Clinical and Public Health Research - CIIDIR - Infectious Disease and Immunology Research

The Clinical and Public Health Research Pillar includes clinical studies of infectious disease and immune disorders/ Implementation and operational research on public health interventions.

Research Projects

Lab Head Name	Professor Eugene Athan
Lead Investigator/s	Professor Eugene Athan Dr Darcie Cooper Dr Carly Botheras
Institution/s	Deakin University Barwon health
Project theme/s	COVID-19, post recovery, infectious disease
Project Description	This project aims to better understand the burden and symptomology of post-COVID19 recovery. This cohort study involves the use of surveys, medical tests such as ECGs, blood tests, immunoassays, flow cytometry and molecular work to understand COVID recovery at 3-, 6- and 12- months post infection.
Collaborator/s	CSIRO
Funding	Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, CSIRO & the FDA
Further information	https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/mcm-regulatory-science/strengthening-coronavirus-models-systems-biology-and-machine-learning https://www.csiro.au/en/news/news-releases/2021/new-funding-to-fast-track-covid-19-treatments

Lab Head Name	Professor Eugene Athan
Lead Investigator/s	Professor Eugene Athan Dan O’Brien Dr Bridgette McNamarra Dr Kim Blasdell
Institution/s	Deakin University Barwon Health
Project theme/s	Public Health
Project summary	Transmission pathways for Buruli Ulcer (caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans) are not fully understood. The incidence of Buruli Ulcer (BU) is rising in Victoria and is spreading to new geographic areas. This study aims to identify host, environmental and behavioural factors associated with BU in the endemic regions of Victoria. This study will help inform public health interventions, messaging and mitigation strategies to help control the disease spread of BU in our region and Victoria.
Collaborator/s	CSIRO, Peter Doherty
Funding	NHMRC
Publications	https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0274627
Additional Information	https://www.health.vic.gov.au/infectious-diseases/beating-buruli-in-victoria#ongoing-research-in-2022-2023

Lab Head Name	Prof Ana Hutchinson/A/Prof Stéphane Bouchoucha
Lab	Centre for Quality and Patient Safety/Infection Prevention and Control Stream
Institution/s	Deakin University, IHT
Project theme/s	Using the hierarchy of controls framework to evaluate the COVID-19 pandemic response: An organisational case study. Defining optimal quarantine facilities: An Australian Perspective on Pandemic Preparedness and Response. Australian emergency nurses’ experiences of work, using personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. A qualitative study.
Brief summary of project (max 150 words)	Evaluating secondary and tertiary healthcare organisations experiences of investigating the pandemic response plans with their health services. The aim is to develop resources that can be used by healthcare organisations when responding to future pandemic and/or the emergence and spread of novel pathogens.
Collaborator/s	Epworth Healthcare
Publications	Dempster, P., Hutchinson, A. A., Oldland, E., & Bouchoucha, S. (2022). 37. Australian emergency nurses’ experiences of work, using personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. A qualitative study. Infection, Disease & Health, 27, S5 Bush, M., Bouchoucha, S., Hutchinson, A., & Bennett, C. (2022). 53. Towards optimal quarantine: A scoping review of quarantine planning in the pandemic preparedness plans and pandemic exercises of Australia and New Zealand. Infection, Disease & Health, 27, S7.

Lab Head Name	Prof Ana Hutchinson & A/Prof Stéphane Bouchoucha
Lab	Centre for Quality and Patient Safety/Infection Prevention and Control Stream
Institution/s	Deakin University, IHT
Project theme/s	Improving Infection Prevention and Control in subacute care settings Developing paediatric nurses’ role in Antimicrobial Stewardship Psychosocial aspects of guideline adherence
Project Description	Antimicrobial resistance is recognised as a threat to human health worldwide. In order to have a substantial impact on this issue, all healthcare providers should be mobilised and afforded the opportunity to upskill. Nursing is the biggest health workforce and yet it is untapped to address the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. The purpose of this research program is to develop resources and strategies to harness nurses’ expertise to increase implementation of AMS across all aspects of healthcare delivery.
Collaborator/s	Epworth Healthcare
Publications	Ladbrook, E., Bouchoucha, S., & Hutchinson, A. (2022). Frequency and Characteristics of Medical Complications in Rehabilitation Settings: A Scoping Review. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, jrm00350-jrm00350. Kilpatrick, M., Hutchinson, A., Manias, E., & Bouchoucha, S. L. (2022). Applying terror management theory as a framework to understand the impact of heightened mortality salience on children, adolescents, and their parents: A systematic review. Death Studies. Ladbrook, E., Khaw, D., Bouchoucha, S., & Hutchinson, A. (2021). A systematic scoping review of the cost-impact of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) intervention bundles in intensive care. American journal of infection control, 49(7), 928-936. Kilpatrick, M., Hutchinson, A., Manias, E., & Bouchoucha, S. L. (2021). Paediatric nurses’, children’s and parents’ adherence to infection prevention and control and knowledge of antimicrobial stewardship: a systematic review. American Journal of Infection Control, 49(5), 622-639. Sangojoyo, J., Hutchinson, A., Cohen, E., & Bouchoucha, S. L. (2021). Nurses’ Role and Understanding of the Application of Antimicrobial Stewardship Principles in Hematology Settings. Cancer Care Research Online, 1(3), e013. Kilpatrick, M., Bouchoucha, S. L., & Hutchinson, A. (2019). Antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention and control in atopic dermatitis in children. AJIC-American Journal of Infection Control, 47(6), 720-722. Kilpatrick, M., Hutchinson, A., & Bouchoucha, S. L. (2019). Nurse’s perceptions on infection prevention and control in atopic dermatitis in children. Infection, disease & health, 24(3), 141-146.
Additional Information	Collaboration with Mahidol University and Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok.

