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Research

Ending rheumatic heart disease in Australia: the evidence for a new approach

The RHD Endgame Strategy: the blueprint to eliminate rheumatic heart disease in Australia by 2031 (the Endgame Strategy) is the blueprint to eliminate rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in Australia by 2031. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live with one of the highest per capita burdens of RHD in the world.

Research

Subcutaneous administration of benzathine benzylpenicillin G has favourable pharmacokinetic characteristics for the prevention of rheumatic heart disease compared with intramuscular injection

Benzathine penicillin G has been used as monthly deep intramuscular (IM) injections since the 1950s for secondary prevention of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Injection frequency and pain are major programmatic barriers for adherence, prompting calls for development of better long-acting penicillin preparations to prevent RHD.

Research

Acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease: Incidence and progression in the Northern Territory of Australia 1997 -2010

The reduction in ARF recurrence indicates that the RHD control program has improved secondary prophylaxis; a decline in RHD incidence is expected to follow.

News & Events

Rheumatic Heart Disease Endgame Strategy: what does it mean to community?

Across Australia, more than 5,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are currently living with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) or its precursor, acute rheumatic fever (ARF).

News & Events

RHD a notifiable condition

Western Australian doctors are now required by law to report all cases of rheumatic heart disease.

Research

Streptococcus, Acute Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease: Epidemiology and Clinical Considerations

A directed approach to the differential diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever now includes the concept of low-risk versus medium-to-high risk populations

Research

Status of research and development of vaccines for Streptococcus pyogenes

Vaccines against Streptococcus pyogenes are considered as impeded vaccines because of a number of crucial barriers to development

Research

Screening for rheumatic heart disease: Quality and agreement of focused cardiac ultrasound by briefly trained health workers

After brief training, health workers with no prior experience in echocardiography can obtain adequate quality images and make a reliable assessment

Research

Controlling acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in developing countries: Are we getting closer?

Improved opportunities for the primary prevention of ARF now exist, because of point-of-care antigen tests for Streptococcus pyogenes, and clinical decision...