The epidemiology of superficial Streptococcal A (impetigo and pharyngitis) infections in Australia: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Streptoccocal A (Strep A, GAS) infections in Australia are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality through both invasive (iGAS) and post-streptococcal (postGAS) diseases as well as preceding superficial (sGAS) skin and throat infection. The burden of iGAS and postGAS are addressed in some jurisdictions by mandatory notification systems; in contrast, the burden of preceding sGAS has no reporting structure, and is less well defined. This review provides valuable, contemporaneous evidence on the epidemiology of sGAS presentations in Australia, informing preventative health projects such as a Streptococcal A vaccine and standardisation of primary care notification. METHODS AND FINDINGS: MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, Global Health, Cochrane, CINAHL databases and the grey literature were searched for studies from an Australian setting relating to the epidemiology of sGAS infections between 1970 and 2020 inclusive. Extracted data were pooled for relevant population and subgroup analysis. From 5157 titles in the databases combined with 186 grey literature reports and following removal of duplicates, 4889 articles underwent preliminary title screening. The abstract of 519 articles were reviewed with 162 articles identified for full text review, and 38 articles identified for inclusion. The majority of data was collected for impetigo in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations, remote communities, and in the Northern Territory, Australia. A paucity of data was noted for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in urban centres or with pharyngitis. Prevalence estimates have not significantly changed over time. Community estimates of impetigo point prevalence ranged from 5.5-66.1%, with a pooled prevalence of 27.9% [95% CI: 20.0-36.5%]. All studies excepting one included >80% Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and all excepting two were in remote or very remote settings. Observed prevalence of impetigo as diagnosed in healthcare encounters was lower, with a pooled estimate of 10.6% [95% CI: 3.1-21.8%], and a range of 0.1-50.0%. Community prevalence estimates for pharyngitis ranged from 0.2-39.4%, with a pooled estimate of 12.5% [95% CI: 3.5-25.9%], higher than the prevalence of pharyngitis in healthcare encounters; ranging from 1.0-5.0%, and a pooled estimate of 2.0% [95% CI: 1.3-2.8%]. The review was limited by heterogeneity in study design and lack of comparator studies for some populations. CONCLUSIONS: Superficial Streptococcal A infections contribute to an inequitable burden of disease in Australia and persists despite public health interventions. The burden in community studies is generally higher than in health-services settings, suggesting under-recognition, possible normalisation and missed opportunities for treatment to prevent postGAS. The available, reported epidemiology is heterogeneous. Standardised nation-wide notification for sGAS disease surveillance must be considered in combination with the development of a Communicable Diseases Network of Australia (CDNA) Series of National Guideline (SoNG), to accurately define and address disease burden across populations in Australia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This review is registered with PROSPERO. Registration number: CRD42019140440.

Drain fluid amylase and lipase as a predictive factor of postoperative pancreatic fistula.

BACKGROUND: Early detection of a postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) may improve outcomes after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). The aim was to assess the role of postoperative drain fluid amylase (DFA) and lipase (DFL) measurements as a predictive indicator in the development of POPF. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included all PD procedures performed between 2009 and 2017 at Fremantle and Fiona Stanley Hospital in Western Australia. The DFA and DFL measurements on postoperative day (POD) three and five were correlated with the development of POPF. RESULTS: A total of 169 patients were included in this study with a mean age of 64 ± 11.3 years. Of these, 17 (10.1%) developed a clinically significant POPF. In patients who had both a DFA and DFL measured on both POD 3 and 5, DFA and DFL was significantly higher in patients who developed POPF than those who did not (P < 0.001). In a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the most accurate test was POD 3 DFL measurement with an AUC 0.85 (CI 0.75-0.95, P < 0.001). A negative predictive value of 97.4% was observed. DFA and DFL were concordant in 89.2% of cases on POD 3 and 90.6% of cases on POD 5. CONCLUSION: In this study, DFL measured on POD 3 as a single measurement appears to carry the most benefit in prediction of clinically significant POPF. Reduction to a measurement on this day may lead to a reduction in cost, earlier drain removal and earlier identification of high-risk patients.

Protocol for the systematic review of the epidemiology of superficial Streptococcal A infections (skin and throat) in Australia.

OBJECTIVE: We have produced a protocol for the comprehensive systematic review of the current literature around superficial group A Streptococcal infections in Australia. METHODS: MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, Global Health, Cochrane, CINAHL databases and the gray literature will be methodically and thoroughly searched for studies relating to the epidemiology of superficial group A Streptococcal infections between the years 1970 and 2019. Data will be extracted to present in the follow up systematic review. CONCLUSION: A rigorous and well-organised search of the current literature will be performed to determine the current and evolving epidemiology of superficial group A Streptococcal infections in Australia.