Lab Head Name	Dr Amanda Wade
Lead Investigator/s	Dr Christine Roder
Project Description	In Australia, very few people living with hepatitis B receive monitoring and only half of the people requiring treatment are on treatment – the remainder are at risk of cancer and cirrhosis. Treatment uptake is higher in cities than regional areas. Western Victoria has limited access to hepatitis B care. This project will investigate models of care that can improve access to hepatitis B care in the Barwon South West region of Victoria. First we will map the distribution of people living with and at risk of hepatitis B to identify key areas in the region. Then we will conduct interviews with community-based healthcare providers in those areas to gain insight into their current practice and what models of care they think will be appropriate for their practice and their patient’s needs. This project will inform hepatitis B service delivery for rural and regional areas of Australia.
Institution/s	Barwon Health, Deakin University, Burnet Institute
Collaborator/s	Dr Amanda Wade, Professor Eugene Athan, Dr Sam Hall, Ms Inga Tribe, Dr Jack Wallace, Associate Professor Joseph Doyle and Dr Jackie
Funding	Gilead Fellowship Grant
Project theme/s	Hepatitis B elimination, viral hepatitis, blood born viruses, public health, infectious disease

Lead Investigator/s	Dr Amanda Wade, MBBS (Hons), FRACP, PhD
Institution/s	Blood Borne Viruses Medical Lead, Barwon Health Senior Research Fellow, NHMRC Emerging Leader, Burnet Institute Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, Monash University
Project theme/s	Public Health
Project Description	The overarching aim of the project is to characterise the hepatitis C epidemic in Western Victoria, and gaps in the care cascade. Gaps will be targeted with high-impact interventions, enabling the delivery of the World Health Organization hepatitis C targets and micro-elimination. Since 2016 Australia has been at the forefront of global elimination efforts. However, progress has stalled and since 2018 annual treatment uptake rates have fallen. Strategies that newly recruit people at risk of infection in testing, and people diagnosed but not engaged in care, are required to keep on track with elimination targets. This project will: Calculate the hepatitis C care cascade in Western Victoria, particularly in the priority populations of people who inject drugs, prisoners, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Evaluate the Barwon Public Health Unit hepatitis C notification package, compared to historic Department of Health hepatitis C notification, on time to complete diagnosis, and time to treatment. Offer hepatitis C point of care RNA tests for diagnosis and linkage to treatment at needle and syringe programs in Western Victoria.
Collaborator/s	Barwon Health, Burnet Institute, Western Region Alcohol and Drug Centre
Funding	NHMRC
Further Information	https://www.burnet.edu.au/people/400_amanda_wade

Lab Head Name	Professor Eugene Athan
Lead Investigator/s	Professor Eugene Athan Dr Sajal K. Saha Dr Carly Botheras Dr Nomvuyo Mothobi
Institution/s	Deakin University Barwon health
Project theme/s	AMS in primary care
Project Description	This study maps out evidence around the effectiveness, feasibility, and implementation challenges of point-of-care testing services in community pharmacy to improve safe antimicrobial use in respiratory tract infections. Findings would have implications to guide and inform future diagnostic antimicrobial stewardship policy directions in the context of community pharmacy.
Collaborator/s	Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University
Funding	Deakin Executive Dean Health Research Fellowship
Publications	Study protocol has been accepted in BMJ Open.

Lab Head Name	Professor Eugene Athan
Lead Investigator/s	Professor Eugene Athan Dr Sajal K. Saha Dr Carly Botheras Dr Callum Maggs
Institution/s	Deakin University Barwon health
Project theme/s	AMS in primary care
Project Description	This qualitative study aims to explore the views of GPs, community pharmacists and stakeholders about the GPPAS model in terms its implementation feasibility and practicality in primary care in Australia.
Collaborator/s	National Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship (NCAS), Doherty Institute, Melbourne University Department of General Practice, Monash University
Funding	Deakin Executive Dean Health Research Fellowship

Lab Head Name	Professor Eugene Athan
Lead Investigator/s	Professor Eugene Athan Dr Sajal K. Saha Dr Karin Thursky Dr Callum Maggs
Institution/s	Deakin University Barwon health
Project theme/s	AMS in primary care
Project Description	This aims to explore effectiveness and feasibility of the GPPAS model in optimising antimicrobial use in respiratory tract infections in general practice and community pharmacy settings in Australia.
Collaborator/s	National Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship (NCAS), Doherty Institute, Melbourne University Department of General Practice, Monash University
Funding	Deakin Executive Dean Health Research Fellowship
Publications	The Novel GPPAS Model Framework https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/11/9/1158

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