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Abhilasha Ahuja

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Papers by Abhilasha Ahuja

Research paper thumbnail of Outcomes of Prolonged ICU Stay for Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery in Australia and New Zealand

Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia

Research paper thumbnail of A 15-year-old boy with reversed halo

The Indian journal of chest diseases & allied sciences, 2007

Research paper thumbnail of Hospital-acquired infection rates in patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation across Australia and New Zealand

Infection, Disease & Health, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Incidence of Infection and Antimicrobial Consumption in Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Recipients at The Prince Charles Hospital (TPCH): A Retrospective Analysis

Heart, Lung and Circulation, 2020

BACKGROUND Ventricular assist devices (VADs) are frequently used as a bridge to heart transplant;... more BACKGROUND Ventricular assist devices (VADs) are frequently used as a bridge to heart transplant; however, infections are a common cause of increased morbidity and mortality. The optimal prophylactic antimicrobial regimen has not been effectively evaluated in literature. METHODS Forty-three (43) patients received a VAD over the 5-year study period (2012-2017) at The Prince Charles Hospital (TPCH), Brisbane Australia. Of these, 41 patients were followed from implantation until transplantation or death. Antimicrobial prophylactic regimens and individual episodes of infection were recorded. The infection profiles, including types and incidence were compared to published literature using definitions from the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) guidelines for consistency. RESULTS Median duration of VAD insertion was 79 days (IQR: 36-167). Patients received aztreonam, fluconazole and vancomycin (median duration 8 days). Twenty-two (22) (53.6%) patients experienced a VAD-specific and/or a VAD-related infective episode. Incidence of infection in the study cohort was 0.60 infections per 100 patient days. Thirteen (13) patients (31.7%) experienced 16 VAD-specific infections which were all driveline infections. Thirteen (13) patients (31.7%) experienced 14 VAD-related infections. The predominant VAD-related infection type was bacteraemia (36%). Predominant bacterial profiles of VAD-specific as well as VAD related infections were gram positive. Only three episodes had a gram negative as a causative pathogen which occurred much later post VAD insertion. Median time till VAD-specific or VAD-related infection was 46 and 15 days respectively. Obesity was significantly associated with increased risk of infection (HR: 3.2; 95% CI: 1.3-7.4). CONCLUSIONS Infection is a common complication of VAD implantation. In our study population gram positive bacteria were the predominant causative pathogen. Based on the micro-organism profile there may be scope for a narrowing of the antibiotic regimen. A larger, multicentre study would be able to accurately guide a change. The information gathered in our study offers a strong foundation for such a multicentre study.

Research paper thumbnail of Patient selection for VV ECMO: have we found the crystal ball?

Journal of Thoracic Disease, 2018

Research paper thumbnail of Nosocomial infection prevalence in patients undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO): protocol for a point prevalence study across Australia and New Zealand

BMJ Open, 2019

IntroductionExtracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) provides cardiac and/or respiratory suppor... more IntroductionExtracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) provides cardiac and/or respiratory support when other therapies fail. Nosocomial infection is reported in up to 64% of patients receiving ECMO and increases morbidity and mortality. These patients are at high risk of infection due, in part, to the multiple invasive devices required in their management, the largest being the cannulae through which ECMO is delivered. Prevalence of nosocomial infection in ECMO patients, including ECMO cannula-related infection, is not well described across Australia and New Zealand.Methods and analysisThis is a prospective, observational point prevalence study of 12 months duration conducted at 11 ECMO centres across Australia and New Zealand. Data will be collected for every patient receiving ECMO during 12 predetermined data collection weeks. The primary outcome is the prevalence of laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infection, and suspected or probable nosocomial infections; and the secondary out...

