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In response to the growing international risks associated with importation of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), on March 20, 2020, New Zealand closed its borders to all but New Zealand citizens, permanent [...]

INTRODUCTION: General practice immunisation audits do not always match the national rates recorded on the New Zealand (NZ) National Immunisation Register (NIR). AIM: To complete audits at one general practice for infants requiring the primary series of immunisations (6-week, 3-month and 5-month vaccines) over a 12-month period and compare findings with the NIR audit. METHODS: A manual and electronic practice management system (PMS) audit were compared with identical NIR audit parameters for completion of the 5-month vaccination from 1 February 2011 to 1 February 2012. All three results were then combined with further sub-audits of the total practice newborn population to produce a multifaceted audit, identifying further eligible patients. The NIR database query tool was used to corroborate data on partially immunised and unimmunised patients identified. RESULTS: All three initial audits produced different results for vaccinated and eligible patients: NIR 31/36; PMS audit 39/43; manual audit 41/48. The multifaceted audit identified 48 eligible infants. All 48 (100%) started their primary series—95.8% (46 of 48) fully immunised; 4.2% (2 of 48) partially immunised, missing only one injection. None were unimmunised, contrary to initial audits. Lower levels of timeliness of delivery were confirmed for this practice, with 52.1% (25 of 48) immunised on time. DISCUSSION: Results show 9.7% higher levels of immunisation than reported by NIR statistics for this practice (95.8% vs 86.1%), above current NZ government and World Health Organization targets. The multifaceted audit produced the best estimate of eligible patients and identified deficiencies in vaccine delivery.

Introduction: Fusarioid fungi that cause damping-off and root diseases can result in significant losses to conifer crops produced in forest nurseries across the USA. These nurseries are vital to reforestation and forest restoration efforts. Understanding the diversity of Fusarioid fungi associated with damping-off and root diseases of conifer seedlings can provide an approach for targeted management techniques to limit seedling losses and pathogen spread to novel landscapes. Methods: This study identifies 26 Fusarium spp. (F. acuminatum, F. annulatum, F. avenaceum, F. brachygibbosum, F. clavus, F. commune, F. cugenangense, F. diversisporum, F. elaeagni, F. elaeidis, F. flocciferum, F. fredkrugeri, F. fujikuroi, F. grosmichelii, F. ipomoeae, F. lactis, F. languescens, F. luffae, F. odoratissimum, F. oxysporum, F. queenslandicum, F. redolens, F. torulosum, F. triseptatum, F. vanleeuwenii, & F. verticillioides), 15 potential species within Fusarium and Neocosmospora species complexes (two from F. fujikuroi species complex, nine from F. oxysporum species complex, three from F. tricinctum species complex, and one from Neocosmospora species complex), and four Neocosmospora spp. (N. falciforme, N. metavorans, N. pisi, & N. solani) and associated host information collected from conifer-producing nurseries across the contiguous USA. Results: Phylogenetic analyses identified Fusarioid fungi haplotypes that were associated with 1) host specificity, 2) localization to geographic regions, or 3) generalists found on multiple hosts across diverse geographic regions. Discussion: The haplotypes and novel species identified on conifer seedlings should be considered for further analysis to determine pathogenicity, pathogen spread, and assess management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is associated with significant mortality and increased burden on the healthcare system. Relatively few reliable estimates are available regarding the impact of meticillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infection compared with meticillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) infection.Aims: To compare patients with MRSA infection and MSSA infection to identify differences in inpatient mortality, length of stay and costs of hospital services, and identify predictors of MRSA as a cause of S. aureus infection.Methods: An analytical, retrospective, longitudinal study using non-identifiable linked data on adults admitted to hospitals of a health district in Australia with a diagnosis of S. aureus infection over a 10-year period. The main outcome measure was 30-day inpatient mortality. Secondary endpoints included total overnight stays, all-cause inpatient mortality, and hospitalization costs within 1 year of index admission.Findings: Inpatient mortality at 30, 100 and 365 days was estimated to be significantly greater for patients with MRSA infection. The mean additional cost of MRSA infection when controlling for additional factors was $5988 and 4 nights of additional hospital stay per patient within 1 year of index admission. Key predictors of MRSA infection were: date of index admission; higher comorbidity score; greater socio-economic disadvantage; admission to hospital other than via the emergency department; older age; and prior admission to hospital within 28 days of index admission.Conclusions: MRSA infection is associated with increased inpatient mortality, costs and hospital length of stay compared with MSSA infection. Efforts are required to alleviate the additional burden of MRSA infection on patients and healthcare systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To purchase or authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.2008.00371.x Byline: G. Shawn Reynolds (a2), Wayne E. K. Lehman (a) Abstract: This research examined the independent and combined influence of workgroup drinking norms and safety climate on the cognitive outcomes of prevention. Employees from 72 workgroups (n = 347) were randomly assigned to attend 1 of 2 training conditions or a control group that did not receive training until after follow-up questionnaires. Results from hierarchical regression analyses showed there was a significant effect of the interaction between safety climate, drinking norms, and training on beliefs that policy and the employee assistance program are effective. Informational training was least effective for employees from relatively temperate workgroups. Team awareness was less effective for employees from tolerant groups. Employees might benefit more from interventions tailored to individual and workgroup cultural factors. Author Affiliation: (a)Institute of Behavioral ResearchTexas Christian University Article note: (2) G. Shawn Reynolds, Rennweg 45/8, A-1030 Vienna, Austria. E-mail: shawnreynolds@mail.com