Despina Kotsanas
tel +61 3 9594 6851
email
BSc(Hons) (Monash) MClinEpi (Monash) FASM
Senior Scientist, Monash Infectious Diseases
Professional Roles
Secretary, Australian Society for Antimicrobials (ASA)
Member, Executive Committee, Australian Group for Antimicrobial Resistance (AGAR)
2008-2013 Administrator, Australia New Zealand Cooperative on Staphylococcal Sepsis (ANZCOSS)
2010 Laboratory Coordinator, VICDiff, Victorian Clostridium difficile snapshot
2007- Mayfield Education Infection Control Course Advisory Committee
C-reactive protein and immature-to-total neutrophil ratio have no utility in guiding lumbar puncture in suspected neonatal sepsis.
Goldfinch CD, Korman T, Kotsanas D, Burgner DP, Tan K.
J Paediatr Child Health. 2018 Mar 30. doi: 10.1111/jpc.13890. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 29602260
Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium sequence type 796 – rapid international dissemination of a new epidemic clone.
Mahony AA, Buultjens AH, Ballard SA, Grabsch EA, Xie S, Seemann T, Stuart RL, Kotsanas D, Cheng A, Heffernan H, Roberts SA, Coombs GW, Bak N, Ferguson JK, Carter GC, Howden BP, Stinear TP, Johnson PDR.
Antimicrob Resist Infect Control. 2018 Mar 22;7:44. doi: 10.1186/s13756-018-0335-z. eCollection 2018.
PMID: 29588851
Underdiagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia psittaci revealed by introduction of respiratory multiplex PCR assay with Chlamydiaceae family primers.
Rane V, Khailin K, Williams J, Francis M, Kotsanas D, Korman TM, Graham M.
Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2017 Nov 26. pii: S0732-8893(17)30376-0. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2017.11.013. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 29258707
Teicoplanin non-susceptible coagulase-negative staphylococci in a large Australian healthcare network: Implications for treatment with vancomycin.
Wijesooriya WRPLI, Kotsanas D, Korman TM, Graham M.
Sri Lankan J Infect Dis 2017;7(1):10-17.
Microfiber and steam for a neonatal service: An improved and safe cleaning methodology.
Gillespie E, Tabbara L, Scott C, Lovegrove A, Kotsanas D, Stuart RL.
Am J Infect Control. 2017 Jan 1;45(1):98-100. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2016.06.041. No abstract available.
PMID: 28065335
Australian Group on Antimicrobial Resistance Australian Enterococcal Sepsis Outcome Programme annual report, 2014.
Coombs GW, Daley DA, Thin Lee Y, Pang S, Pearson JC, Robinson JO, Johnson PD, Kotsanas D, Bell JM, Turnidge JD; Australian Group on Antimicrobial Resistance..
Commun Dis Intell Q Rep. 2016 Jun 30;40(2):E236-43.
PMID:27522135
Does the new low-frequency ultrasonic debridement technology pose an infection control risk for clinicians, patients, and the clinic environment?
Michailidis L, Kotsanas D, Orr E, Coombes G, Bergin S, Haines T, Williams C.
Am J Infect Control. 2016 Dec 1;44(12):1656-1659. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2016.04.228.10.1016/j.ajic.2016.04.228. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 27375060
Disposable antimicrobial and sporicidal privacy curtains: Cost benefit of hanging longer.
Kotsanas D, Gillespie E.
Am J Infect Control. 2016 Jul 1;44(7):854-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2016.01.009. No abstract available.
PMID: 26922893
Australian Group on Antimicrobial Resistance Australian Enterococcal Sepsis Outcome Programme annual report, 2014.
Coombs GW, Daley DA, Thin Lee Y, Pang S, Pearson JC, Robinson JO, Johnson PD, Kotsanas D, Bell JM, Turnidge JD; Australian Group on Antimicrobial Resistance.
Commun Dis Intell Q Rep. 2016 Jun 30;40(2):E236-43.
