaging whilst delivering a 5 times lower radiation dose (compared to normal pelvic CT). Data for all pelvic radiographs and CTs between January 2021 and March 2022 was exported. Using dose area product values, effective radiation dose and attributable lifetime cancer risk were calculated. RESULTS: There were 42 patients included in the analysis (age range 15 to 87).The average effective dose for the 3-view pelvic X-rays was 0.6mSv (range 0.2 to 2.8mSv), and 1.1mSv (range 0.5 to 2.2mSv) for the low-dose pelvic CT. Traditional 7 × 3-view post-operative radiographs: 7 × 0.6mSv = 4.2mSv (corresponding to 1 in 11,000 cancer risk) Low dose post-operative CT and 6 × 1-view radiographs: 1.1mSv + (6 × 0.6mSv / 3) = 2.3mSv (corresponding to 1 in 20,000 cancer risk) CONCLUSION: Low-dose CT scanning (in conjunction with 1-view radiographs) is an effective and safe imaging modality in the post-operative assessment of pelvic & acetabular fracture fixation, conferring a lower radiation burden, easier logistics, and higher quality images when compared to the traditional pathway of 3-view radiographs.

Melioidosis masquerading as malignancy in tropical Australia; lessons for clinicians and implications for clinical management.

Melioidosis is a life-threatening, emerging infectious disease caused by the environmental bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei. Melioidosis is hyperendemic in tropical Australia and southeast Asia, however the disease is increasingly encountered beyond these regions. Early diagnosis is essential as the infection has a case-fatality rate of up to 50%. Melioidosis most commonly involves the lungs, although almost any organ can be affected. Most patients present acutely but an insidious presentation over weeks to months is also well described. We present a case series of 7 patients from tropical Australia whom local clinicians initially believed to have cancer ‒ most commonly lung cancer ‒ only for further investigation to establish a diagnosis of melioidosis. All 7 patients had comorbidities that predisposed them to developing melioidosis and all survived, but their delayed diagnosis resulted in 3 receiving anti-cancer therapies that resulted in significant morbidity. The study emphasises the importance of thorough diagnostic evaluation and repeated collection of microbiological samples. It is hoped that our experience will encourage other clinicians ‒ in the appropriate clinical context ‒ to consider melioidosis as a potential explanation for a patient's presentation, expediting its diagnosis and the initiation of potentially life-saving therapy.

Lincosamide monotherapy treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia in tropical Australia: a case series.

Existing recommended first-line antibiotic agents for MRSA pneumonia have several shortcomings. We reviewed 29 cases of community- and hospital-acquired MRSA pneumonia managed at our hospital. Lincosamide monotherapy was administered to 21/29 (72%) and was the predominant antibiotic regimen (> 50% course duration) in 19/29 (66%). Patients receiving lincosamide-predominant monotherapy were no more likely to die or require intensive care unit admission than patients receiving vancomycin-predominant monotherapy (5/19 (26%) versus 4/7 (57%), p = 0.19); 5/7 (71%) patients admitted to ICU and 4/5 (80%) bacteraemic patients received lincosamide-predominant monotherapy. MRSA pneumonia can be safely treated with lincosamide monotherapy if the isolate is susceptible.

Reducing crash risk for young drivers: Protocol for a pragmatic randomised controlled trial to improve young driver sleep.

Background: Road trauma is a leading cause of death and disability for young Australians (15-24 years). Young adults are overrepresented in crashes due to sleepiness, with two-thirds of their fatal crashes attributed to sleepy driving. This trial aims to examine the effectiveness of a sleep extension and education program for improved road safety in young adults. Methods: Young adults aged 18-24 years (n = 210) will be recruited for a pragmatic randomised controlled trial employing a placebo-controlled, parallel-groups design. The intervention group will undergo sleep extension and receive education on sleep, whereas the placebo control group will be provided with information about diet and nutrition. The primary outcomes of habitual sleep and on-road driving performance will be assessed via actigraphy and in-vehicle accelerometery. A range of secondary outcomes including driving behaviours (driving simulator), sleep (diaries and questionnaire) and socio-emotional measures will be assessed. Discussion: Sleep is a modifiable factor that may reduce the risk of sleepiness-related crashes. Modifying sleep behaviour could potentially help to reduce the risk of young driver sleepiness-related crashes. This randomised control trial will objectively assess the efficacy of implementing sleep behaviour manipulation and education on reducing crash risk in young adult drivers.

