A State-wide Retrospective Cohort Study Examining Effects of Transfusing Old Blood Products in Vascular Surgical Patients.

Introduction We investigated the effects of transfusing blood products close to the expiration date (i.e., ≥35 days packed red blood cells (PRBCs) and >3 days platelets (PLTs)) on vascular patients.

Interferon-α Nasal Spray Prophylaxis Reduces COVID-19 in Cancer Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Background: We evaluated whether a daily nasal spray of interferon-alpha (IFN-α) would reduce the incidence of COVID-19 or community-acquired respiratory viral infections in adult cancer patients.

Methods: In this multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial, participants were randomized 1:1 to receive daily 40 000 IU IFN-α nasal spray or normal saline placebo. Participants who developed influenza-like symptoms self-collected nasal swabs for PCR testing of SARS-CoV-2, influenza A/B, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza, adenovirus, seasonal coronavirus, picornavirus, human metapneumovirus, and/or SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen testing.

Plasma microbial cell-free DNA Metagenomic Sequencing for Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases Among High Risk Outpatient and Inpatient Immunocompromised Hosts.

Background: New and minimally-invasive tools to aid the diagnosis of invasive fungal diseases (IFD) are urgently needed as the immunocompromised population at highest risk increases. Advancements in molecular technology have rendered new diagnostics more readily available for clinical use.

Methods: This case-control study utilized prospectively collected, archived plasma specimens and data from the Aspergillus Technology Consortium (AsTeC) Repository to investigate the diagnostic performance of microbial cell free DNA (mcfDNA) sequencing as a minimally-invasive diagnostic for IFDs in a population of high-risk immunocompromised hosts including hematologic malignancy, stem cell and solid organ transplants patients.

Effects of transfusing older red blood cells on patient outcomes in critical illness: A retrospective cohort study.

Background And Objectives: Randomized controlled trials have demonstrated morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients are unaffected by transfusing fresh (<7 days old) packed red blood cells (pRBCs); however, there is limited evidence regarding transfusion with pRBCs nearing expiry (35-42 days). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of transfusing pRBCs close to the end of shelf life (≥35 days) on clinical outcomes in critically ill patients.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective observational analysis of data obtained from centralized electronic medical records (2007-2013), sourced from all public and licensed private hospitals in Queensland, Australia, with intensive care units.

Effects of red blood cell transfusion on patients undergoing cardiac surgery in Queensland - a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Packed red blood cell (pRBC) transfusion is a relatively safe and mainstay treatment commonly used in cardiac surgical patients. However, there is limited evidence on clinical effects of transfusing blood nearing end-of shelf life that has undergone biochemical changes during storage.

Objective: To investigate evidence of associations between morbidity/mortality and transfusion of blood near end of shelf-life (> 35 days) in cardiac surgical patients.

Dietary Inulin to Improve SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Response in Kidney Transplant Recipients: The RIVASTIM-Inulin Randomised Controlled Trial.

Kidney transplant recipients are at an increased risk of hospitalisation and death from SARS-CoV-2 infection, and standard two-dose vaccination schedules are typically inadequate to generate protective immunity. Gut dysbiosis, which is common among kidney transplant recipients and known to effect systemic immunity, may be a contributing factor to a lack of vaccine immunogenicity in this at-risk cohort. The gut microbiota modulates vaccine responses, with the production of immunomodulatory short-chain fatty acids by bacteria such as associated with heightened vaccine responses in both observational and experimental studies.

Infections in haematology patients treated with CAR-T therapies: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

A registered (PROSPERO - CRD42022346462) systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted of all-grade infections amongst adult patients receiving CAR-T therapy for haematological malignancy. Meta-analysis of pooled incidence, using random effects model, was conducted. Cochran's Q test examined heterogeneity.

COVID-19 infection among patients with cancer in Australia from 2020 to 2022: a national multicentre cohort study.

Background: The global COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected certain populations and its management differed between countries. This national study describes characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with cancer in Australia.

Methods: We performed a multicentre cohort study of patients with cancer and COVID-19 from March 2020 to April 2022.

Predicting infections in patients with haematological malignancies treated with chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies: A systematic scoping review and narrative synthesis.

Background: Chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T cells) are increasingly used to treat haematological malignancies. Strategies for preventing infections in CAR-T-treated patients rely on expert opinions and consensus guidelines.

Objectives: This scoping review aimed to identify risk factors for infections in CAR-T-treated patients with haematological malignancies.

Examining the Characteristics of Colchicine-Induced Myelosuppression in Clinical Cases: A Systematic Review.

Objective: The use of colchicine has been associated with varying degrees of myelosuppression. Despite expanded use in cardiovascular and inflammatory conditions, there remains clinician concern because of potential myelosuppressive side effects. A systematic review was conducted to explore the reported myelosuppressive events of colchicine.

Risk factors and outcome of concurrent and sequential multiviral cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, BK virus, adenovirus and other viral reactivations in transplantation.

Purpose Of Review: Reactivation of viral infections occurs frequently in immunosuppressed populations, particularly in solid organ (SOT) or allogeneic haematopoietic cell (HCT) transplant patients. Concurrent and sequential multivirus infections are common, yet risk factors and outcomes remain unclear. This review aims to identify the patients vulnerable to multivirus infections and characterize the impact of increased viral burden to formulate prevention and treatment strategies.

Immunoglobulin replacement in hematological malignancies: a focus on evidence, alternatives, dosing strategy, and cessation rule.

Acquired hypogammaglobulinemia or secondary immunodeficiency (SID) occurs commonly in hematological malignancies with increasing incidence and complexity in the era of modern therapies. Despite current practice of immunoglobulin replacement (IgRT) in SID, the evidence is lacking, especially for newer treatments. We discuss the current evidence for IgRT in various disease groups including issues, such as actual or ideal body weight (IBW)-based dosing, length of treatment, antibiotic prophylaxis, and vaccination.

Rapamycin and inulin for booster vaccine response stimulation (RIVASTIM)-rapamycin: study protocol for a randomised, controlled trial of immunosuppression modification with rapamycin to improve SARS-CoV-2 vaccine response in kidney transplant recipients.

Unlabelled: Kidney transplant recipients are at an increased risk of severe COVID-19-associated hospitalisation and death. Vaccination has been a key public health strategy to reduce disease severity and infectivity, but the effectiveness of COVID vaccines is markedly reduced in kidney transplant recipients. Urgent strategies to enhance vaccine efficacy are needed.

The aetiology and clinical characteristics of cryptococcal infections in Far North Queensland, tropical Australia.

Cryptococcal infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in tropical Australia. This retrospective audit was conducted to characterise the aetiology, temporospatial epidemiology, and clinical course of 49 cryptococcal infections in Far North Queensland between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2019. Cryptococcus gattii was identified in 15/32 (47%) in whom it was possible to speciate the organism.

Suboptimal COVID-19 vaccine uptake among hospitalised patients: an opportunity to improve vulnerable, hard-to-reach population vaccine rates.

Background: COVID-19 vaccination represents a key preventative part of the Australian public health approach to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. Hospital inpatients are frequently high risk for severe COVID-19 and death. Anecdotes of high-risk inpatients being unvaccinated and a lack of electronic medical record (EMR) visibility of COVID-19 vaccination status prompted the present study as these patients could represent a risk to themselves, staff, other patients and service provision.