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Hanson J, Fox M, Anderson A, Fox P, Webster K, Williams C, Nield B, Bagshaw R, Hempenstall A, Smith S, Solomon N, Boyd P. Chronic hepatitis B in remote, tropical Australia; successes and challenges. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0238719. [PMID: 32881958 PMCID: PMC7470305 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0238719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians living in remote locations suffer disproportionately from chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Defining the temporospatial epidemiology of the disease—and assessing the ability of local clinicians to deliver optimal care—is crucial to improving patient outcomes in these settings. Methods The demographic, laboratory and radiology findings in all patients diagnosed with CHB after 1990, and presently residing in remote Far North Queensland (FNQ), tropical Australia, were correlated with their management and clinical course. Results Of the 602 patients, 514 (85%) identified as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, 417 (69%) of whom had Torres Strait Islander heritage. Among the 514 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, there were only 61 (12%) born after universal postnatal vaccination was introduced in 1985. Community CHB prevalence varied significantly across the region from 7/1707 (0.4%) in western Cape York to 55/806 (6.8%) in the Eastern Torres Strait Islands. Although 240/602 (40%) are engaged in care, with 65 (27%) meeting criteria for antiviral therapy, only 43 (66%) were receiving this treatment. Among 537 with complete data, 32 (6%) were cirrhotic, of whom 15 (47%) were engaged in care and 10 (33%) were receiving antiviral therapy. Only 64/251 (26%) in whom national guidelines would recommend hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance are receiving screening, however, only 20 patients have been diagnosed with HCC since 1999. Conclusion Vaccination has had a dramatic effect on CHB prevalence in FNQ in only a generation. However, although engagement in care is the highest in Australia, this is not translating into initiation of antiviral therapy in all those that should be receiving it, increasing their risk of developing cirrhosis and HCC. New strategies are necessary to improve the care of Indigenous Australians living with CHB to reduce the morbidity and mortality of this preventable disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josh Hanson
- The Director’s Unit, The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Division of Medicine, Cairns Hospital, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Melissa Fox
- Division of Medicine, Cairns Hospital, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
| | - Adam Anderson
- Division of Medicine, Cairns Hospital, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
| | - Penny Fox
- Division of Medicine, Cairns Hospital, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kate Webster
- Division of Medicine, Cairns Hospital, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
| | - Charlie Williams
- Department of Medicine, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Blake Nield
- Department of Microbiology, St George Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Richard Bagshaw
- Division of Medicine, Cairns Hospital, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Simon Smith
- Division of Medicine, Cairns Hospital, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
| | - Norma Solomon
- Division of Medicine, Cairns Hospital, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
| | - Peter Boyd
- Division of Medicine, Cairns Hospital, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
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Immunization information systems to increase vaccination rates: a community guide systematic review. JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT AND PRACTICE 2016; 21:227-48. [PMID: 24912082 DOI: 10.1097/phh.0000000000000069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Immunizations are the most effective way to reduce incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases. Immunization information systems (IISs) are confidential, population-based, computerized databases that record all vaccination doses administered by participating providers to people residing within a given geopolitical area. They facilitate consolidation of vaccination histories for use by health care providers in determining appropriate client vaccinations. Immunization information systems also provide aggregate data on immunizations for use in monitoring coverage and program operations and to guide public health action. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION Methods for conducting systematic reviews for the Guide to Community Preventive Services were used to assess the effectiveness of IISs. Reviewed evidence examined changes in vaccination rates in client populations or described expanded IIS capabilities related to improving vaccinations. The literature search identified 108 published articles and 132 conference abstracts describing or evaluating the use of IISs in different assessment categories. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS Studies described or evaluated IIS capabilities to (1) create or support effective interventions to increase vaccination rates, such as client reminder and recall, provider assessment and feedback, and provider reminders; (2) determine client vaccination status to inform decisions by clinicians, health care systems, and schools; (3) guide public health responses to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable disease; (4) inform assessments of vaccination coverage, missed vaccination opportunities, invalid dose administration, and disparities; and (5) facilitate vaccine management and accountability. CONCLUSIONS Findings from 240 articles and abstracts demonstrate IIS capabilities and actions in increasing vaccination rates with the goal of reducing vaccine-preventable disease.
