Volume 200 Issue 5

The full content of this article is available by downloading the PDF.

Crisis provides urgency and focus for coordinated action to improve regional health and development

Suman S Majumdar MPH · Ben J Marais MD, PhD · Justin T Denholm MPH · Warwick J Britton PhD, FRACP, FRCPA,

Have distance and preparedness helped our hospitals dodge the C. difficile bullet?

Paul D R Johnson MB BS, PhD, FRACP · Rhonda L Stuart MB BS, PhD, FRACP

Herpes zoster is a painful, disabling condition so the recent development of preventive vaccines is welcome

Anthony L Cunningham AO, MD, FRACP · John C B Litt MB BS, FRACGP, PhD · C Raina MacIntyre FRACP, FAFPHM, PhD

The full content of this article is available by downloading the PDF.

The full content of this article is available by downloading the PDF.

Universal advance care directives may not solve the current problems surrounding end-of-life discussions

Adrian M J Pokorny BMed

AMA president Steve Hambleton challenges doctors to accept that they have stewardship of the health system

Steven J Hambleton MB BS, FAMA

Similarity in functionality with partial foot and transtibial amputation focuses attention on complication rates

Michael P Dillon BP · Stefania Fatone BP · Meg E Morris BAppSc(Physio), PhD, FACP

Can safety evidence for tranexamic acid in elective surgery support its use in trauma?

James Jarman · Andrew Brier

Can safety evidence for tranexamic acid in elective surgery support its use in trauma?

Ian Roberts

Can safety evidence for tranexamic acid in elective surgery support its use in trauma?

Russell L Gruen · Ian G Jacobs · Michael C Reade

We need better data before we stop inserting “just in case” catheters in the ED

Peter Lewindon

However rates of Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia are reported, the aim should be to reduce them

Diane E Watson

However rates of Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia are reported, the aim should be to reduce them

Allen C Cheng · Leon J Worth

Consider differential diagnoses of lymphocytic meningitis in the immune competent individual

Ohide Otome · Michael Bullen · Adrian R Tramontana

Steroid injections in the spine are effective, but only if given in the acute phase of the inflammatory reaction

Thomas K F Taylor · Stephen J Ruff

Risks of radiation exposure in CT scans are considerable for children and young adults, and MRI scans are preferable

Lynton G F Giles

Travel from remote areas to access health care could be contributing significantly to carbon emissions

Colleen Cheek · Timothy Skinner · Isabelle Ellis

Revalidation for doctors working in the UK is complex, and its implications on the workforce remain to be seen

Heinz Tilenius

Can our strained forensic pathologist workforce manage a clinically driven increase in reporting?

Susan J MacCallum · Antoinette C Anazodo

Can our strained forensic pathologist workforce manage a clinically driven increase in reporting?

Sandra L Neate · Lyndal C Bugeja · George A Jelinek

Can our strained forensic pathologist workforce manage a clinically driven increase in reporting?

Stephen M Cordner

Vitamin D may well play a role, but the focus should be awareness of likely exposure to active TB

Anastasios Konstantinos

Bringing the guidelines in line with new developments

Daniel P O’Brien MB BS, FRACP · Grant Jenkin MB BS, PhD, FRACP · John Buntine MB BS, FRACS · Christina M Steffen BA, MB BS, FRACS · Anthony McDonald MB BS, FRACS · Simon Horne MB BS, FRACGP · N Deborah Friedman MB BS, FRACP, MD · Eugene Athan MB BS, FRACP, MPH · Andrew Hughes MB BS, FRACP · Peter P Callan MB BS, FRACS, MBA · Paul D R Johnson MB BS, PhD, FRACP

A 2-year national survey confirms a significant rise in rates and finds a quarter of cases were community-acquired

Claudia Slimings BSc, PGDipHlthSci, PhD · Paul Armstrong BE(Min), MB BS, MApplEpi · Wendy D Beckingham BHSc(Nurs), GradCertInfectControl, MClinNurs · Ann L Bull BSc(Hons), MAppEpid, PhD · Lisa Hall BTech(Hons), PhD · Karina J Kennedy MB BS, FRACP, FRCPA · John Marquess BSc, MPH · Rebecca McCann RN, BSc(Nurs) · Andrea Menzies RN, BNursSci, GradCertInfectControlNurs · Brett G Mitchell PhD, MAdvPrac, BN · Michael J Richards MB BS, FRACP · Paul C Smollen MN, MPH, ICC · Lauren Tracey BHlthSc, MPH · Irene J Wilkinson BSc(Hons), MPH · Fiona L Wilson DipAppSci(Nurs), GradDipAdvNsg(ID), SICC · Leon J Worth MB BS, FRACP, PhD · Thomas V Riley PhD, FRCPath, FSc(RCPA)

Hepatitis B and hepatitis C prevalence has remained high despite an apparent drop in injecting drug use

Joanne M Reekie PhD, MPhil, BSc · Michael H Levy MB BS, MPH, FAFPHM · Alun H Richards MB BCh, FAFPHM, FAChAM · Christopher J Wake MB BCh, MRCP, MForensMed · Deborah A Siddall AdDipCommServ, DipCommEduc, DipAppSc · Holly M Beasley BSc, PostGradDip(IntHealth) · Shalin Kumar MHlthSc, MAppMan · Tony G Butler MSc, MSc, PhD

Continuous surveillance showed a significant reduction in rates during the first 3 years

Leon J Worth MB BS, FRACP, PhD · Tim Spelman MB BS, BSc, GradCert(Stats) · Ann L Bull PhD · Michael J Richards MB BS, FRACP, MD

There are signs that the prevalence of whipworm infection in the NT is declining but more can be done

Amy L Crowe MB BS · Pam Smith · Linda Ward BAppSci, MMedSci · Bart J Currie FRACP, FAFPHM, DTM+H · Rob Baird MB BS, FRACP, FRCPA

Out of over half a million arrivals at Sydney Airport, only three were confirmed to have influenza A

Praveena J Gunaratnam BA, MPH · Sean Tobin BM BS, MPH, FAFPHM · Holly Seale BSc, MPH, PhD · Andrew Marich MB BS, MPH, DCH · Jeremy McAnulty MB BS, MPH, FAFPHM

Abnormal results of coagulation tests do not necessarily indicate an actual coagulopathy; use with caution

Roderick O’Day MB BS(Hons), LLB(Hons), BSc · Golo Ahlenstiel MD · Anita Chittaranjan Shetty MB BS · Emmanuel J Favaloro PhD, FFSc(RCPA) · Stephen J Williams MB BS, MD, FRACP · Jerry Koutts MB BS, MD, FRACP

A reminder of the dedication of those committed to the pursuit of health and the protection of many

Kathryn M Weston BSc(Hons), PhD · Wendy C Gallagher BSc(Hons), GradDipA(Lib · James M Branley MB BS, FRACP, FRCPA

PANDEMICS, by Nobel Laureate Professor Peter Doherty, is based on the premise of equipping the public to be alert, not alarmed.The book, using a question-and-answer format, begins by giving the reader a crash course in the immune system and how the human body responds to invaders. It then provides a historical overview of pandemics and how respiratory infections, like influenza, are the greatest pandemic threat. ...

Merryn C McKinnon

When it comes to investing, the risks may be high, but getting a second opinion the difference in avoiding investment pinion can make all vestment pitfalls

Annabel McGilvray

Dr Carol Cox came to Australia from Scotland in the mid 70s expecting Skippy the bush kangaroo. What she found was life-changing for both herself and the rural people of Queensland she serves.

Cate Swannell