Exploring the Relationship Between Age at Nap Cessation and Social-Emotional Functioning in Children.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine variations in age at nap cessation and identify whether there is an association with social-emotional functioning (SEF) as measured by internalizing/externalizing behavior, child temperament, and social skills in a sample of early childhood education and care-attending children. METHODS: The sample comprised 1117 children from the Australian Effectiveness Early Educational Experiences for Children longitudinal early childhood study. We used children's age at nap cessation as retrospectively recalled by caregivers in 2011 or 2013 when children were between ages 2 and 7 years. Each child's SEF was reported by a caregiver using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, the Short Temperament Scale for Children, and the Social Skills Inventory Scale. Associations between children's age of nap cessation and SEF were tested using linear regressions. RESULTS: The children's age at nap cessation ranged from 6 months to 6 years. For each additional year of napping, children's total , conduct , externalizing , and peer behavior problems decreased by 0.39 (95% confidence interval [CI], -0.70 to -0.09), 0.11 (95% CI, -0.21 to -0.01), 0.11 (95% CI, -0.51 to -0.06), and 0.11 (95% CI, -0.20 to -0.02) units on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire scale, respectively. No further significant associations were found. CONCLUSION: This is the first study reporting the age range of nap cessation and its associations with social-emotional functioning. Our findings demonstrate earlier cessation ages in Australian children attending Early Childhood Education and Care programs than previously reported and a small association with externalizing and peer problems.

Data from four consecutive cohorts of students in Australia (2019-2022) show the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on domestic and international university students' mental health.

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 and related travel and social restrictions caused significant stress for university students in Australia and globally. Learning quickly moved online and many students (particularly international students) were separated from social and economic support. This study examined the impact of the pandemic from pre-pandemic (2019) to the COVID-19 Omicron wave (2022) on domestic and international students' mental health. METHODS: Participants were 1540 students (72% females, 28% international) in four first-year cohorts (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022). We screened for mental health concerns (% positive) and symptom scores for depression, anxiety and somatic distress using the PsyCheck, and general wellbeing using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being scale. RESULTS: From pre-COVID (2019) to the first wave of COVID-19 (2020), the proportion of students screening positive for mental health problems rose in both domestic students (66-76%) and international students (46-67%). Depression symptoms and wellbeing were worse in 2020 than in 2019, 2021 and 2022. Anxiety symptoms increased from 2019 to 2020 and continued to rise in 2021 and 2022. Somatic symptoms did not show an effect of cohort. Contrary to expectations, domestic students reported higher distress and lower wellbeing than international students across cohorts. CONCLUSION: The pandemic was associated with a marked increase in psychological distress in first-year university students, not all of which settled with the easing of restrictions. Post-pandemic recovery in the Australian university sector must include university-wide access to mental health information and support for incoming students.

Patient-healthcare provider communication and age-related hearing loss: a qualitative study of patients' perspectives.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of age-related hearing loss (ARHL) significantly increases in people aged 60 and older. Medical errors are frequently reported because of communication breakdown, especially for patients with ARHL. AIMS: This qualitative study focuses on identifying the communication challenges faced by people aged over 65 with ARHL and potential ameliorative strategies based on the participants' personal experiences. METHODS: Thirteen participants, attending a support service for older adults with hearing loss in the South of Ireland, were recruited using convenience sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed using NVivo 12 software. Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis methodology was used to identify themes arising from two main study domains: difficulties faced during the most recent healthcare interaction and suggestions for improving overall healthcare communication. RESULTS: Older adults with hearing loss identified general mishearing, lack of awareness and use of medical terminology to be the cause of ineffective communication. Raising awareness of the impact of presbycusis on clinical interaction among healthcare professionals was cited as being of crucial importance. Other helpful strategies include repeat and rephrase, use of written information, providing context, minimizing ambient noise, continuity of care, longer consultation length and good body language. CONCLUSION: Effective clinical communication can be achieved through a clear understanding of the patient's perspective. Healthcare providers should be made aware of the hearing issues and associated communication difficulties posed, within the context of the development of patient-centred strategies to improve patient safety.

Perceived Neighborhood Characteristics and Sleep in Australian Adults.

BACKGROUND: Poor sleep can contribute to poorer health and socioemotional outcomes. Sleep health can be influenced by a range of individual and other socioecological factors. Perceptions of neighborhood physical and social characteristics reflect broader social-level factors that may influence sleep, which have not been well studied in the Australian context. This study examined the association between perceived neighborhood characteristics and sleep in a large sample of Australians. METHODS: Data were from 9,792 people aged 16 years or older, from Waves 16 and 17 of the nationally representative Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey. Associations between perceived neighborhood characteristics (neighborly interaction and support, environmental noise, physical condition, and insecurity) and self-reported sleep duration, sleep disturbance, and napping were examined using multiple logistic regression models. RESULTS: "Neighborhood interaction and support" and "neighborhood physical condition" were not significantly associated with any sleep outcomes after adjusting for relevant covariates. However, "environmental noise" and "neighborhood insecurity" remained significantly associated with sleep duration and sleep disturbance. None of the neighborhood characteristics were associated with napping. Furthermore, associations did not significantly vary by gender. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the potential benefit of public health policies to address noise and safety in neighborhoods to improve sleep.

