Dr. Abrar is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales. He has more than 15 years’ experience in the health sector with International Organization, including World Health Organization (WHO) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). He has substantial experience of public health programs and infectious diseases research, having worked in the WHO TB control program for many years.
Dr. Abrar has excellent skills in field research, statistical analysis and report writing. His research interests include infectious diseases epidemiology and control, personal protective equipment, vaccine preventable diseases and surveillance. He is an emerging leader in research on personal protective equipment (PPE), particularly on facemasks. His most important research contributions have been to examine the role of facemask in resource limited settings. His research is focused on policy and practice around masks and respirators, and he has published extensively in this area. Since 2012, he has co-authored more than 40 publications that were instrumental in the development and or modification of national and international infection control policies. His research particularly contributed to the development of recommendations regarding facemask use in low resource countries.
He is a named Postdoctoral Professional Research Person (PRP) on a NHMRC CRE (CIA, Prof MacIntyre) titled, “Integrated Systems for Epidemic Response”. He is focal person for Epi-watch, which is an observatory with in NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence, Integrated Systems for Epidemic Response to monitor global epidemics. He is supervising a team of post-doctoral epidemiologists, doctoral students and masters students who work daily on Epi-Watch. The Epi-Watch team meets weekly to review current outbreaks, analyse epidemic patterns and provide summary of critical analysis for use by policy makers, government and other stakeholders.
Publications
WONG ZS Y;BUI CM;CHUGHTAI AA;MACINTYRE CR, 2017, 'A systematic review of early modelling studies of Ebola virus disease in West Africa', Epidemiology and Infection, pp. 1 - 26, http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0950268817000164
Wang AY;Chughtai AA;Lui K;Sullivan EA, 2017, 'Morbidity and mortality among very preterm singletons following fertility treatment in Australia and New Zealand, a population cohort study', BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, vol. 17, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12884-017-1235-6
Chughtai AA;Wang Q;Dung TC;Macintyre CR, 2017, 'The presence of fever in adults with influenza and other viral respiratory infections', Epidemiology and Infection, vol. 145, pp. 148 - 155, http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0950268816002181
Gardner LM;Chughtai AA;MacIntyre CR, 2016, 'Risk of global spread of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) via the air transport network', Journal of travel medicine, vol. 23, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jtm/taw063
MacIntyre CR;Zhang Y;Chughtai AA;Seale H;Zhang D;Chu Y;Zhang H;Rahman B;Wang Q, 2016, 'Cluster randomised controlled trial to examine medical mask use as source control for people with respiratory illness', BMJ Open, vol. 6, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2016-012330
Bui C;Bethmont A;Chughtai AA;Gardner L;Sarkar S;Hassan S;Seale H;MacIntyre CR, 2016, 'A Systematic Review of the Comparative Epidemiology of Avian and Human Influenza A H5N1 and H7N9-Lessons and Unanswered Questions', TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES, vol. 63, pp. 602 - 620, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/tbed.12327
Chen X;Chughtai AA;MacIntyre CR, 2016, 'Herd protection effect of N95 respirators in healthcare workers.', J Int Med Res, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0300060516665491
Moa AM;Chughtai AA;Muscatello DJ;Turner RM;MacIntyre CR, 2016, 'Immunogenicity and safety of inactivated quadrivalent influenza vaccine in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials', Vaccine, vol. 34, pp. 4092 - 4102, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.06.064
MacIntyre CR;Shaw P;Mackie FE;Boros C;Marshall H;Barnes M;Seale H;Kennedy SE;Moa A;Hayen A;Chughtai AA;O'Loughlin EV;Stormon M, 2016, 'Immunogenicity and persistence of immunity of a quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in immunocompromised children', Vaccine, vol. 34, pp. 4343 - 4350, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.06.049
Chughtai AA;Seale H;Dung TC;Hayen A;Rahman B;Raina MacIntyre C, 2016, 'Compliance with the use of medical and cloth masks among healthcare workers in Vietnam', Annals of Occupational Hygiene, vol. 60, pp. 619 - 630, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/annhyg/mew008
