Researchers used records from 526 GP practices across regional and metropolitan Victoria, representing almost half of that state’s residents, to analyse opioid prescribing rates between 2017 and 2022.

Two newly published peer-reviewed papers based on that data provide a comprehensive view of where the most opioids are being prescribed and give insight into the impact of recent PBS measures designed to reduce rising opioid-related harms, including overdose.

One study, published in the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy, found a general decrease in opioid prescribing by general practitioners, but identified a 69% increase in new opioid prescription rates for Victorians aged between 15 and 24.

The research also found that while prescription rates decreased for most opioids, the number of prescriptions for tapentadol surged by 263%.

Another recent paper, published in Pain Medicine, found a decline in the number of people being prescribed opioids for extended periods of time.

The paper found most people were prescribed opioids in the short term, with the proportion still being prescribed opioids three months after their initial prescription falling from 5.4% in 2018 to 3.6% in 2022.

Researchers also compared how gender, socio-economic status and geographical region impacted opioid prescribing rates, finding disparities between male and female patients, disadvantaged patients, as well as those in regional and remote areas.

The study found that while women are getting more opioid prescriptions overall (53%), men are more likely to start new prescriptions. It also revealed that the most disadvantaged groups saw a decrease (12%) in opioid prescriptions, while the least disadvantaged saw an increase (6%).

Regional and remote areas had the highest rates of opioid prescribing and new prescription rates, although these rates decreased significantly over the study period.

Deputy Director of Monash Addiction Research Centre, Professor Suzanne Nielsen, says there is a need for targeted interventions to ensure opioids are available when clinically needed, and equitably across all groups and geographical regions, while minimising the risk of harm.

“We know some regions have access to pain management services, which can drive increased opioid use,” she says. “Although overall reductions are positive, we want to see equitable access for pain management, and access to opioids where they are clinically appropriate.”

The post Changes in opioid prescribing a mixed bag appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.

The harm reduction measure will be offered at the upcoming Hardmission Festival, Pitch Music and Arts Festival, March Ultra Music Festival and The Warehouse Project.

This follows the pill-testing trial at the recent Beyond the Valley Festival. Pill testing was introduced following the spike in drug-related harm last year with nine people critically unwell at Hardmission Festival all experiencing hyperthermia after using high-potency MDMA in a hot and humid environment and one death related to a suspected overdose at Pitch Music and Arts Festival.

Victorian Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt said, “Following a spike in drug harm last festival season, this service is more important than ever. It offers a sensible health-led approach that will save the lives of young Victorian festivalgoers.”

“The results from Beyond the Valley speak for themselves: pill testing does not encourage people to use drugs. It allows people to see what’s really in their substances and make informed health decisions.”

Associate Professor Arunogiri Associate Professor at Monash Addiction Research Centre and Acting Executive Clinical Director of Turning Point said, “It is fantastic to see the further expansion of the drug checking trial in Victoria. This evidence-based health measure will help keep more people safe and reduce illicit drug harms.

“The first festival trial at Beyond the Valley provided very encouraging data, consistent with research that shows drug checking often results in people discarding their drugs.

“With the increasing detection of dangerous substances such as nitazenes in the illicit drug supply, drug checking services can be a critical part of an early warning system. Making these measures more widely available is absolutely vital.”

The post Pill testing trial expands in Victoria appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.

The project involved researchers from Australia, China and Singapore and was led by the Hypertension Research Laboratory at Monash University’s School of Biological Sciences, headed by Professor Francine Marques.

The findings are highly significant for the estimated one in three Australians who have hypertension, which is a leading cause of stroke, heart disease and kidney disease.

“We had evidence that dietary fibre, via the production of gut microbial substances called short-chain fatty acids, reduces blood pressure,” said Professor Marques. “But we didn’t understand how this gut-to-host communication took place.”

The key is in two protein receptors in intestinal cells which can be switched on by short-chain fatty acids. These receptors are called GPR41 and GPR43.

“They are what we call ‘G-protein coupled receptors’, part of the largest group of receptors on cell membranes that activate signalling from the surface to the inside of cells,” Professor Marques said.

“They are highly present in immune cells and cells of the lining of the intestinal wall. Once they are activated, they are known to trigger anti-inflammatory mechanisms.

“What is exciting about them is that the molecules that bind to and activate them are produced by the gut when we ingest fibre in our diet.”