Durable responses to ATR inhibition with ceralasertib in tumors with genomic defects and high inflammation.

BACKGROUNDPhase 1 study of ATRinhibition alone or with radiation therapy (PATRIOT) was a first-in-human phase I study of the oral ATR (ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related) inhibitor ceralasertib (AZD6738) in advanced solid tumors.METHODSThe primary objective was safety. Secondary objectives included assessment of antitumor responses and pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) studies. Sixty-seven patients received 20-240 mg ceralasertib BD continuously or intermittently (14 of a 28-day cycle).RESULTSIntermittent dosing was better tolerated than continuous, which was associated with dose-limiting hematological toxicity. The recommended phase 2 dose of ceralasertib was 160 mg twice daily for 2 weeks in a 4-weekly cycle. Modulation of target and increased DNA damage were identified in tumor and surrogate PD. There were 5 (8%) confirmed partial responses (PRs) (40-240 mg BD), 34 (52%) stable disease (SD), including 1 unconfirmed PR, and 27 (41%) progressive disease. Durable responses were seen in tumors with loss of AT-rich interactive domain-containing protein 1A (ARID1A) and DNA damage-response defects. Treatment-modulated tumor and systemic immune markers and responding tumors were more immune inflamed than nonresponding.CONCLUSIONCeralasertib monotherapy was tolerated at 160 mg BD intermittently and associated with antitumor activity.TRIAL REGISTRATIONClinicaltrials.gov: NCT02223923, EudraCT: 2013-003994-84.FUNDINGCancer Research UK, AstraZeneca, UK Department of Health (National Institute for Health Research), Rosetrees Trust, Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre.

Biomarker-driven phase 2 umbrella trial: Clinical efficacy of olaparib monotherapy and combination with ceralasertib (AZD6738) in small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Based on a high incidence of genomic alteration in the cell cycle and DNA damage and response (DDR)-related pathways in small cell lung cancer (SCLC), the clinical efficacy of the DDR-targeting agent olaparib (PARP inhibitor) as monotherapy and in combination with ceralasertib (ATR inhibitor) in relapsed or refractory SCLC was evaluated. METHODS: As part of a phase 2 biomarker driven umbrella study, patients with SCLC and predefined DDR gene alterations who failed to benefit from prior platinum-based regimens were allocated to the olaparib monotherapy arm and nonbiomarker-selected patients were allocated to the olaparib and ceralasertib combination arm. RESULTS: In the olaparib monotherapy arm (n = 15), the objective response rate was 6.7% (one partial response), and the disease control rate was 33.3%, including three patients with stable disease. The median progression-free survival was 1.3 months (95% CI, 1.2-NA). In the combination arm (n = 26), the objective response rate and disease control rate were 3.8% and 42.3%, respectively, with one partial response and 10 patients with stable disease. The median progression-free survival was 2.8 months (95% CI, 1.8-5.4). Treatment was generally well tolerated except for one fatal case of neutropenic fever in the combination arm. CONCLUSIONS: Targeting DDR pathways with olaparib as a single agent or in combination with ceralasertib did not meet the predefined efficacy end point. However, disease stabilization was more evident in the combination arm. Further investigation of the combination of olaparib in SCLC should be performed with diverse combinations and patient selection strategies to maximize efficacy.

Sleep mediates the relationship between precarious employment and mental health.

Background: Current evidence suggests that precarious employment is a risk factor for poor mental health. Although the mechanisms underpinning this relationship are unclear, poor sleep has been proposed to have a role in this relationship. This study explored the mediating effects of poor sleep quality and duration on the relationship between precarious employment and mental health. Methods: Data were obtained from wave 17 of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey. A novel precarious employment score (PES) was developed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) in 8127 workers (4195 female, aged 18-65). Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to evaluate the mediating effect of sleep quality and duration on the relationship between precarious employment and mental health (SF-36 mental health subscale). Results: The PES identified 650 workers with a high level of precariousness, 2417 with a moderate level of precariousness, and 5060 workers with a low level of precariousness out of 8127 in total. There was a significant direct association between precarious employment and mental health; with higher precarity increasing the likelihood of poor mental health. The SEM results revealed that sleep quality partially mediated the association between precarious employment and mental health (Coefficient = 0.025, 95 % CI [0.015, 0.034], P ≤ 0.001). However, a mediation effect was not found for sleep duration. Conclusion: Encouraging precarious employees to improve sleep quality may mitigate the adverse effects of precarious work on their mental health. Further objective measurement of sleep duration warrants a more accurate insight into this mediating effect in this group.

