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Background: Registry‐based studies have become more common due to the availability of a large study cohort. However, the validity of findings is dependent on the completeness of the registry. This study aimed to validate the capture rate of the New Zealand Joint Registry (NZJR) by matching procedures that have been recorded separately via clinical coding by the New Zealand Government's National Surgical Site Infection Improvement Programme (SSIIP). Methods: The National Health Index, a unique identification code for all patients, was combined with the arthroplasty procedure performed (primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA), primary total hip arthroplasty (THA), revision TKA or revision THA) and operation side. Publicly funded procedures recorded in the NZJR were matched with procedures recorded by the SSIIP on a record‐by‐record basis. This identified the total number of arthroplasty procedures performed in New Zealand, which was used as the denominator value to calculate the procedure capture rate of the NZJR. Results: Between 2013 and 2018, 24 556 primary TKA, 28 970 primary THA, 2107 revision TKA and 4263 revision THA procedures were recorded by both datasets. The NZJR recorded 95.5% of primary TKA procedures, 96.3% of primary THA procedures, 97.1% of revision TKA procedures and 95.2% of revision THA procedures. Conclusion: The NZJR recorded >95% of publicly funded arthroplasty procedures. In contrast, there were inaccuracies in clinical coding by hospitals, particularly with revision procedures, demonstrating the benefits of an arthroplasty registry. However, data recorded by an infection surveillance programme may supplement arthroplasty registry data to strengthen the quality of research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose While many guidelines recommend higher doses of cefazolin for patients with higher body weights, there are scant outcome data showing the benefit of higher doses. Surgical site infection (SSI) rates by dose of cefazolin used for surgical prophylaxis after hip or knee arthroplasty were analyzed. Methods Analysis of patient data entered into New Zealand's national, prospective, surveillance and quality improvement SSI Improvement Programme database for the period July 2013 through December 2017 was conducted. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Healthcare Safety Network SSI definitions were used, and patients were followed for 90 days after surgery. Underdosing was defined as use of 1 g of cefazolin in patients weighing 80 kg or more or a cefazolin dose of <3 g in those weighing 120 kg or more. Results There were 38,288 procedures where cefazolin was used for prophylaxis; patient body weight was known for all these procedures. Of the 1,840 patients who received 1 g of cefazolin, 676 (37%) weighed 80 kg or more. Of the 2,011 patients weighing 120 kg or more, 1,464 (73%) were underdosed. After multivariable analysis, male gender, higher total surgical risk scores, performance of revision and hip arthroplasties, and cefazolin underdosing were associated with higher SSI rates. For the 2,106 underdosed patients, the odds ratio for SSI was 2.19 (95% confidence interval, 1.61-2.99; P < 0.0001). The number of higher-weight patients needed to treat to prevent 1 SSI was 83, with an estimated cost of 35 kg/m2 or >40 kg/m2) remains unanswered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Candida auris is an emerging drug‐resistant yeast responsible for hospital outbreaks. This statement reviews the evidence regarding diagnosis, treatment and prevention of this organism and provides consensus recommendations for clinicians and microbiologists in Australia and New Zealand. C. auris has been isolated in over 30 countries (including Australia). Bloodstream infections are the most frequently reported infections. Infections have crude mortality of 30–60%. Acquisition is generally healthcare‐associated and risks include underlying chronic disease, immunocompromise and presence of indwelling medical devices. C. auris may be misidentified by conventional phenotypic methods. Matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionisation time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry or sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer regions and/or the D1/D2 regions of the 28S ribosomal DNA are therefore required for definitive laboratory identification. Antifungal drug resistance, particularly to fluconazole, is common, with variable resistance to amphotericin B and echinocandins. Echinocandins are currently recommended as first‐line therapy for infection in adults and children ≥2 months of age. For neonates and infants <2 months of age, amphotericin B deoxycholate is recommended. Healthcare facilities with C. auris should implement a multimodal control response. Colonised or infected patients should be isolated in single rooms with Standard and Contact Precautions. Close contacts, patients transferred from facilities with endemic C. auris or admitted following stay in overseas healthcare institutions should be pre‐emptively isolated and screened for colonisation. Composite swabs of the axilla and groin should be collected. Routine screening of healthcare workers and the environment is not recommended. Detergents and sporicidal disinfectants should be used for environmental decontamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report describes the epidemiology of culture-proven dermatophyte infection in Auckland, New Zealand. The authors undertook a retrospective review of laboratory data for the period from June 1999 to July 2002. There were 10 004 dermatophyte isolates. The most common isolates were Trichophyton rubrum (69%) and Trichophyton mentagrophytes (19%). Microsporum canis was mainly isolated from children. The prevalence of T.Šmentagrophytes increased with patient age ( P < 0.001) . Trichophyton rubrum was most common in those aged between 20 and 59 years. The incidence of culture-proven dermatophyte infection was 2.9/1000 population for the year 2000, and the incidence increased with patient age ( P < 0.001). It is concluded that dermatophytes causing superficial mycoses in the Auckland region are essentially similar to Australia and other Western countries, although some new organisms are seen as a result of the migration of people from other countries. The incidence of local dermatophyte infection increases with age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes an anti-yersinia release plasmid-encoded virulence proteins immunoglobulin A immunoassay that can detect yersinia-infected blood donors. Prevalence of gastrointestinal infection rate caused by yersinia enterocolitica bacteria at the time of blood donation; Suitability for the detection of other pathogenic serotype infections; Usefulness of the immunoassay in testing populations with endemic or sporadic posttransfusion endotoxemia caused by yersinia.