The team’s findings are now published in Circulation Research with a strong focus on gut permeability, or how much it leaks, based on pre-clinical lab work.

“Our study shows that the lack of activation of the receptors, copying a situation when we don’t have enough fibre in our diet, leads to increased gut permeability, allowing microbial components into the circulation,” said lead author Dr Rikeish R Muralitharan, a research fellow in the School of Biological Sciences.

“This activates inflammation in key organs such as the kidney, which regulate blood pressure, and which leads to hypertension. What is exciting here is that this systemic increased inflammation we observe in diseases such as hypertension may start in the gut, and we demonstrate that GPR41 and 43 are, at least partially, responsible for the blood pressure-lowering and cardio-protective effects of a high fibre diet.”

The post New link revealed between hypertension and the gut appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.

The Immunisation Foundation of Australia today revealed that more than 4,500 cases of severe pneumococcal, known as invasive pneumococcal disease, have been recorded in the last 24 months (2,269 in 2023 and 2,250 in 2024 year to date) – the highest rate of diagnoses since 2002.[1,2]

Invasive pneumococcal disease occurs when the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacterium invade sterile parts of the body and infect the lungs (causing pneumonia or empyema), brain (causingmeningitis) or bloodstream (causing septicaemia).

With a sustained surge in invasive pneumococcal disease (more than six cases per day on
average since the start of 2023), the Immunisation Foundation warns that next year may see further increase in cases with “no sign that the outbreak will ease in 2025”.

Invasive pneumococcal disease is a leading cause of death and serious illness among
children.[2 ]The infection can prove deadly within a matter of hours or days, with pneumococcal meningitis claiming the lives of one-in-twelve children with the disease. [2]

While only cases of invasive pneumococcal disease are recorded in Australia, the broader
impact of pneumococcal is significant, with non-invasive infections leading to complications
such as permanent hearing loss in children.[3,4]

“Invasive pneumococcal disease is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the impact of pneumococcal infections in Australia,” said Paediatrician and Infectious Disease Researcher Professor Peter Richmond.

“For every confirmed case of invasive pneumococcal disease, there are hundreds of noninvasive infections such as bronchitis, sinusitis and middle ear infections that we don’t record and which leave children and the elderly suffering,” he said.

Experts believe three factors may be driving the increase in invasive pneumococcal disease:

• Evolving pneumococcal strains – With more than 100 strains of streptococcus pneumoniae,the bacterium adapts over time, requiring the development of new vaccines to protect against the most prevalent and severe pneumococcal strains.[5]

• Declining vaccination rates – Childhood vaccination rates fell slightly from 93.3% in 2022 to 92.8% in 2023 in 12-month-old infants, leaving more children unprotected against invasive pneumococcal disease.[6} Alarming gaps persist among older Australians, with only 20% ofpeople aged between 71-79 years vaccinated against pneumococcal disease.[7]

• Antibiotic resistance – In more than 40% of cases, the pneumococcal bacteria that causes
invasive disease are resistant to at least one class of antibiotics.[8]

“The challenge is three-fold,” added Professor Richmond. “We’re seeing a drop in vaccine
coverage alongside emerging strains of the bacterium, and antibiotic resistance.”
“It’s important to recognise that effective pneumococcal vaccination helps prevent antibiotic
resistant infections,” [9] he said.

The Immunisation Foundation of Australia is urging the Federal Government to prioritise the rollout of newer, broader-coverage pneumococcal vaccines that have been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration and recommended by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation and Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.

“Newer pneumococcal immunisations protect against more strains than the vaccines currentlyavailable, but a funding decision is mired in bureaucratic red tape,” said Catherine Hughes AM, Founder and Director of Immunisation Foundation of Australia.

“New generation vaccines need to be rolled out through the National Immunisation Program without further delay. We simply can’t risk not having the best available pneumococcal protection.”

“Invasive pneumococcal disease can cause permanent disability and even death. We have thetools to make a difference, and now is the time to ensure Australians at greatest risk of infection are protected,” Ms Hughes said.

The Foundation’s new Prioritise Pneumococcal Protection campaign aims to heighten awareness of pneumococcal disease and advocate for nationwide access to the best available pneumococcal protection.

