Dear all,
It is hard to believe that we are approaching the end of 2023! As this will be 2023’s final newsletter, we would like to thank everyone for their valuable work throughout this year. NCIC has been busy in the last couple of months with MDIG’s Forbes Week, Antimicrobial Awareness Events, Mycology Masterclass, and celebrations of achievements, grants, and awards.
NCIC Team 2023
From left, (front) Belinda DePoi, Rachel Woolstencroft, Paul Kinsella, Zoe Neoh, Karin Thursky, Monica Slavin, Victoria Hall, Abby Douglas, Elizabeth Gillespie, (middle) Emily Klimevski, Zahra Alizada, Gemma Reynolds, Paul Lawton, Michelle Yong, Megan Crane, (back) Eve Jelovcan, Jess Demajo, Hayley Page, Ben Teh, Vlada Rozova, Nikhil Singh
Past Events
Forbes Week
4th - 6th December 2023
The Melbourne Infectious Disease Group (MIDG) Forbes Week is an annual event of a series of talks including a visiting international fellow. The Forbes Fellowship is named after Dr John Forbes who was the longstanding Director of Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital in Melbourne, and although Fairfield closed some years ago, the Fellowship continues in his honour.
This year's event occurred from the 4th till the 6th of December 2023, hosted by the Royal Melbourne Hospital and Professor Karin Thursky. The event hosted 80 - 100 attendees daily, meeting in person or online. The Forbes dinner was a success with over 55 in attendance at the Arc One Cumulus. It was great to catch up with so many friends and colleagues in Infectious Diseases, Melbourne.
This year’s international guest was Professor Evelina Tacconelli. Evelina is a professor of Infectious Diseases at the University of Verona, Italy and Head of the DZIF Clinical Research Unit on healthcare associated infections and antimicrobial resistance at the Tübingen University, Germany. Evelina’s talk was a real triumph and insightful look at MDROs, AMR, AMS and utilising AI and data science. These talks are recorded and are available to listen via the ASID website.
ANZMIG Mycology Masterclass 2023
‘Preventing and treating fungal infections, one course at a time’
NCIC Presenters:
Prof Monica Slavin ‘‘Treatment trials, and unmet needs’ and chairing the session Non-Aspergillus Mould Infections”
Dr Abby Douglas “Antifungal Stewardship”
A/Prof Ben Teh “Prevention of Aspergillosis”
Dr Michelle Yong “Fungal-respiratory Virus Co-infections”
The Mycology Masterclass celebrated its 20-year anniversary in the first week of November 2023. Professor Monica Slavin was a founding member and has attended all meetings since the beginning. During this masterclass updates in fungal nomenclature, diagnostics, and the WHO fungal priority list is discussed. The class provides an amazing opportunity for colleagues from across the Australia to meet in person.
PhD Spotlight
Project: Preventing Infection in Haematological Malignancy and Bone Marrow Transplantation
Dr Julian Lindsay has been awarded the 2023 Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences Dean’s Award for Excellence in Graduate Research. This award recognises outstanding achievements by Graduate Researchers across the Faculty. The prize is awarded to the graduate researchers with the best single authored and best co- authored referred publications.
Julian’s PhD studies encompass strategies to prevent both viral and fungal infections. This has resulted in practice change in Haematopoietic Cell Transplant (HCT) supportive care in the specific areas of invasive fungal prophylaxis, Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) management.
Dr Julian Lindsay
Awarded 2023 MDHS Dean’s Award for Excellence in Graduate Research
Julian was also named the chief investigator and lead protocol author on a multicentre $1.5 million Medical Research Future Fund grant awarded in 2023 under the Quality, Safety and Effectiveness of Medicine Use and Medicine Intervention by Pharmacists. This project named, PRAGMATIC (PhaRmAcoGenoMics for better treatment of fungAl infecTions In Cancer), directly arose from Julian’s research and now is an international initiative with multiple collaborators within Australia and the U.S.
Announcements
Peter Mac Foundation Grants $50,000 each to Jasmine and Gemma’s projects!
