Human disease leptospirosis identified in new species, the banded mongoose, in Africa

(National Science Foundation 14 May 2013) Leptospirosis is the world’s most common illness transmitted to humans by animals. It’s a two-phase disease that begins with flu-like symptoms. If untreated, it can cause meningitis, liver damage, pulmonary hemorrhage, renal failure and death.

Read EurekAlert Summary

Request the source article from Information & Research Services (QH Staff only)

What’s new – March 2013

Please note: the following information is provided for Queensland Health staff only.

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Books

• Get that government job: the secrets to winning positions with selection criteria (2nd ed.) / Dawn Richards ^{Request this item}
• Statistics and chemo metrics in analytical chemistry (6th ed.) / J. M. Miller & J. C. Miller  ^{Request this item}
• Forensic Science evidence: can the law keep up with science / Donald E. Shelton  ^{Request this item}
• Planning and positioning in MRI / Anne Bright ^{Request this item}
• Practical statistics for the analytical scientist: a bench guide (2nd ed.) / S. L. R. Ellison, V. J. Barwick & T. J. Duguid Farrant ^{Request this item}
• Emerging & re-emerging infectious diseases ^{Request this item}

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eBooks (ForensicNetBase)

• Child abuse and its mimics in skin and bone / Jamie Elifritz (2012)
• Death, decomposition and detector dogs: from science to scene / Susan M. Stejskal (2012)
• Essential forensic pathology: core studies and exercises / Gilbert Corrigan (2012)
• Forensic pathology of fracture and mechanisms of injury: postmortem CT scanning / Michael P. Burke (2012)

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Journals

Journal of Forensic Radiology and Imaging now available online. A username and password is required to access this via ScienceDirect. Contact the library for these details.

Content (volume 1)  includes:

• Sudden death in a man with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis: postmoretem radiology and autopsy findings
• CT findings in two nail gun suicides
• Forensic imaging of the living: a short stab at long distance
• much more.

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ePrints
Staples, Megan and Doyle, Christine J and Graham, Rikki M A and Jennison, Amy V (2013) Molecular epidemiological typing of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strains from Australian patients. Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease, 75 (3). pp. 320-324. ISSN 0732-8893

Li, Xiujuan and Huang, Bixing and Eglezos, Sofroni and Graham, Trudy M and Blair, Barry and Bates, John R (2012) Identification of an optimized panel of variable number tandem-repeat (VNTR) loci for Listeria monocytogenes typing. Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease, 75 (2). pp. 203-206. ISSN 0732-8893

A reminder that we would appreciate any output of your research or investigations from your work within FSS. Staff who receive Federal funds via the Research & Development team MUST provide a copy of their research output to Information & Research Services. You can email fss_eprints@health.qld.gov.au to discuss your requirements or to deposit content.

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Floods trigger ‘flu-like’ disease

ABC News Alyse Edwards 25 February 2013

Two cases of leptospirosis have been diagnosed in the wake of flooding in southern Queensland’s Wide Bay region.

Public health physician Dr Margaret Young says the disease occurs when humans come into contact with the urine of infected rodents.

She says it is common to see a few cases after floods and residents should wear protective clothing when cleaning up.

Read more.

Science Week at Forensic & Scientific Services

Monday 13th August marks the 15th year of National Science Week. A nationwide celebration of Australian achievements and capabilities in Science, the aim of this event is to increase awareness and understanding of the role of science, engineering, technology and innovation in maintaining and improving our society, economy and the environment.

This year FSS has a full program of events from Monday 13 August designed to showcase the success and scientific achievements of our staff and provide networking opportunities with other scientists across the precinct.  Activities will include poster displays, daily research information seminars, and BBQ lunches (to be confirmed).

Please contact Information & Research Services if you would like more information about Science Week activities at Forensic & Scientific Services (QH staff only)

The Clinical Ethics Resource

A Joint Project for Values, Ethics and the Law in Medicine and the Centre for Health Governance, Law and Ethics at Sydney Law School, University of Sydney.

The Clinical Ethics Resource provides an extensive range of resources addressing the ethical and legal issues experienced by those working in clinical environments. Health professionals face challenging issues on a daily basis. This website seeks to offer resources and best practice guidelines to assist with those decisions.

Search by topic to access guidelines, legislation, case law and position statements/policies of government authorities and professional bodies. We have also included references to some of the key articles and commentaries on particular topics.

Link to website

Land Protection Legislation (Flying-fox Control) Amendment Bill 2012

Queensland Parliament. Bills Introduced to the 54th Parliament  21 June 2012

Flying-fox populations are known to carry viruses deadly to humans: The Australian Bat Lyssavirus which is closely related to common rabies lyssavirus; Salmonella; leptospirosis; Sars; and Hendra virus.  Lyssavirus has caused two human fatalities since it was discovered in Australia in 1996.  More concerning is the growing number of Hendra virus outbreaks amongst horse populations and the increased exposure to humans as a result.  This virus has caused over 70 horse fatalitiesa and four human fatalities since 1994, representing a 75% fatality reate in horses and a 60% fataligy rate in humans.

Link to Bill

Link to Explanatory Notes

Flying foxes linked to deadly leptospirosis

Townsville Bulletin Daniel Bateman 26 May 2012

SCIENTISTS have discovered a new link between flying foxes and another potentially fatal virus.

Based on research carried out in North Queensland, the University of Queensland has found bats may be a reservoir for leptospirosis.

The bacterial disease, which was first recognised in cane cutters in Ingham in 1934, was initially believed to only be spread by rats through their urine.

Read more

Firefox and IE8

The standard browser used in Qld Health is quite outdated and you may come across times when it doesn’t work properly; e.g. sites not displaying correctly or it is very slow. If you are in this predicament, there are two alternatives available.

Firstly, you can use the Firefox browser which is already installed on all Qld Health computers. For more information on using Firefox click here.(QH intranet only)

Secondly, you can get IE6 replaced by IE8 – to do this you just log an ID request using the Self Service Centre (QH intranet only)

New Guidelines Aim to Raise Standards for Laboratory-Acquired Infections in Clinical Pathology Laboratories Read more: New Guidelines Aim to Raise Standards for Laboratory-Acquired Infections in Clinical Pathology Laboratories

Dark Daily 2 March 2012

Clinical laboratories and pathology groups should be aware of new safety guidelines that address the risk of laboratory-acquired infections (LAI). A panel of experts convened by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released safety guidelines for medical laboratoryworkers.

Read more

Link to Guidelines for Safe Work Practices in Human and Animal Medical Diagnostic Laboratories   (United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MMWR Vol 61 6 January 2012)

New resource opens the door for enzyme research

(European Molecular Biology Laboratory – European Bioinformatics Institute 27 February 2012) The EMBL-European Bioinformatics Institute has launched the Enzyme Portal, a new resource for people who are interested in the biology of enzymes and proteins with enzymatic activity.

Read more

Watch video about the Enzyme Portal

Link to the Enzyme Portal