Internal medicine journal
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Internal medicine journal · Jul 2022
Use of a Victorian statewide surveillance program to evaluate the burden of healthcare-associated Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia and Clostridioides difficile infection in patients with cancer.
Patients with cancer are at high risk for infection, but the epidemiology of healthcare-associated Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (HA-SAB) and Clostridioides difficile infection (HA-CDI) in Australian cancer patients has not previously been reported. ⋯ Our findings demonstrate a higher burden of HA-SAB and HA-CDI in a cancer cohort when compared with state data and highlight the need for cancer-specific targets and benchmarks to meaningfully support quality improvement.
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Internal medicine journal · Jul 2022
Observational StudyTelehealth in outpatient delivery of palliative care: a prospective survey evaluation by patients and clinicians.
In Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic new funding models were introduced to support telehealth consultations, resulting in their widescale adoption in palliative care service delivery. Clarity around the clinical circumstances and patient populations that might be most appropriate for telehealth models was required. ⋯ Telehealth has high utility in palliative care practice. A future hybrid model of care comprising both face-to-face and telehealth consultations seems favoured by patients and physicians but must be accompanied by targeted support for specific patient groups to ensure equitable healthcare access. Further evaluation of telehealth during a time of fewer public health emergency measures and lower community anxiety is required to fully understand its ongoing role.
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Internal medicine journal · Jul 2022
Observational StudyDetermining the association between the type of intervention for ischaemic heart disease and mortality and morbidity in patients with chronic kidney disease.
Association between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and ischaemic heart disease (IHD) is well known. Clinically, because of the use of intra-arterial contrast, coronary angiograms are sometimes not performed to avoid further deterioration in kidney function among CKD patients. ⋯ In this observational study, intervention for IHD was associated with increased survival with no change in renal disease progression in comparison with medically managed patients.
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Internal medicine journal · Jul 2022
Comparison of clinical manifestation among Australian Indigenous and non- Indigenous patients presenting with pleural effusion.
There is sparse evidence in the literature in relation to the nature and causes of pleural effusion among Australian Indigenous population. ⋯ There are significant differences in the way pleural effusion manifests among Australian Indigenous patients. Understanding these differences might facilitate approaches to management and to implementation of strategies to reduce morbidity and mortality in this population.