Dr Jasmine Teng
PI: Prof Leon Worth
Project: Surveillance of Immune-Related Colitis using Artificial intelligence (SIRCA)
This funding will be used to support a digital health initiative utilising artificial intelligence for surveillance of immune-related colitis in patients undergoing treatment for solid cancers. Important outputs of this project include a scalable, inter-operable, case-finding digital tool which supports descriptive epidemiology of IR-colitis; description of key events in workflow and turnaround times within the healthcare delivery process for patients with IR-colitis; and reporting of healthcare costs related to management of IR-colitis.
Dr Gemma Reynolds
PI: Prof Ben Teh
Project: vACCination for hAEmatology patiEnts tReated with cellulAr therapies (ACCELERATE)
Infection prevention during treatment for cancer is a cornerstone of supportive cancer care. Vaccination is an important part of infection prevention, as cancer patients experience a disproportionate burden of vaccine preventable infections. Novel therapies for haematological cancers, including CAR-T and bispecific therapies, may affect how well vaccine-induced antibodies against vaccine-preventable infections are retained after treatment. Her project aims to characterise whether vaccine-associated antibodies persist, or decline, in the early post-treatment phase following CAR-T therapy. It also aims to better understand vaccine response after CAR-T treatment. This project will help contribute to a body of work aiming to improve the timing and optimisation of vaccine delivery after CAR-T therapy.
Congratulations to 2023/2024 NHMRC PhD scholarship recipients!
Dr Paul Kinsella– University of Melbourne
Project: Development and implementation of a shotgun metagenomic based approach for microbiome characterisation
Project description: Advances in medical technology have led to an increase cohort of patients with compromised immune systems who suffer infections with multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs). This study aims to use whole genome sequencing to better understand these resistant pathogens at a genetic level. By monitoring changes in the individual’s microbiome, we aim to not only identify the presence of MDROs, but to also identify opportunities to prevent MDROs from causing invasive infection.
Dr Priya Garg– University of Melbourne
Project: Infection prevention and surveillance in Australian cancer and transplant populations
Project description: Transplant recipients and cancer patients are at a greater risk of infection compared to the general population. Opportunistic and healthcare associated infections (OIs/HAIs) increase the chance of critical illness or death. This project will explore the epidemiology of OIs/HAIs in this cohort through a systematic review, point prevalence study and coordination of expert opinion to inform national control guidelines and create key performance indicators for surveillance and infection control.
Dr Beatrice Sim - University of Melbourne
Project: Harnessing Novel Host Immune Signatures to Improve Risk Stratification and Diagnosis of Viral Infections in Transplant Patient
Project description: Patients who have decreased immune systems due to cancer or transplantation are at higher risk of rare and difficult-to-diagnose viral infections. Because the organisms that cause these infections are difficult to grow in the lab, there is often a delay to diagnosis - this can result in prolonged hospital stays and delay to correct treatment. This PhD aims to identify and diagnose these patients by characterising key immune responses to these infections for quick prediction and treatment.
Belinda Lambros completed the Learning Health Systems Academy Fellowship!
Congratulations to Belinda for successfully completing the Learning Health Systems (LHS) delivered by the Centre for Transformation of Digital Health in 2023!
About the program
The LHS Academy equips Fellows with the knowledge and practical experience to design, implement and evaluate innovative digital change and lead continuous improvement in learning health systems. The program fosters interprofessional and research collaboration and provides experience in learning and working across boundaries to address common problems in digital health, using rigorous metrics and measuring outcomes to improve patient care and health service efficiency.
Belinda’s goal is to utilise her knowledge gained from the 12-month program to help clinical staff recognise early signs and manage patients at risk of sepsis by optimising the sepsis pathway clinical decision support built into Electronic Medical Record (EMR).
NCIC International Collaboration
Dr Galadriel running for the Trainee Association of ESCMID (TAE)
Dr Galadriel Sagastipol is running for candidate within the Trainee Association of ESCMID (TAE). This committee aims to empower trainees and other junior healthcare workers in Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology by working together towards a healthier world through networking, education, and international collaborations.