PMID: 27522135
Are identity badges and lanyards in pediatrics potentially contaminated with viral pathogens?
Ting CY, Cheng DR, Kotsanas D, Kirkwood CD, Bogdanovic-Sakran N, Stuart RL, Buttery JP.
Am J Infect Control. 2015 Nov;43(11):1258-60. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2015.06.024. Epub 2015 Aug 20.
Surveillance for antimicrobial resistance in Australian isolates of Clostridium difficile, 2013-14.
Knight DR, Giglio S, Huntington PG, Korman TM, Kotsanas D, Moore CV, Paterson DL, Prendergast L, Huber CA, Robson J, Waring L, Wehrhahn MC, Weldhagen GF, Wilson RM, Riley TV.
J Antimicrob Chemother. 2015 Nov;70(11):2992-9. doi: 10.1093/jac/dkv220. Epub 2015 Jul 28.
PMID: 26221017
Outbreak of vanB vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium colonization in a neonatal service.
Lister DM, Kotsanas D, Ballard SA, Howden BP, Carse E, Tan K, Scott C, Gillespie EE, Mahoney AA, Doherty R, Korman TM, Johnson PD, Stuart RL.
Am J Infect Control. 2015 Oct 1;43(10):1061-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2015.05.047. Epub 2015 Jul 17.
PMID: 26190380
J Clin Microbiol 2014 Dec 17. pii: JCM.02926-14. [Epub ahead of print]
Emergence of a ribotype 244 strain of Clostridium difficile associated with severe disease and related to the epidemic ribotype 027 strain.
Lim SK, Stuart RL, Mackin K, Carter G, Kotsanas D, Francis M, Easton M, Dimovski K, Elliot B, Riley TV, Hogg G, Paul E, Korman TM, Seemann T, Stinear TP, Lyras D, Jenkin GA.
Clin Infect Dis. 2014 Apr 4. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 24704722 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]
The silver lining of disposable sporicidal privacy curtains in an Intensive Care Unit.
Kotsanas D, Wijesooriya WR, Sloane T, Stuart RL, Gillespie EE.
Am J Infect Control. 2014 Apr;42(4):366-70. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2013.11.013.
PMID: 24679561 [PubMed – in process]
Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci colonization increases hospital length of stay but not mortality in end stage kidney failure: a case control study.
Garner S. Polkinghorne KR. Kotsanas D. Kerr PG. Korman TM, Stuart RL,
J Hosp Infect. 2013 Dec;85(4):289-96. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2013.09.005. Epub 2013 Sep 21.
PMID: 24161798 [PubMed – in process]
Peripheral intravenous catheter-associated Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia: more than 5 years of prospective data from two tertiary health services.
Stuart RL, Cameron DRM, Scott C, Kotsanas D, Grayson ML, Korman TM, Gillespie EE, Johnson PDR.
Med J Aust 2013;198(10):551-3.PMID: 23725270 [PubMed – in process]
Why is it so hard for doctors to speak up when they see an error occurring?
Dendle C, Paul A, Scott C, Gillespie E, Kotsanas D, Stuart RL.
Healthcare Infect 2013;18(2):72–75.
“Down the drain”: carbapenem-resistant bacteria in intensive care unit patients and handwashing sinks.
Med J Aust. 2013 Mar 18;198(5):267-9.
PMID: 23496403 [PubMed – in process]
Environmental cleaning without chemicals in clinical settings.
Gillespie E. Wilson J. Lovegrove A. Abernethy M. Scott C. Kotsanas D. Stuart RL.
Am J Infect Control. 2013 May;41(5):461-3. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2012.07.003. Epub 2012 Nov 22.
PMID: 23177456 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
When a single hair or suture has been through the sterilization process, is it sterile?
Gillespie E, Othman N, Kotsanas D.
Am J Infect Control. 2013 Feb 5. doi:pii: S0196-6553(12)01374-0. 10.1016/j.ajic.2012.10.019. [Epub ahead of print] No abstract available.
