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A quality improvement study: Optimizing pneumococcal vaccination rates in children with cochlear implants

Children with cochlear implants are at increased risk of invasive pneumococcal disease, with national and international guidelines recommending additional pneumococcal vaccines for these children. This study aimed to examine the pneumococcal immunization status and rate of invasive pneumococcal disease in children with cochlear implants at a tertiary paediatric hospital over a 12-year period.

Skin health situational analysis to inform skin disease control programs for the Kimberley

Asha Bowen BA MBBS DCH FRACP PhD GAICD FAHMS OAM Head, Healthy Skin and ARF Prevention Head, Healthy Skin and ARF Prevention Areas of expertise: Skin

Whole genome sequencing and molecular epidemiology of paediatric Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia

The role Staphylococcus aureus antimicrobial resistance genes and toxins play in disease severity, management and outcome in childhood is an emerging field requiring further exploration.

Modelling study of the ability to diagnose acute rheumatic fever at different levels of the Ugandan healthcare system

To determine the ability to accurately diagnose acute rheumatic fever given the resources available at three levels of the Ugandan healthcare system.

Improving primary prevention of acute rheumatic fever in Australia: consensus primary care priorities identified through an eDelphi process

To establish the priorities of primary care providers to improve assessment and treatment of skin sores and sore throats among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at risk of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD).

Examining the interseasonal resurgence of respiratory syncytial virus in Western Australia

Following a relative absence in winter 2020, a large resurgence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) detections occurred during the 2020/2021 summer in Western Australia. This seasonal shift was linked to SARS-CoV-2 public health measures. We examine the epidemiology and RSV testing of respiratory-coded admissions, and compare clinical phenotype of RSV-positive admissions between 2019 and 2020.

Two cases of Leclercia adecarboxylata septic arthritis in immunocompetent paediatric patients

Leclercia adecarboxylata is a rare cause of septic arthritis in children, and has intrinsic resistance to common antibiotics. We describe two cases of L. adecarboxylata septic arthritis in children that required re-presentation to hospital with prolonged treatment, and highlight the importance of considering L. adecarboxylata as a potential cause of infection among children with penetrating injuries and associated environmental exposure.

Clindamycin adjunctive therapy for severe Staphylococcus aureus treatment evaluation (CASSETTE)-an open-labelled pilot randomized controlled trial

Combination antibiotic therapy with an antitoxin agent, such as clindamycin, is included in some guidelines for severe, toxin-mediated Staphylococcus aureus infections. The evidence to support this practice is currently limited to in vitro, animal and observational human case-series data, with no previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Congenital cytomegalovirus: the case for targeted infant screening in Australia

Citation: Reid A, Bowen AC, Brennan-Jones CG, Kuthubutheen JB. Congenital cytomegalovirus: the case for targeted infant screening in Australia. Med J

Acceptability of OP/Na swabbing for SARS-CoV-2: a prospective observational cohort surveillance study in Western Australian schools

When the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, Governments responded with lockdown and isolation measures to combat viral spread, including the closure of many schools. More than a year later, widespread screening for SARS-CoV-2 is critical to allow schools and other institutions to remain open.