Objective Measurement of Posture and Movement in Young Children Using Wearable Sensors and Customised Mathematical Approaches: A Systematic Review.

Given the importance of young children's postures and movements to health and development, robust objective measures are required to provide high-quality evidence. This study aimed to systematically review the available evidence for objective measurement of young (0-5 years) children's posture and movement using machine learning and other algorithm methods on accelerometer data. From 1663 papers, a total of 20 papers reporting on 18 studies met the inclusion criteria. Papers were quality-assessed and data extracted and synthesised on sample, postures and movements identified, sensors used, model development, and accuracy. A common limitation of studies was a poor description of their sample data, yet over half scored adequate/good on their overall study design quality assessment. There was great diversity in all aspects examined, with evidence of increasing sophistication in approaches used over time. Model accuracy varied greatly, but for a range of postures and movements, models developed on a reasonable-sized (n > 25) sample were able to achieve an accuracy of >80%. Issues related to model development are discussed and implications for future research outlined. The current evidence suggests the rapidly developing field of machine learning has clear potential to enable the collection of high-quality evidence on the postures and movements of young children.

Use of artificial intelligence to identify patients to be assessed in a breast clinic on 2-week wait: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: The number of urgent referrals from primary care to specialist one stop breast clinics continues to rise beyond the capacity of the 2-week wait service. This study aims to use artificial intelligence (AI) to identify patients with new breast symptoms requiring a biopsy to identify those who should be prioritised for urgent breast clinic assessment. Methods: Data were collected retrospectively for patients attending one stop triple assessment breast clinic at Broomfield hospital between 1 June and 1 October 2021. PHP machine learning software was used to run AI on the data to identify patients who had a core biopsy in clinic. Results: A total of 794 cases were referred to one stop breast clinic for new breast symptoms-37 male (4.6%) and 757 female (95.3%). The average age of the patients included was 43.2 years. Five hundred thirty-six patients (67.5%) presented with a breast lump, 180 (22.7%) with breast pain, 61 (7.7%) with changes to shape or skin and 13 (1.6%) with a lump identified by their general practitioner. The patients who had a biopsy were of increased age [52.8 (SD 17.9) vs. 44.1 (SD 16.8), P<0.001], and had previous mammogram [n=21, (31.8%) vs. n=148 (20.3%), P 0.03], previous benign breast disease [n=9 (13.6%) vs. n=23 (3.1%), P<0.001], and increased use of HRT [n=13 (19.7%) vs. n=53 (6.4%), P<0.001]. The sensitivity and specificity of AI with neural network algorithms were 84% and 90%, respectively. Conclusion: AI was very effective at predicting the presenting symptoms that are likely to result in biopsy and can therefore be used to identify patients who need to be seen urgently in breast clinic.

Melioidosis of the Female Genitourinary Tract.

Prostatic abscess is a common manifestation of melioidosis in men, but the characteristics of female genitourinary melioidosis are incompletely defined. There were 453 cases of melioidosis in Far North Queensland, tropical Australia, between January 1998 and April 2023; genitourinary involvement was less common in women than in men (13/140 [9%] versus 76/313 [24%], odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 0.32 [0.17-0.60], P = 0.0004). In 11 of these 13 (85%) women, other organs were also affected. The two women with disease involving only the genitourinary tract had underlying anatomical abnormalities: one had an ovarian malignancy, the only case to involve the female reproductive system in the cohort, while the other had a urethral diverticulum. In 3 of 13 (23%) women, genitourinary involvement was identified only with computed tomography, emphasizing the importance of early imaging of patients with melioidosis to identify unexpected foci of disease and to inform the optimal duration of antibiotic therapy.

Case Report: Leptospirosis Complicated by Persistent, Bilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

The clinical manifestations of leptospirosis range from mild to life-threatening and can impact on multiple organ systems. A wide array of neurological manifestations of leptospirosis have been reported, although the pathophysiology of neuroleptospirosis remains incompletely understood. We present a case of leptospirosis complicated by bilateral sensorineural deafness, with nodular meningitis demonstrated in the internal auditory meatus on magnetic resonance imaging. The patient was treated with doxycycline, ceftriaxone, systemic and topical steroids, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, with modest, but incomplete, improvement.

