Department of Infectious Diseases research is top rated by international peers

A/Prof Edwina Wright

At the recent Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents Chemotherapy (ICAAC), held in Denver, Sept 10-13 2013 two papers by members of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Central Clinical School, Monash University were featured in the Literature Review Session. One was co-authored by A/Prof Edwina Wright and the other by Dr Orla Morrissey. These two papers were considered as amongst the best infectious diseases papers published in the 12 months to date.


Edwina’s paper provides further evidence for starting antiretroviral therapy earlier at higher CD4+ T-cell post HIV infection for improved clinical outcomes.

Le T, Wright EJ, Smith DM et al. Enhanced CD4+ T-cell recovery with earlier HIV-1 antiretroviral therapy. N Engl J Med 2013; 368: 218

Dr Orla Morrissey

Orla’s paper is the first study to validate a diagnostic-driven antifungal strategy for use in patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation or chemotherapy for acute leukaemia. The results will change future guidelines (including diagnostic criteria), both nationally and internationally, for how we approach invasive fungal infections in these patient groups. Orla’s paper was also featured at the same conference as one of the top ten mycology papers for the 12 month period to September 2013. 

Morrissey CO, Chen SC, Sorrell TC, et al. Galactomannan and PCR versus culture and histology for directing use of antifungal treatment for invasive aspergillosis in high-risk haematology patients: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet Infect Dis 2013; 13: 519.

Prof Sharon Lewin’s talk, HIV-1 eradication strategies: Where are we now and where are we going?, was also highlighted as a top talk to attend at the same conference as part of the ICAAC Literature Review Session.