“My goal is to put my efforts towards the improvement of training programs in ID/CM at a time when the specialty of ID is almost ready to be recognised in Spain and help others that are in a similar situation. I hope I can contribute to this wonderful project and hopefully make an impact.” - Galadriel
Farewell to Daphne NCIC’s international visitor from Hong Kong
In November, we said goodbye to Dr Daphne Lau, an Infectious Diseases (ID) Clinician Specialist from Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong.
Daphne joined us as one of the international fellows at the centre in September to pursue her clinical interest in infections in immunocompromised hosts.
At NCIC, she embedded with our clinical teams, attended clinical rounds including in the ICU, transplant and leukemia service, CAR-T cell, medical and surgical oncology. As well as attending and presenting at our regular clinical and journal club meetings, she also attended antimicrobial stewardship team meetings and rounds with the team.
Daphne summarises her time with us as follows: "I have had three wonderful months with you all at Peter Mac and the experience has been extremely valuable.
First international clinical case presentation (Singapore) at NCIC
Another delightful news to share this month is that we hosted our very first international NCIC clinical case from Singapore, presented by Dr James Kang and Dr Jasmine Chung from Singapore General Hospital. They discussed patterns of infections observed at present and intend to gain more clarity with ongoing follow-ups and further trial data down the road. Their engaging presentation led to many insightful discussions from the audience!
Clinical case presentation slides to learn about opportunities infections in bi-specific antibody treatments in Multiple Myeloma.
Drs Michelle Yong and Jasmine Chung
Drs meeting up in Taipei, Taiwan to discuss CMV in Kidney Transplant at Asia Pacific Regional Meeting - 25 November 2023
Publications
Shifting landscape of infectious diseases in hematologic malignancies: A hematopoietic cell transplantation and cellular therapy special edition
Gabrielle M. Haeusler, Jan Styczynski, Andrea J. Zimmer
First published: 21 November 2023
In this special edition of Transplant Infectious Diseases, a multidisciplinary group of international experts in the fields of haematologic malignancies and infectious diseases were brought together to discuss the latest updates in infection and cellular therapy in patients receiving HCT.
Patients Perspectives
When a fungal infection is worse than a leukemia diagnosis.
Julie-Ann Attard, Madeleine AttardInfection - Dealing with the inevitable
Rebecca Long
General Approach to Infections in Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy ID
Expanding the scope of the infectious diseases pharmacist in HCT: Beyond antimicrobial stewardship
Heather Weerdenburg, Julian LindsayUpdates in hematopoietic cell transplant and cellular therapies that enhance the risk for opportunistic infections
Geoffrey D. E. Cuvelier, Kristjan Paulson, Eric J. BowThe shifting roles and toxicities of cellular therapies in B-cell malignancies
Olivia L. Makos, Christopher R. D'AngeloInfectious complications of car T-cell therapy: A longitudinal risk model
Michael T. Czapka, Peter A. Riedell, Jennifer C. Pisano
Bacterial Infections
Global impact of antibacterial resistance in patients with hematologic malignancies and hematopoietic cell transplant recipients.