PMID: 23394885 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]
Disposable biocidal cubical curtains; Can they prevent the transfer of bacterial pathogens?
Kotsanas D. Lovegrove A. Sloane TL. Gillespie E.
Healthcare Infect 2012;17(3):87-90.
Hierarchy and hand hygiene: would medical students speak up to prevent hospital-acquired infection?
Samuel R, Shuen A, Dendle C, Kotsanas D, Scott C, Stuart RL.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2012 Aug;33(8):861-3. No abstract available.
PMID: 22759561 [PubMed – in process]
Influenza vaccination uptake amongst pregnant women and maternal care providers is suboptimal.
Lu AB, Halim AA, Dendle C, Kotsanas D, Giles ML, Wallace EM, Buttery JP, Stuart RL.
Vaccine. 2012 Jun 8;30(27):4055-9. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2012.04.012. Epub 2012 Apr 19.
PMID: 22521842 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
Can we expect patients to question health care workers’ hand hygiene compliance?
Reid N, Moghaddas J, Loftus M, Stuart RL, Kotsanas D, Scott C, Dendle C.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2012 May;33(5):531-2. No abstract available.
PMID: 22476284 [PubMed – in process]
Prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant organisms in residential aged care facilities.
Stuart RL, Kotsanas D, Webb B, Vandergraff S, Gillespie EE, Hogg GG, Korman TM.
Med J Aust. 2011 Nov 7;195(9):530-3.
PMID: 22060088 [PubMed – in process]
The Anti-Sigma Factor TcdC Modulates Hypervirulence in an Epidemic BI/NAP1/027 Clinical Isolate of Clostridium difficile.
Carter GP, Douce GR, Govind R, Howarth PM, Mackin KE, Spencer J, Buckley AM, Antunes A, Kotsanas D, Jenkin GA, Dupuy B, Rood JI, Lyras D.
PLoS Pathog. 2011 Oct;7(10):e1002317. Epub 2011 Oct 13.
PMID: 22022270 [PubMed – in process] Free PMC Article
Contamination of renal patients’ hospital chart covers with vancomycin resistant enterococci: Handle with care.
Zimbudzi A, Stuart RL, Korman TM, Kotsanas D.
AMJ 2011;4(10):538-‐541
http//dx.doi.org/10.4066/AMJ.2011.726
Novel use of tryptose sulfite cycloserine egg yolk agar for isolation of Clostridium perfringens during an outbreak of necrotizing enterocolitis in a neonatal unit.
Kotsanas D, Carson J, Awad MM, Lyras D, Rood JI, Jenkin GA, Stuart RL, Korman TM.
J Clin Microbiol. 2010 Nov;48(11):4263-5. doi: 10.1128/JCM.01724-10. Epub 2010 Sep 8.
PMID: 20826643 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
An outbreak of necrotizing enterocolitis associated with norovirus genotype GII.3.
Stuart RL, Tan K, Mahar JE, Kirkwood CD, Andrew Ramsden C, Andrianopoulos N, Jolley D, Bawden K, Doherty R, Kotsanas D, Bradford J, Buttery JP.
Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2010 Jul;29(7):644-7.
PMID: 20589982 [PubMed – in process]
Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia: a major cause of mortality in Australia and New Zealand.
Turnidge JD, Kotsanas D, Munckhof W, Roberts S, Bennett CM, Nimmo GR, Coombs GW, Murray RJ, Howden B, Johnson PD, Dowling K; Australia New Zealand Cooperative on Outcomes in Staphylococcal Sepsis.
Med J Aust. 2009 Oct 5;191(7):368-73.
PMID: 19807625 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
Hand profiling: A novel tool used to demonstrate hand hygiene technique?
Gillespie E. Kotsanas D, Wilson J, Buist M, Stuart RL.
Healthcare Infect 2009; 14(4) 153–157.
