Clinical posts from members and guests of the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM) from various international medical and scientific conferences on HIV, AIDS, viral hepatitis, and sexual health.
Crystal is a registered nurse with extensive experience in the management and treatment of patients with viral hepatitis. Since joining DCS she has enjoyed the scope of her role in managing Communicable Diseases, including viral hepatitis within the correctional setting. In 2009 Crystal was elected to the Board of the Australasian Hepatology Association where she has promoted care and access to treatment of prisoners with hepatitis B & C. After completing her under graduate in nursing Crystal went on to complete further qualifications in Health Management and is currently studying Infectious Diseases at UWA.
So good to hear about new studies in HIV/HCV co infections.
Patietns have waited or so long for better outcomes of treatment and although the new DAAs come with precautions and drug interations when combining ART with DAAs, they offer better treatment outcomes than seen previously.
Looking forward to offer new treatment options and the challenges before us in treating HIV/HCV coinfetions.
Just attended a session on treating HCV in Tasmanian Prisons where they are experiencing higher than expected treatment response rates for GT 1 with a team of GPs, a BBV specialist nurse and telehealth across 8 sites.
Numbers of patients treated have steadily increased in the 5 years the program has been runing and they now treat three times the amount of patients than they started with- fantastic!!
The day started with a traditional Maori opening followed by presentations from key speakers then, the moment we have been waiting for- the launch of the AHA Consensus Based Nursing Guidelines. Dr Jaqui Richmond will present more on the development of the guidelines tomorrow at 11am.
As anticipated, my favourite sessions of the day were on the outcomes of horizontally acquired CHBV in the Maori population, hearing about the Kawerau Study and treating CHBV in remote dwelling aboriginal patients in the Northern Territory.
Then, tonight finished with presentations on the new protease inhibitors for HCV triple therapy.
Tomorrow promises to be another full day starting with the breakfast symposium followed by international speakers in the next session and then I spy presentations on HCC in the NT, treatment outcomes for prisoners with HCV G/T 1 and nurse led follow up of patients with cirrhosis.
'Nite all.
:)
Thought I would try a test post before tomorrow.
Sitting here highlighter in hand, looking over the program, there is so much on, its hard to decide which sessions to attend.
Do I rush between one presentation at a time or stay for the whole session?
I've already marked a couple of presentations looking at hepatitis b in the Maori population, HCC in the northern territory and perhaps I am being a bit biased underlining the launch of the AHA Consensus Based Guidelines tomorrow morning. Even so, I am looking forward to a busy and interesting few days ahead!
:)