Bethmont A;Bui CM;Gardner L;Sarkar S;Chughtai AA;Macintyre CR, 2016, 'Quantified degree of poultry exposure differs for human cases of avian influenza H5N1 and H7N9', Epidemiology and Infection, vol. 144, pp. 2633 - 2640, http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0950268816001035
Seale H;Chughtai AA;Kaur R;Phillipson L;Novytska Y;Travaglia J, 2016, 'Empowering patients in the hospital as a new approach to reducing the burden of health care-associated infections: The attitudes of hospital health care workers', American Journal of Infection Control, vol. 44, pp. 263 - 268, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2015.10.003
McLaws ML;Chughtai AA;Salmon S;MacIntyre CR, 2016, 'A highly precautionary doffing sequence for health care workers after caring for wet Ebola patients to further reduce occupational acquisition of Ebola', American Journal of Infection Control, vol. 44, pp. 740 - 744, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2015.12.034
MacIntyre CR;Chughtai AA, 2016, 'Recurrence and reinfection-a new paradigm for the management of Ebola virus disease', International Journal of Infectious Diseases, vol. 43, pp. 58 - 61, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2015.12.011
Chughtai AA;Barnes M;Macintyre CR, 2016, 'Persistence of Ebola virus in various body fluids during convalescence: Evidence and implications for disease transmission and control', Epidemiology and Infection, vol. 144, pp. 1652 - 1660, http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0950268816000054
Wang YA;Chughtai AA;Farquhar CM;Pollock W;Lui K;Sullivan EA, 2016, 'Increased incidence of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia after assisted reproductive technology treatment', Fertility and Sterility, vol. 105, pp. 920 - 926.e2, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.12.024
Bui C;Bethmont A;Chughtai AA;Gardner L;Sarkar S;Hassan S;Seale H;MacIntyre CR, 2016, 'A Systematic Review of the Comparative Epidemiology of Avian and Human Influenza A H5N1 and H7N9 – Lessons and Unanswered Questions', Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, vol. 63, pp. 602 - 620, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/tbed.12327
Chughtai AA;Rahman B;Intyre CR M, 2015, 'Commentary on Arriola et al. Antivirals and Effect Modification in Influenza Studies', Journal of Infectious Diseases, vol. 212, pp. 1683 - 1684, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiv384
Seale H;Chughtai AA;Kaur R;Phillipson L;Novytska Y;Travaglia J, 2015, 'Empowering patients in the hospital as a new approach to reducing the burden of health care-associated infections: The attitudes ofhospital health care workers', American Journal of Infection Control, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2015.10.003
Chambers GM;Chughtai AA;Farquhar CM;Wang YA, 2015, 'Risk of preterm birth after blastocyst embryo transfer: A large population study using contemporary registry data from Australia and New Zealand', Fertility and Sterility, vol. 104, pp. 997 - 1003, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.07.1130
Chambers GM;Chughtai AA;Farquhar CM;Wang YA, 2015, 'Risk of preterm birth after blastocyst embryo transfer: A large population study using contemporary registry data from Australia and New Zealand', Fertility and Sterility, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.07.1130
Seale H;Travaglia J;Chughtai AA;Phillipson L;Novytska Y;Kaur R, 2015, '‘I don’t want to cause any trouble’: the attitudes of hospital patients towards patient empowerment strategies to reduce healthcare-acquired infections', Journal of Infection Prevention, vol. 16, pp. 167 - 173, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1757177415588378
Chughtai AA;MacIntyre CR;Ashraf MO;Zheng Y;Yang P;Wang Q;Dung TC;Hien NT;Seale H, 2015, 'Practices around the use of masks and respirators among hospital health care workers in 3 diverse populations', American Journal of Infection Control, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2015.05.041
Seale H;Chughtai AA;Kaur R;Crowe P;Phillipson L;Novytska Y;Travaglia J, 2015, 'Ask, speak up, and be proactive: Empowering patient infection control to prevent health care-acquired infections', American Journal of Infection Control, vol. 43, pp. 447 - 453, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2015.01.007
MacIntyre CR;Seale H;Dung TC;Hien NT;Nga PT;Chughtai AA;Rahman B;Dwyer DE;Wang Q, 2015, 'A cluster randomised trial of cloth masks compared with medical masks in healthcare workers', BMJ Open, vol. 5, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2014-006577
Chughtai AA;Seale H;Dung TC;Maher L;Nga PT;MacIntyre CR, 2015, 'Current practices and barriers to the use of facemasks and respirators among hospital-based health care workers in Vietnam', American Journal of Infection Control, vol. 43, pp. 72 - 77, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2014.10.009