Research paper thumbnail of Nosocomial Infection Rates in Patients Receiving Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Across Australia and New Zealand: An Interim Analysis

Australian Critical Care, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of 25-YEAR Old Male with Pleural Thickening

Research paper thumbnail of A 52-Year-Old Man With Daytime Sleepiness, Sialorrhea, and Facial Fasciculations

Research paper thumbnail of Outcomes of Prolonged ICU Stay for Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery in Australia and New Zealand

Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia

Research paper thumbnail of A 15-year-old boy with reversed halo

The Indian journal of chest diseases & allied sciences, 2007

Research paper thumbnail of Hospital-acquired infection rates in patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation across Australia and New Zealand

Infection, Disease & Health, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Incidence of Infection and Antimicrobial Consumption in Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Recipients at The Prince Charles Hospital (TPCH): A Retrospective Analysis

Heart, Lung and Circulation, 2020

BACKGROUND Ventricular assist devices (VADs) are frequently used as a bridge to heart transplant;... more BACKGROUND Ventricular assist devices (VADs) are frequently used as a bridge to heart transplant; however, infections are a common cause of increased morbidity and mortality. The optimal prophylactic antimicrobial regimen has not been effectively evaluated in literature. METHODS Forty-three (43) patients received a VAD over the 5-year study period (2012-2017) at The Prince Charles Hospital (TPCH), Brisbane Australia. Of these, 41 patients were followed from implantation until transplantation or death. Antimicrobial prophylactic regimens and individual episodes of infection were recorded. The infection profiles, including types and incidence were compared to published literature using definitions from the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) guidelines for consistency. RESULTS Median duration of VAD insertion was 79 days (IQR: 36-167). Patients received aztreonam, fluconazole and vancomycin (median duration 8 days). Twenty-two (22) (53.6%) patients experienced a VAD-specific and/or a VAD-related infective episode. Incidence of infection in the study cohort was 0.60 infections per 100 patient days. Thirteen (13) patients (31.7%) experienced 16 VAD-specific infections which were all driveline infections. Thirteen (13) patients (31.7%) experienced 14 VAD-related infections. The predominant VAD-related infection type was bacteraemia (36%). Predominant bacterial profiles of VAD-specific as well as VAD related infections were gram positive. Only three episodes had a gram negative as a causative pathogen which occurred much later post VAD insertion. Median time till VAD-specific or VAD-related infection was 46 and 15 days respectively. Obesity was significantly associated with increased risk of infection (HR: 3.2; 95% CI: 1.3-7.4). CONCLUSIONS Infection is a common complication of VAD implantation. In our study population gram positive bacteria were the predominant causative pathogen. Based on the micro-organism profile there may be scope for a narrowing of the antibiotic regimen. A larger, multicentre study would be able to accurately guide a change. The information gathered in our study offers a strong foundation for such a multicentre study.

Research paper thumbnail of Patient selection for VV ECMO: have we found the crystal ball?

Journal of Thoracic Disease, 2018

Research paper thumbnail of Nosocomial infection prevalence in patients undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO): protocol for a point prevalence study across Australia and New Zealand

BMJ Open, 2019

IntroductionExtracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) provides cardiac and/or respiratory suppor... more IntroductionExtracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) provides cardiac and/or respiratory support when other therapies fail. Nosocomial infection is reported in up to 64% of patients receiving ECMO and increases morbidity and mortality. These patients are at high risk of infection due, in part, to the multiple invasive devices required in their management, the largest being the cannulae through which ECMO is delivered. Prevalence of nosocomial infection in ECMO patients, including ECMO cannula-related infection, is not well described across Australia and New Zealand.Methods and analysisThis is a prospective, observational point prevalence study of 12 months duration conducted at 11 ECMO centres across Australia and New Zealand. Data will be collected for every patient receiving ECMO during 12 predetermined data collection weeks. The primary outcome is the prevalence of laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infection, and suspected or probable nosocomial infections; and the secondary out...

Research paper thumbnail of Nosocomial Infection Rates in Patients Receiving Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Across Australia and New Zealand: An Interim Analysis

Australian Critical Care, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of 25-YEAR Old Male with Pleural Thickening

Research paper thumbnail of A 52-Year-Old Man With Daytime Sleepiness, Sialorrhea, and Facial Fasciculations

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