Lee S. Gottesdiener, Michael J. SatlinNontuberculous mycobacterial infections in patients with hematologic malignancies and recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Julie-Ann Attard, Madeleine Attard
Viral Infections
Adenovirus infection in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation
Simone CesaroLetermovir for pre-emptive cytomegalovirus therapy after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation
Raena Kaur, Duncan Purtill, Julian Cooney, Paul Cannell, Matthew Wright, Tandy-Sue Copeland, Matthew McGuire, Peter BoanCMV prevention strategies in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation; the role of prophylaxis and pre-emptive monitoring in the era of letermovir
Michelle K. Yong, Monica A. Slavin, Roy F. Chemaly, Genovefa A. PapanicolaouHematopoietic stem cell transplantation and the noncytomegalovirus herpesviruses
Vanessa R. Wormser, Nelson Iván Agudelo Higuita, Ramya Ramaswami, Dante P. MelendezRespiratory virus infections after allogeneic stem cell transplantation: Current understanding, knowledge gaps, and recent advances
Jose L. Piñana, Ariadna Pérez, Pedro Chorão, Manuel Guerreiro, Irene García-Cadenas, Carlos Solano, Rodrigo Martino, David Navarro, the Infectious Complications Subcommittee of the Spanish Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Cell Therapy Group (GETH-TC)COVID-19 after hematopoietic cell transplantation and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T-cell therapy
Eleftheria Kampouri, Joshua A. Hill, Veronica Dioverti
Fungal Infections
Breakthrough invasive fungal infections on isavuconazole prophylaxis in hematologic malignancy & hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients
Akshay M. Khatri, Yoichiro Natori, Anthony Anderson, Ra'ed Jabr, Shreya A. Shah, Akina Natori, Namrata S. Chandhok, Krishna Komanduri, Michele I. Morris, Jose F. Camargo, Mohammed RajaApproach to diagnostic evaluation and prevention of invasive fungal disease in patients prior to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant
Jessica C. O'Keeffe, Nikhil Singh, Monica A. SlavinChallenges in management of invasive fungal infections in stem cell transplant
Jeremey Walker, W. Seth Edwards, Nicole M. Hall, Peter G. Pappas
Other key topics
Hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation in a zoo of multidrug-resistant organisms: Data from a cancer center in eastern India
Shouriyo Ghosh, Sanjay Bhattacharya, Gaurav Goel, Rasika Avinash Deshmukh, Rizwan Javed, Mita Roychowdhury, Subir Sinha, Maitrayee Sarkar De, Arijit Nag, Jeevan Kumar, Saurabh Jayant Bhave, Reena Nair, Mammen ChandyParasitic infections in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients
Emaan Haque, Ibrahim N. Muhsen, Walid Rasheed, Riad El Fakih, Mahmoud AljurfVaccine schedule recommendations and updates for patients with hematologic malignancy post-hematopoietic cell transplant or CAR T-cell therapy
Gemma Reynolds, Victoria G. Hall, Benjamin W. TehVaccinations in children with hematologic malignancies and those receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplants or cellular therapies
Kari A Neemann, Alice I SatoAntimicrobials in patients with hematologic malignancies and recipients of hematopoietic cell transplantation and other cellular therapies
Frank Tverdek, Zahra Kassamali Escobar, Catherine Liu, Rupali Jain, Julian LindsayInfectious complications among CD19 CAR-T cell therapy recipients: A single-center experience
Bryan Walker, Andrea J. Zimmer, Erica J. Stohs, Matthew Lunning, Elizabeth Lyden, Anum AbbasInfections after chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T-cell therapy for hematologic malignancies
Eleftheria Kampouri, Jessica S. Little, Kai Rejeski, Oriol Manuel, Sarah P. Hammond, Joshua A. HillInvestigational non-antibiotic therapeutics for infections in hematopoietic cell transplant recipients and patients with hematologic malignancies receiving cellular therapies
Will Garner, Amjad Hamza, Ghady HaidarClostridioides difficile infection in the allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant recipient
Davide Lo Porto, Alessandra Mularoni, Elio Castagnola, Carolina SaffiotiHow I approach diarrhea in hematological transplant patients: A practical tool
Natalia E. Castillo Almeida, Catherine J. Cichon, Carlos A. GomezEvaluation of pulmonary abnormalities in recipients of hematopoietic cell transplants and cellular therapies
Lora Thomas, Julie BoatmanFluoroquinolone prophylaxis in patients with neutropenia at high risk of serious infections: Exploring pros and cons
Nikhil Singh, Karin Thursky, Gabriela Maron, Joshua Wolf
Upcoming Events
ICHS 23rd Biennial Symposium - Calling for abstract submissions NOW!
The international Immunocompromised Host Society (ICHS) 23rd Biennial Symposium will be held in Antalya Turkiye 04 to 07 April, 2024. ICHS abstract submissions are still open. The deadline for the online abstract submission is December 20, 2023.
By submitting an abstract you will have the chance to contribute and be recognised for all your work.
Kind regards,
Prof Monica Slavin, MBBS, MD, FRACP, FAAHMS
Head, Department Infectious Disease, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Professor of Infection in Cancer and Transplantation, University of Melbourne Department of Infectious Diseases and the Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology
Director, National Centre for Infections in Cancer and Transplantation