References
1. Australian Government Department of Health, National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS).
Number of notifications pneumococcal disease by year, age group and sex.
2. CDC. Pneumococcal Disease Symptoms and Complications. 2024. Available at:
www.cdc.gov/pneumococcal/signs-symptoms/index.html
3. Public Health Laboratory Network. Invasive pneumococcal disease (Streptococcus pneumoniae) Laboratory
case definition. 2022. Available at: https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2022/06/invasivepneumococcal-disease-laboratory-case-definition_0.pdf
4. Leach, AJ et al. Hearing loss in Australian First Nations children at 6-monthly assessments from age 12 to 36
months: Secondary outcomes from randomised controlled trials of novel pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
schedules. PLoS Medicine. 2024 Jun 3 [cited 2024 Aug 17];21(6):e1004375–5. Available from:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38829821/
5. Raguindin PF. The changing epidemiology of pneumococcal diseases: new challenges after widespread routine
immunization. International Journal of Public Health. 2020 Jun 12;65(6):709–10.
6. National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance Australia. Annual Immunisation Coverage Report
2023.
7. Prioritising prevention: Addressing the burden of pneumococcal disease in Australia. Evohealth, 2024.
8. CDC. Pneumococcal Disease Surveillance and Trends. 2024 Available at:
www.cdc.gov/pneumococcal/php/surveillance/index.html
9. CDC. Antibiotic-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae. 2024 Available at: www.cdc.gov/pneumococcal/php/drug

The post Pneumococcal outbreak worst in 20 years appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.

Group CEO Justine Cain said Diabetes Australia, as the national peak body, was steadfast in its resolve to provide leadership around research funding.

“Research is the key to changing the future of diabetes in Australia. It creates hope for a cure, and for better day-to-day management, which is vital for people living with diabetes,” Ms Cain said.

“This significant commitment, by Diabetes Australia, will provide greater certainty for our diabetes research community and grow its life changing impact in discovering better treatments, and ultimately a cure for all types of diabetes. We are unwavering in our commitment to support the community,” she said.

Australian Diabetes Society CEO Professor Sof Andrikopoulos said the research community welcomed the announcement.

“Understanding the condition’s process and its complications is the only way we can ensure people living with diabetes can live well. This can only happen with significant investment in research,” Associate Professor Andrikopoulos said.

Diabetes Australia says it will engage with the research community and people living with diabetes in early 2025 to design an approach that ensures that the $40 million investment achieves maximum impact over the next ten years.

Australian Diabetes Society CEO Professor Sof Andrikopoulos said the research community welcomed the announcement.

“Understanding the condition’s process and its complications is the only way we can ensure people living with diabetes can live well. This can only happen with significant investment in research,” Associate Professor Andrikopoulos said.

research, diabetes, funding, Diabetes Australia, diabetes management, Australian Diabetes Society

The post Diabetes Australia’s $40 million investment in diabetes research appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.

Established to provide advice to the CEO, members are appointed for three years with the council consisting of the Commonwealth and state chief medical officers, alongside other members with expertise in medicine, nursing, business and Indigenous health.

Flinders University Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Stirling congratulated Professor Chan on the appointment, highlighting it was not only a reflection of his expertise in cancer research, but also Flinders’ leadership and contribution in the discipline in nursing.

“Professor Chan’s work in cancer care is exactly the type of research we pride ourselves on at Flinders University, making a real-world impact on improving how people are treated within our health system,” said Professor Stirling.

“Alongside his current leadership of our research portfolio, this new role will further allow him to impart his knowledge and expertise in order to shape the future of health and medical research in Australia.”

Currently Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) and Matthew Flinders Professor of Cancer Care, Systems and Policy, Professor Chan has previously held a number of clinician-academic roles in Queensland Health and Queensland University Technology, strengthening the nexus between translational research and clinical practice.

He currently serves as Executive Member of the Board of the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer and has previously served on the NHMRC Research Committee, during which he chaired the Health Priority Working Group on Multimorbidity.

In 2021, he was inducted to the Sigma Theta Tau International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame and is currently Fellow of the American Nursing Academy and of the Australian College of Nursing.

“I am extremely honoured to have been granted this position. It’s a testament to the strength of research being undertaken at Flinders University and I look forward to representing Flinders within the NHMRC and making a positive change to Australia’s health and medical landscape,” said Professor Chan.

The post Professor Raymond Chan to join NHMRC council appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.