Disinfection of Burkholderia cepacia complex from non-touch taps in a neonatal nursery.
Kotsanas D, Brett J, Kidd TJ, Stuart RL, Korman TM.
J Perinat Med. 2008;36(3):235-9.
PMID: 18576933 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
Investigation of an outbreak of Serratia marcescens in a neonatal unit via a case-control study and molecular typing.
Friedman ND, Kotsanas D, Brett J, Billah B, Korman TM.
Am J Infect Control. 2008 Feb;36(1):22-8.
PMID: 18241732 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
What’s hanging around your neck? Pathogenic bacteria on identity badges and lanyards.
Kotsanas D, Scott C, Gillespie EE, Korman TM, Stuart RL.
Med J Aust. 2008 Jan 7;188(1):5-8.
PMID: 18205553 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]Free Article
Microbiological monitoring of endoscopes: 5-year review.
Gillespie EE, Kotsanas D, Stuart RL.
J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2008 Jul;23(7 Pt 1):1069-74. Epub 2007 Dec 13.
PMID: 18086113 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
Constructing clinical indicators for multiresistant organisms. Where do we begin?
Kotsanas D, Stuart RL, Korman TM, Gillespie EE.
Healthcare Infect 2008 13(1) 15–19.
A quarter of a century of adult peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis at an Australian medical center.
Brown F, Liu WJ, Kotsanas D, Korman TM, Atkins RC.
Perit Dial Int. 2007 Sep-Oct;27(5):565-74.
PMID: 17704449 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]Free Article
Risk factors for peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis: can we reduce the incidence and improve patient selection?
Kotsanas D, Polkinghorne KR, Korman TM, Atkins RC, Brown F.
Nephrology (Carlton). 2007 Jun;12(3):239-45.
PMID: 17498118 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
A comparison of three typing methods for Serratia marcescens during an outbreak across four neonatal intensive care units.
Giles M, Tabrizi S, Grabsch E, Friedman ND, Gillespie E, Kotsanas D, Li H, Kor
man TM, Daley A.
Aust Infect Control. 2007; 12(1) 20 – 24.
Serratia marcescens bacteremia – an indicator for outbreak management and heightened surveillance.
Gillespie EE, Bradford J, Brett J, Kotsanas D.
J Perinat Med. 2007;35(3):227-31.
PMID: 17480151 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
Adherence to guidelines for prevention of postsplenectomy sepsis. Age and sex are risk factors: a five-year retrospective review.
Kotsanas D, Al-Souffi MH, Waxman BP, King RW, Polkinghorne KR, Woolley IJ.
ANZ J Surg. 2006 Jul;76(7):542-7.
PMID: 16813615 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
A clonal outbreak of rifampicin-resistant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in an intensive care unit.
Friedman ND, Kotsanas D, Wilson J, Ten Berk de Boer F, Korman T.
Aust Infect Control. 2006; 11(2):53-8.
Poor specificity of screening tests for the detection of Staphylococcus aureus with reduced susceptibility to vancomycin.
Friedman ND, Midolo PD, Kotsanas D, Korman T.
Int J Infect Control. 2006; 2:98-101.
Duration of in vivo antimicrobial activity of antibiotic-impregnated cerebrospinal fluid catheters.
Pattavilakom A, Kotsanas D, Korman TM, Xenos C, Danks A.
Neurosurgery. 2006 May;58(5):930-5; discussion 930-5.
PMID: 16639329 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
The use of antibiotics as secondary prevention for cardiac events.
Lim LL, Kotsanas D, Ostergaard L, Woolley I.
Pharmacotherapy. 2004 Nov;24(11):1652-3; discussion 1653. No abstract available.
PMID: 15537570 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
Laboratory detection and investigation of reduced susceptibility to vancomycin in oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
Midolo PD, Korman TM, Kotsanas D, Russo P, Kerr TG.
Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2003 Mar;22(3):199-201. Epub 2003 Mar 5. No abstract available.
PMID: 12649722 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE