Dear all,
This month is full of many exciting conferences that will connect Infectious Diseases experts from all across the world. These events will be a platform for sharing many significant abstracts and presentations among our colleagues.
NCIC Team 2024
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
Announcements
Congratulations to Associate Professor Michelle Yong
Peter Mac infectious diseases physician and researcher Dr Michelle Yong has been appointed to Associate Professor within the Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology at the University of Melbourne. Medical Lead for the National Centre for Infections in Cancer’s Clinical Trials Unit, Associate Professor Yong’s research work specialises in cytomegalovirus (CMV) and viral infections in transplant and immune-compromised hosts. She has 55 publications and has attracted more than $19 million in funding since 2018, including grants through the MRFF and the NHMRC. A winner of the Peter Mac Discovery Fellowship and the Peter Mac Lea Medal, Associate Professor Yong is recognised internationally, and is passionate about advancing gender equity in medical research. This is a very well-deserved achievement - congratulations Associate Professor Yong, from all of NCIC and Peter Mac.
This week: See you Anatalya, Turkey for the ICHS Biennial Symposium 4-7 April 2024
Antalya, Turkey
We will have a number of posters and presentations. Attended by Michelle Yong, Monica Slavin, Ben Teh, Nicholas Laundy, Megan Crane and Gemma Reynolds.
Abstract Title: A CASE OF BRAIN AND LIVER ABSCESSES POST-STEM CELL TRANSPLANT IN THE SETTING OF SUBOPTIMAL ANTIMICROBIAL PROPHYLAXIS for presentation at the ICHS 23rd Symposium Jack Cooper, Alistair Tinson, Florence Ho, Michelle K Yong
Abstract Title: Mixed Invasive Mould Infections in Patients with Haematologic Malignancy Shio Yen Tio1-3, Leon J. Worth1-3, David Ritchie3,5-6, Joe Sasadeusz4, Lynette Chee5, Monica A. Slavin1-4, Michelle K. Yong1-4
Poster presentation Dr Abby Douglas: Cost-effectiveness of FDG-PET/CT for investigation of persistent or recurrent neutropenic fever in high risk patients
Poster presentation Dr Abby Douglas: Pre-neutropenic fever in high-risk haematology patients: A novel target for antimicrobial stewardship
Invited speaker presentation Dr Abby Douglas: Treatment of febrile neutropenia in 2024 in a low risk setting
Abstract Title: Anaerobe-targeting antibiotic exposure associated with poor overall survival after liver transplant -Dr Olivia Smibert BMedSci, MBBS (Hons) FRACP, Dip Trop Med Head of Transplant Infectious Diseases
Next up - We will see you in Barcelona, Spain- ECCMID 27-30 April 2024
Abstract Title: Real-world single centre analysis of virological response to Third party CMV-specific T cell lymphocyte (CTL) for refractory CMV infection following allogeneic haematopoietic cell therapy (HCT) Ray Mun Koo1,2, Michelle K Yong 3,4,5, Sarah Tan1, Alexandra Rivalland1, Joe Sasadeusz4 ,Claire Dowsing1, Elizabeth O’Flaherty1, Barbara Hockridge1, Emma-Kate McPherson1, David S Ritchie1,2
Abstract Title: Interferon-α (IFN-α) nasal spray as prophylaxis reduces the incidence of COVID-19 in cancer patients: A randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled study (The C-SMART Trial) Michelle K. Yong1-4, Karin Thursky1-4, Megan Crane1,4, Tim Spelman4, Robert K. Mahar5, Julie Simpson5, Andrew M. Scott6, Simon J. Harrison7, Jeff Szer7, Marc Pellegrini8, Senthil Lingaratnam9, Ken C. Pang10, Surekha Tennakoon1,4, Emily Blyth11, Hui K. Gan12, Hang Quach13, Michelle P. McIntosh14, Hayley Page1,3,4, Rachel Woolstencroft1,3,4, Monica Slavin1-4
Invited speaker presentation Dr Zoe Neoh: Beyond clinical trials: Real-world insights into Lomentospora prolificans and Scedosporium spp. infections and treatment
Feature Paper - Antibacterial prophylaxis for neutropenic and high-risk hematology patients-Do the benefits outweigh the risk?
NCIC’s current and former PhD students, Dr Gemma Reynolds and Dr Julian Lindsay, provide an updated commentary on the role of quinolone prophylaxis in febrile neutropenia, following their work together on the upcoming Febrile Neutropenia Guidelines. The collaboration is hopefully one of many between the NCIC and Fred Hutch Cancer Centre, where Dr Lindsay now works as a clinical research pharmacist focusing on infections in bone marrow transplant recipients.
Dr Julian Lindsay
Dr Gemma Reynolds
World TB Day- Multidisciplinary case discussion on Ventoclax and TB
Acknowledging World TB day, last Thursday 28th of March we held a special Multidisciplinary case discussion on Ventoclax and TB with Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre’s Infectious Disease’s unit and PMCC Haem unit. You can view the recording within the NCIC’s journal club page under the March Seminar: TB and Venetoclax.
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