Study lead author Dr Natansh Modi, a research associate in the Clinical Cancer Epidemiology Lab at Flinders University, says that clinical trials are essential for determining the safety and efficacy of new medicines.

“Over the past decade, there has been a notable emphasis by pharmaceutical companies, advocacy groups and regulatory bodies on the importance of sharing data from clinical trials to validate research findings, enhancing scientific collaboration and fostering trust in the pharmaceutical industry,” says Dr Modi.

“A growing proportion of pharmaceutical companies now have Individual Participant Data (IPD) – sharing policies, with evidence of increased data sharing rates, particularly following the adoption of independent platforms.

“However, significant challenges remain, including the issue of data accessibility for trials contributing to product approvals.

“Specifically, data from trials that are part of the product label should be accessible for independent review, even when ongoing follow-ups for secondary outcomes are in progress.

“Labelling these trials as ‘ongoing’ should not preclude the sharing of data pivotal to approval,” he says.

Published in the journal Clinical Trials, the researchers evaluated the IPD-sharing for each trial that supported Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the 30 highest-revenue medicines for 2021.

The audit found that of the 316 clinical trials conducted for the top-selling medicines, 201 trials (64 per cent) had data accessible to researchers. However, 102 trials (32 per cent) were confirmed ineligible, and 13 trials (4 per cent) required a full research proposal before determining eligibility.

“Our findings show that there is a growing trend towards data sharing, revealing substantial progress in the transparency of clinical trial data for the highest revenue-generating medicines,” he says.

“In particular, 64 per cent of the trials supporting FDA approval of the top 30 medicines in 2021 were eligible for independent data access – a marked improvement compared to prior assessments in other fields, where eligibility rates were notably lower.

“This progress highlights a growing commitment in the pharmaceutical industry toward making clinical trial data more accessible.”

Importantly, the study indicated a higher rate of data sharing among companies that employed independent platforms to manage the process, while ongoing trials were significantly less likely to provide access to their data.

“Companies using independent, external platforms for data sharing achieved higher eligibility rates than those relying on internal processes,” says Dr Modi.

“This finding aligns with calls for standardised data sharing practices and suggests that third-party management of data sharing platforms could further enhance transparency and reduce potential conflicts of interest.

“This could ultimately foster greater trust in the pharmaceutical industry, benefiting researchers and patients alike.”

Senior author Associate Professor Ash Hopkins, an NHMRC Investigator and leader of the Clinical Cancer Epidemiology Lab, says that their findings highlight the need for pharmaceutical companies to make clinical trial data accessible and beneficial for independent research.

“It is important that individual participant data be made readily available, especially given the critical role clinical trials play in confirming the safety and efficacy of new medicines,” says Associate Professor Hopkins.

“We should honour the contributions of patients who have enrolled their clinical data and experiences into science because it is this data that helps to support advancements in medical science and patient care,” he says.

The post Data sharing is patient caring appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.

Professor Matthew Kiernan – Chief Executive Officer and Institute Director at Neuroscience Research Australia (NEURA) and Scientia Professor of Neuroscience at the University of NSW – has won the prestigious 2024 GSK Award for Research Excellence for his work in neurodegenerative disease, particularly in motor neurone disease (MND) and frontotemporal dementia.

As an internationally renowned neuroscientist, Professor Kiernan is known for introducing techniques that allow scientists to study how nerve cells communicate with one another. His discoveries have elevated global understanding of the mechanisms of neurodegenerative disease, which has helped scientists to identify new therapeutic targets.

Accepting the accolade, Professor Kiernan says he is hopeful that conditions like dementia will be manageable within the next two decades, with clinical trials of new innovative therapies now underway across the globe thanks to his research.

Professor Kiernan commented: “It’s an honour to be named the 2024 recipient of the GSK Award for Research Excellence and have our work recognised in this way.

“It’s an exciting time to be working within the field of neuroscience. For a long time, one of the key challenges facing neurologists was understanding how neurodegeneration begins in the brain. Our research has provided key information about the critical functional changes that occur prior to the onset of a neurodegenerative disease.

“We are now able to delineate between the normal function of the brain and the key mechanisms of disease. This new perspective is paving the way for innovative therapies and treatment options for conditions like MND and frontotemporal dementia,” Professor Kiernan said.

