Australia is host to a diversity of vector-borne, zoonotic and other environmentally acquired infectious diseases. Defence personnel are susceptible to disease caused by acquired infectious pathogens due to the nature of their training and work within field environments in Australia and overseas. ADF Malaria and Infectious Disease Institute (ADFMIDI) has existing epidemiological and molecular expertise, and conducts ongoing research into malaria, arboviruses, tick-borne diseases, and bacterial pathogens responsible for skin and soft tissue infections among Defence personnel. Some of this work will be summarised in this presentation.
ADF training areas are at particular risk of the spread of MRSA and other opportunistic bacterial pathogens. This risk escalates further when those living in close-quarters have cuts and scratches that make them prone to skin infections. Both land-based military settings and shipboard deployments represent a high-risk environment for the spread of virulent bacterial strains due to crowded conditions, shared equipment, and limited opportunities for personal hygiene that facilitate colonization.
Several ADF training and operation sites were investigated between 2022 and 2024 using a One Health approach towards understanding skin and soft tissue infection cause and transmission. This involved up to 400 Defence Personnel as collaborative research engagements. Through the use of Epidemiological tools, incorporated with Clinical Microbiology and Genomics, we were able to conclusively (1) identify and characterize bacterial pathogens present on humans, environment and animals in the respective sites, (2) investigate the antimicrobial resistance patterns and transmission patterns of bacteria between human, environment and animals, (3) identify risk factors of transmission, and (4) propose and / or support existing public health policy to mitigate risk of skin and soft tissue infections as well as antimicrobial resistance bacteria transmission among Defence personnel in these areas.
Parallel bacterial surveillance was done in 2024 with Papua New Guinea in partnership with the PNG Defence Force. Our approach of Field sampling and screening, preliminary bacteria isolation and collaborative efforts with local diagnostic labs and international sequencing labs will be elaborated. This research has important implications for surveillance, including origin, of antibiotic resistant infections in any military population, with easily replicated laboratory and field methodology.