MacIntyre CR;Chughtai AA, 2015, 'Facemasks for the prevention of infection in healthcare and community settings', BMJ (Online), vol. 350, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.h694
Chughtai AA;MacIntyre CR;Zheng Y;Wang Q;Toor ZI;Dung TC;Hien NT;Seale H, 2015, 'Examining the policies and guidelines around the use of masks and respirators by healthcare workers in China, Pakistan and Vietnam', Journal of Infection Prevention, vol. 16, pp. 68 - 74, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1757177414560251
Seale H;Leem J-S;Gallard J;Kaur R;Chughtai A;Tashani M;MacIntyre CR, 2015, '“The cookie monster muffler”: Perceptions and behaviours of hospital healthcare workers around the use of masks and respirators in the hospital setting', International Journal of Infection Control, http://dx.doi.org/10.3396/IJIC.v11i1.006.15
MacIntyre CR;Chughtai AA;Seale H;Richards GA;Davidson PM, 2015, 'Uncertainty, risk analysis and change for Ebola personal protective equipment guidelines', International Journal of Nursing Studies, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2014.12.001
Chughtai AA;MacIntyre R;Peng Y;Wang Q;Ashraf MO;Dung TC;Seale H, 2014, 'Infection control survey in the hospitals to examine the role of masks and respirators for the prevention of respiratory infections in healthcare workers ( HCWs)', INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES, vol. 21, pp. 408 - 408, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2014.03.1262
Chughtai AA;MacIntyre R;Peng Y;Wang Q;Toor ZI;Dung TC;Seale H, 2014, 'Policies on facemasks use to protect HCWs from respiratory infections: A cross sectional survey', INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES, vol. 21, pp. 417 - 417, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2014.03.1281
Seale H;Leem JS;Gallard J;Kaur R;Chughtai AA;Tashani M;MacIntyre R, 2014, '“The cookie monster muffler”: Perceptions and behaviours of hospital healthcare workers around the use of masks and respirators in the hospital setting', IJIC, vol. 1, pp. 1 - 18
MacIntyre CR;Chughtai AA;Seale H;Richards GA;Davidson PM, 2014, 'Response to Martin-Moreno et al. (2014) Surgical mask or no mask for health workers not a defensible position for Ebola', International Journal of Nursing Studies, vol. 51, pp. 1694 - 1695, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2014.10.004
MacIntyre CR;Chughtai AA;Seale H;Richards GA;Davidson PM, 2014, 'Respiratory protection for healthcare workers treating ebola virus disease (EVD): Are facemasks sufficient to meet occupational health and safety obligations?', International Journal of Nursing Studies, vol. 51, pp. 1421 - 1426, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2014.09.002
Chughtai AA;Qadeer E;Khan W;Hadi H;Memon IA, 2013, 'Estimation of the contribution of private providers in tuberculosis case notification and treatment outcome in Pakistan', Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, vol. 19, pp. 213 - 218
Chughtai AA;MacIntyre CR;Wang YA;Gao Z;Khan W, 2013, 'Treatment outcomes of various types of tuberculosis in Pakistan, 2006 and 2007.', East Mediterr Health J, vol. 19, pp. 535 - 541, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24975182
Chughtai AA ;Seale H ;MacIntyre CR, 2013, 'Use of cloth masks in the practice of infection control – evidence and policy gaps', International Journal of Infection Control, vol. 9, http://dx.doi.org/10.3396/IJIC.v9i3.020.13
Sullivan EA;Wang YA;Norman RJ;Chambers GM;Chughtai AA;Farquhar CM, 2013, 'Perinatal mortality following assisted reproductive technology treatment in Australia and New Zealand, a public health approach for international reporting of perinatal mortality', BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, vol. 13, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2393-13-177
Chughtai AA;Qadeer E;Khan W;Hadi H;Memon IA, 2013, 'Estimation of the contribution of private providers in tuberculosis case notification and treatment outcome in Pakistan', Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, vol. 19, pp. 213 - 218
Chughtai AA;Seale H;Macintyre CR, 2013, 'Availability, consistency and evidence-base of policies and guidelines on the use of mask and respirator to protect hospital health care workers: A global analysis', BMC Research Notes, vol. 6, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1756-0500-6-216
Chughtai AA;MacIntyre CR;Wang YA;Gao Z;Khan W, 2013, 'Treatment outcomes of various types of tuberculosis in Pakistan, 2006 and 2007', Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, vol. 19, pp. 535 - 541
Dogar OF;Shah SK;Chughtai AA;Qadeer E, 2012, 'Gender disparity in tuberculosis cases in eastern and western provinces of Pakistan', BMC Infectious Diseases, vol. 12, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2334-12-244