Dr Bec Sheean, Director of Research and Programs at FightMND, said Professor Kiernan’s research has been critical to understanding more about MND – a condition that affects the nerves in the body controlling movement and eventually leading to complete paralysis. Approximately two Australians are diagnosed with the condition daily and there are currently limited registered treatment options.² The average life expectancy is 27 months from diagnosis.³

Dr Sheean commented: “Professor Kiernan is one of Australia’s leading MND neurologists and his research is not only helping to advance our understanding of this terrible disease, but also providing hope and opportunities for Australian patients to participate in clinical trials. On behalf of Neale Daniher and all the team at FightMND, we congratulate Professor Kiernan on receiving this prestigious award and know his work is making a difference for all people who are impacted by this condition. Research is the best way we can fight back against this disease and Professor Kiernan is championing efforts, paving the way for new and effective treatment options.”

Already, Professor Kiernan’s work has helped define a diagnostic criteria for neurodegenerative diseases and established consensus guidelines that have now been adopted by the World Federation of Neurology.

Professor Kiernan says he will use the $100,000 AUD grant accompanying the GSK Award for Research Excellence to establish a clinical fellowship to underpin the development of a national clinical trials program. This will improve patient access to new trials and enable more robust assessment of clinical data.

Professor Kiernan added: “Further developing our national clinical trials program is a major priority for our team. This grant provides an important opportunity to establish a clinical fellowship focused on translational research and precision medicine approaches for all patients across Australia.”

The 2024 GSK Award for Research Excellence will be presented to Professor Kiernan at Research Australia’s Health and Medical Research Awards 2024 in Melbourne. Dr Alan Paul, Executive Country Medical Director at GSK Australia, said GSK is proud to continue supporting Australian research.

Dr Paul commented: “We are delighted to welcome Professor Kiernan to the distinguished list of the GSK Award for Research Excellence alumni members. His outstanding work deserves recognition – he really is paving the way when it comes to neurodegeneration research. We are thrilled to support Matthew and his team, as they continue their endeavor to improve health outcomes for patients locally and globally.”

UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Attila Brungs congratulated Prof. Kiernan on his prestigious award.

Professor Attila Brungs commented: “Matthew’s research has had a significant impact on our understanding of motor neurone disease and dementia and will undoubtedly help Australians impacted by these diseases in many years to come.

“We’re proud of Matthew’s outstanding contribution to medical research and the recognition he has received is incredibly well deserved for a lifetime of dedication. Research into these devastating brain diseases is crucial to discovering new treatments and improving the quality of life for those affected.”

UNSW Dean of Medicine & Health Professor Cheryl Jones said: “We congratulate Matthew on this prestigious award. It reflects his international leadership in neurodegenerative diseases including clinical trials of innovative therapies positions. The benefits of his work will resonate for years to come.”

The GSK Award for Research Excellence is one of the most prestigious and longstanding independent awards open to the Australian medical research community. Established in 1980, the award has since provided more than $3 million* to local researchers since its inception.

Previous recipients of the GSK Award for Research Excellence include some of Australia’s most noted medical researchers, including Professor Georgia Chenevix-Trench (2022), Professor Jamie Cooper AO and Professor Rinaldo Bellomo AO (2021) and Professor Mark Febbraio (2020). The 2023 GSK Award for Research Excellence was awarded to Professor David Komander – Head of the Ubiquitin Signaling Division at WEHI – in recognition of his work in elevating global understanding of the ubiquitin system.

The post Australian scientist recognised for decades of groundbreaking brain disease research appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.

To combat rising cost of living pressures, Diabetes Australia has announced it will provide free support to all Australians living with diabetes across the country, in a major push to see people with diabetes better supported.

Cost of living concerns

Data released by Diabetes Australia on World Diabetes Day (14 November) reveals more than 90 per cent of people living with diabetes are anxious about the rising cost of living, and 75 per cent are worried that managing their diabetes will become unaffordable in the future.

Worryingly, half of survey respondents said cost of living pressures were negatively impacting their ability to manage their diabetes – which includes attending GP appointments, undertaking pathology tests and purchasing syringes to administer insulin.

The research reveals:

• 66% reported spending more on diabetes management now than five years ago
• 61% described the cost of accessing diabetes medicines and technology as their greatest challenge
• 33% have been forced to cut costs related to their diabetes management
• 44% are turning to cheaper, less healthy food options.