The Epidemiological, Clinical, and Microbiological Features of Patients with Burkholderia pseudomallei Bacteraemia-Implications for Clinical Management.

Patients with melioidosis are commonly bacteraemic. However, the epidemiological characteristics, the microbiological findings, and the clinical associations of Burkholderia pseudomallei bacteraemia are incompletely defined. All cases of culture-confirmed melioidosis at Cairns Hospital in tropical Australia between January 1998 and June 2023 were reviewed. The presence of bacteraemia was determined and correlated with patient characteristics and outcomes; 332/477 (70%) individuals in the cohort were bacteraemic. In multivariable analysis, immunosuppression (odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval (CI)): (2.76 (1.21-6.27), p = 0.02), a wet season presentation (2.27 (1.44-3.59), p < 0.0001) and male sex (1.69 (1.08-2.63), p = 0.02), increased the likelihood of bacteraemia. Patients with a skin or soft tissue infection (0.32 (0.19-0.57), p < 0.0001) or without predisposing factors for melioidosis (0.53 (0.30-0.93), p = 0.03) were less likely to be bacteraemic. Bacteraemia was associated with intensive care unit admission (OR (95%CI): 4.27 (2.35-7.76), p < 0.0001), and death (2.12 (1.04-4.33), p = 0.04). The median (interquartile range) time to blood culture positivity was 31 (26-39) hours. Patients with positive blood cultures within 24 h were more likely to die than patients whose blood culture flagged positive after this time (OR (95%CI): 11.05 (3.96-30.83), p < 0.0001). Bacteraemia portends a worse outcome in patients with melioidosis. Its presence or absence might be used to help predict outcomes in cases of melioidosis and to inform optimal clinical management.

The Incidence of Infection Complicating Snakebites in Tropical Australia: Implications for Clinical Management and Antimicrobial Prophylaxis.

Objective: To define the incidence of infection following snakebite in tropical Australia and the resulting implications for the routine prescription of prophylactic antibiotics. Methods: A retrospective study of all individuals presenting to Cairns Hospital, a tertiary referral hospital in tropical Australia, after a snakebite between December 2013 and October 2020. Results: There were 732 hospitalisations, 720 (98.4%) patients presented within 8 hours of the snakebite, and 29/732 (4.0%) were envenomated. Envenomated patients were more likely to receive empirical antibiotics than nonenvenomated patients (8/29 (27.6%) versus 14/703 (2.0%), p < 0.001), although this was frequently as a bundle of care for critically ill individuals. Superficial skin infection was diagnosed by clinicians in 6/732 (0.8%) patients during their hospitalisation; infection was diagnosed more commonly in envenomated than in nonenvenomated patients (3/29 (10.3%) versus 3/703 (0.4%), p = 0.001). All 3 envenomated individuals diagnosed with infection were believed to have taipan (genus Oxyuranus) bites. Five (83%) of the six patients diagnosed with infection had received empirical antibiotics at presentation; only 1/710 (0.1%) patients who received no antibiotics developed a (superficial) infection. Conclusion: Infection is a very uncommon complication of snakebite in tropical Australia. Individuals bitten by snakes in tropical Australia should not routinely receive antibiotic prophylaxis.

Clinical Manifestations and Genomic Evaluation of Melioidosis Outbreak among Children after Sporting Event, Australia.

Melioidosis, caused by the environmental gram-negative bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei, usually develops in adults with predisposing conditions and in Australia more commonly occurs during the monsoonal wet season. We report an outbreak of 7 cases of melioidosis in immunocompetent children in Australia. All the children had participated in a single-day sporting event during the dry season in a tropical region of Australia, and all had limited cutaneous disease. All case-patients had an adverse reaction to oral trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole treatment, necessitating its discontinuation. We describe the clinical features, environmental sampling, genomic epidemiologic investigation, and public health response to the outbreak. Management of this outbreak shows the potential benefits of making melioidosis a notifiable disease. The approach used could also be used as a framework for similar outbreaks in the future.

Increased recognition of Q fever aortitis as a chronic manifestation of Q fever in tropical North Queensland, Australia.

Aortitis is a life-threatening, manifestation of chronic Q fever. We report a series of 5 patients with Q fever aortitis who have presented to our hospital in tropical Australia since 2019. All diagnoses were confirmed with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing of aortic tissue. Only one had a previous diagnosis of acute Q fever, and none had classical high-risk exposures that might increase clinical suspicion for the infection. All patients underwent surgery: one died and 3 had significant complications. Q fever aortitis may be underdiagnosed; clinicians should consider testing for Coxiella burnetii in people with aortic pathology in endemic areas.