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Chinnaratha MA, Graham C, Fraser RJL, Woodman RJ, Wigg AJ. Rising incidence of hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma in South Australia: 1996-2010. Intern Med J 2016; 46:902-8. [DOI: 10.1111/imj.13121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2015] [Revised: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 04/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. A. Chinnaratha
- School of Medicine; Flinders University of South Australia; Adelaide South Australia Australia
- Hepatology and Liver Transplantation Unit; Flinders Medical Centre; Adelaide South Australia Australia
| | - C. Graham
- Communicable Disease Control Branch; Adelaide South Australia Australia
| | - R. J. L. Fraser
- School of Medicine; Flinders University of South Australia; Adelaide South Australia Australia
- Department of Gastroenterology; Flinders Medical Centre; Adelaide South Australia Australia
| | - R. J. Woodman
- School of Medicine; Flinders University of South Australia; Adelaide South Australia Australia
| | - A. J. Wigg
- School of Medicine; Flinders University of South Australia; Adelaide South Australia Australia
- Hepatology and Liver Transplantation Unit; Flinders Medical Centre; Adelaide South Australia Australia
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Chronic hepatitis B prevalence among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians since universal vaccination: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Infect Dis 2013; 13:403. [PMID: 24004727 PMCID: PMC3846608 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-13-403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2012] [Accepted: 08/27/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Australia, higher rates of chronic hepatitis B (HBsAg) have been reported among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) compared with non-Indigenous people. In 2000, the Australian government implemented a universal infant/adolescent hepatitis B vaccination program. We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the disparity of HBsAg prevalence between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, particularly since 2000. METHODS We searched Medline, Embase and public health bulletins up to March 2011. We used meta-analysis methods to estimate HBsAg prevalence by Indigenous status and time period (before and since 2000). RESULTS There were 15 HBsAg prevalence estimates (from 12 studies) among Indigenous and non-Indigenous people; adults and pregnant women (n = 9), adolescents (n = 3), prisoners (n = 2), and infants (n = 1). Of these, only one subgroup (adults/pregnant women) involved studies before and since 2000 and formed the basis of the meta-analysis. Before 2000, the pooled HBsAg prevalence estimate was 6.47% (95% CI: 4.56-8.39); 16.72% (95%CI: 7.38-26.06) among Indigenous and 0.36% (95%CI:-0.14-0.86) in non-Indigenous adults/pregnant women. Since 2000, the pooled HBsAg prevalence was 2.25% (95% CI: 1.26-3.23); 3.96% (95%CI: 3.15-4.77) among Indigenous and 0.90% (95% CI: 0.53-1.28) in non-Indigenous adults/pregnant women. CONCLUSIONS The disparity of HBsAg prevalence between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people has decreased over time; particularly since the HBV vaccination program in 2000. However HBsAg prevalence remains four times higher among Indigenous compared with non-Indigenous people. The findings highlight the need for opportunistic HBV screening of Indigenous people to identify people who would benefit from vaccination or treatment.
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Davies J, Littlejohn M, Locarnini SA, Whiting S, Hajkowicz K, Cowie BC, Bowden DS, Tong SYC, Davis JS. Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis B in the Indigenous people of northern Australia. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2013; 28:1234-41. [PMID: 23432545 DOI: 10.1111/jgh.12177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/02/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM The hepatitis B surface antigen was first described in the blood of an Indigenous Australian man, yet little is known about its molecular epidemiology in this population, in which it is endemic. The study aimed to determine the clinical and molecular epidemiology of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in Indigenous people from northern Australia. METHODS Following ethics approval and informed consent, blood specimens and clinical details from Indigenous adults known to be infected with HBV and who were born and raised in Indigenous communities in northern Australia were obtained. HBV genotypes were determined in isolates with sufficient HBV DNA by polymerase chain reaction by sequencing of the polymerase/surface gene. RESULTS Between June 2010 and June 2012, 65 patients were recruited from six different regions of northern Australia. Thirty-two patients (49%) were hepatitis B e-antigen-positive, and 48% were hepatitis B e-antibody-positive. No patients were found to be coinfected with hepatitis C virus or human immunodeficiency virus. Of the 49 samples with sufficient viral load for genotyping, 100% were infected with genotype C4, previously only reported from two Indigenous Australians. All isolates had wild-type polymerase gene sequences despite 14 currently or previously receiving antiviral treatment. The canonical sG145R vaccine-escape variant was detected in the surface antigen of virus from two patients. CONCLUSIONS The exclusive HBV genotype in this ancient population is genotype C4. Whole genome sequencing and clinical follow-up of this cohort are in progress, with the aim of exploring the clinical significance of these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Davies
- Menzies School of Health Research and Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
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Abstract
Australia commenced an ongoing school based government funded human papillomaviruses (HPV) (cervical cancer prevention) vaccination program in April 2007 for adolescent females aged 12-13 years. In addition, up to December 31, 2009, a catch-up program for young females 13-26 years of age was offered: a school-based vaccination program was used to offer HPV vaccine to girls enrolled in school (14-17 years), and general practitioners or other community health provider offered vaccine to young women aged 18-26 years. To date, only the quadrivalent vaccine (HPV 6/11/16/18) has been utilized in the funded program. Acceptance of the vaccine is high with coverage of 3 doses of the HPV vaccine in the school age cohort around 70%, and just over 30% in the older age cohort. Since the vaccination program was initiated, a reduction in new cases of genital warts of 73% among vaccine eligible age females has been evidenced in STI clinics across Australia. A reduction of 44% of new cases in young males (not a part of the free program) was also documented during this same time period, suggesting significant herd immunity. Similarly, in the state of Victoria, a small but significant decrease in high grade abnormalities in Pap screening findings has been reported in young women<18 years for the period 2007-9, as compared to pre-vaccination. Challenges for the future include how we can sustain and improve HPV vaccination coverage in young Australian women, while maintaining cervical cancer screening participation and reviewing cervical cancer screening methods.
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