Carers are also spending more, with 82% reporting an increase in their financial contributions to managing diabetes over the past five years.

Risk of complications

Diabetes Australia Group CEO Justine Cain said if people living with diabetes can’t afford regular access to health care and medication to manage their condition, the risk of diabetes-related complications increases dramatically. This also places significant burden on our health care system, as more people are hospitalised with life-threatening complications.

“Diabetes is a condition that needs to be actively managed. People are being forced to make impossible choices between health care and everyday living, and ultimately that can have devastating consequences,” Ms Cain said.

“Diabetes costs the health care system around $3.4 billion every year and that cost is only going to increase if people can’t afford proper management which can lead to complications like kidney disease, heart attack and stroke.”

Free support

With the rising cost of living impacting the ability of people to access or afford primary care and GP services, causing them to disengage from health care, Diabetes Australia is introducing a free support program.

Diabetes YOUnited is a free national membership program offering access to up-to-date information and education tools, personalised support, regular news and updates with expert insights and resources, as well as better connection to, and support from, Australia’s largest diabetes community.

“Overwhelmingly, Australians living with diabetes have also told us that they want better access to trusted information and support. They’re looking for better connection to community and support services that will help them live well,” said Ms Cain.

“Cost shouldn’t be a barrier to that support.”

There’s also an option for people who choose to, and can afford it, to upgrade to receive additional services through Diabetes YOUnited Plus. People who are already members of Diabetes Australia will automatically receive the upgrade to the paid option, which includes a range of new services and supports in addition to existing benefits.

“It doesn’t matter where you live, from Bendigo or Broome; Bundaberg to Burnie and anywhere in between – Diabetes YOUnited is available for all Australians,” said Ms Cain.

To learn more about YOUnited and how you can support people living with diabetes, visit the Diabetes Australia Membership site.

The post YOUnited support for those with diabetes appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.

The team, led by Professor Ruiting Lan from UNSW and Dr Laurence Luu from UTS, opens in a new window and UNSW, hope to use the assay to pinpoint the strain responsible for the current outbreak in Australia.

“This study paves the way for real-time surveillance of whooping cough strains, overcoming current testing limitations,” says UTS Chancellor’s Research Fellow Dr Laurence Luu, who led the study. “Our results provide important baseline data to understand how whooping cough has changed in Australia and could be used to help guide us through the current outbreak.”

For many years, whooping cough was diagnosed by growing the causative bacteria, before a switch was made over to PCR testing that no longer requires culturing (growing) the live bacteria.

“This change in diagnostic practice means we no longer recover the bacteria for surveillance and can’t monitor what strains are circulating in the community, or whether they are still being targeted by the current vaccine or antibiotics,” says Dr Luu.

To give a clearer insight into the strains causing whooping cough, the team set out to develop a highly sensitive strain test without the need to grow bacteria.

“Usually, to understand what strains are circulating in the community, you need to grow the bacteria, so that you have enough of it to sequence its DNA,” says Dr Luu.

The DNA sequencing on clinical swabs of whooping cough is a cocktail of all sorts of DNA, both from humans and all other bacteria human respiratory tract. “Typically, this makes it really hard to sequence,” says Dr Luu. “But the method we’ve developed, known as mPCR sequencing assay, can directly sequence the residual whooping cough DNA leftover from a PCR test and needs as few as four copies of the bacterial DNA to work effectively. It doesn’t require us to grow the bacteria.”

The team tested their assay on 178 leftover diagnostic DNA samples from across Australia from two previous outbreaks, with the samples collected between 2010-2012 and 2019.

Analysis of the results provided unprecedented detail on the evolution of the whooping cough strains that had been circulating in Australia prior to the pandemic.

One of the key findings revealed that the 2012 outbreak was characterised by up to five different strains, or lineages, of B. pertussis. “We found that the strains that were associated with the big 2008-2012 epidemic had evolved to no longer produce one of the three components that’s targeted by the vaccine.”

By 2019, a single one of these strains had become dominant.

“Having past data is important to understanding how the bacteria may have changed over time, such as whether they are evolving against the vaccines or developing resistance to antibiotics.”

While this latest paper has revealed their assay is effective and sensitive, next steps for Dr Luu and his team involve applying their techniques to the current outbreak.

The post A test to better track whooping cough strains appeared first on Retail Pharmacy.