Reports and Findings
Research
Calculation of the age of the first infection for skin sores and scabies in five remote communities in northern AustraliaPrevalence of skin sores and scabies in remote Australian Aboriginal communities remains unacceptably high, with Group A Streptococcus (GAS) the dominant pathogen. We aim to better understand the drivers of GAS transmission using mathematical models.
Research
Rheumatic heart disease in Timor-Leste school students: an echocardiography-based prevalence studyThe rates of RHD in Timor-Leste are among the highest in the world, and prevalence is higher among girls than boys. Community engagement is essential for ensuring follow-up and the effective delivery of secondary prophylaxis.
Research
Development of an opsonophagocytic killing assay for Group A StreptococcusGroup A Streptococcus (GAS) or Streptococcus pyogenes is responsible for an estimated 500,000 deaths worldwide each year.
Research
Lessons learned in the development of sustained release penicillin drug delivery systems for the prophylactic treatment of rheumatic heart disease (RHD)The current prophylactic treatment to prevent rheumatic heart disease requires four-weekly intramuscular injection of a suspension of the poorly soluble benzathine salt form of penicillin G (BPG) often for more than 10 years. In seeking to reduce the frequency of administration to improve adherence, biodegradable polymer matrices have been investigated.
Research
Epidemiology and risk factors for typhoid fever in Central Division, Fiji, 2014-2017: A case-control studyPoor sanitation facilities appear to be a major source of Salmonella Typhi in Fiji, with transmission by drinking contaminated surface water and consuming unwashed produce
Research
Improving Wellbeing for Young People Living with Rheumatic Heart Disease: A peer support program through Danila Dilba Health ServiceThis project seeks to conduct a focus group for young people (aged 11-14) and their parents/family members through the Danila Dilba Health Service (DDHS) in Darwin with the aim of identifying consumer needs and perspectives on next steps and priorities for peer support in RHD.
Research
Scabies and impetigo in Timor-Leste: A school screening study in two districtsScabies and impetigo are common in Timor-Leste, with very high prevalence of scabies in the rural district of Ermera
Research
Burden of cardiovascular diseases in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 1990-2015: findings from the Global Burden of Disease 2015 studyThe age-standardized disability-adjusted life years rates in the Eastern Mediterranean Region are considerably higher than the global average
Research
Rheumatic heart disease in Timor-Leste school students: an echocardiography-based prevalence studyThe rates of RHD in Timor-Leste are among the highest in the world, and prevalence is higher among girls than boys
Research
The NICE-GUT trial protocol: A randomised, placebo controlled trial of oral nitazoxanide for the empiric treatment of acute gastroenteritis among Australian Aboriginal childrenDiarrhoeal disease is the second leading cause of death in children under 5 years globally, killing 525 000 annually. Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (hereafter Aboriginal) children suffer a high burden of disease.
Research
Reference exome data for Australian Aboriginal populations to support health-based researchOur data set provides a useful reference point for genomic studies on Aboriginal Australians
Research
Longitudinal Analysis of Group A Streptococcus emm Types and emm Clusters in a High-Prevalence Setting: Relationship between Past and Future InfectionsNo evidence of tissue tropism was observed, and there was no apparent selective pressure or constraint of emm types
Research
Defining target penicillin concentrations for subsequent studies of a reformulated long-acting benzathine penicillin prototypeAims: To determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations of penicillin G against a representative collection of Strep A strains; and to evaluate the impact of penicillin G concentration and size of bacterial inoculum on the prophylactic effect for Strep A strains
Research
Rheumatic heart disease in pregnancy: Profile of women admitted to a Western Australian tertiary obstetric hospitalThis retrospective study assessed maternal and perinatal outcomes for women with rheumatic heart disease admitted to the largest tertiary obstetric hospital
Research
Factors associated with pneumococcal carriage and density in children and adults in Fiji, using four cross-sectional surveysThis study describes predictors of pneumococcal nasopharyngeal carriage and density in Fiji
Research
The cost-of-illness due to rheumatic heart disease: national estimates for FijiWe estimate for the first time the total cost of RHD for Fiji (2008-2012) using a cost-of-illness approach and novel primary data on RHD disease burden and costs.
Research
RE-AIM evaluation of a teacher-delivered programme to improve the self-regulation of children attending Australian Aboriginal community primary schoolsBenefits in teaching the Alert Program® to students in a region with high reported rates of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder and self-regulation impairment
Research
Lessons learned in genetic research with Indigenous Australian participantsWe reflect on the lessons learned from a recent genome‐wide association study of rheumatic heart disease with Aboriginal Australian participants
Research
Voices behind the statistics: A systematic literature review of the lived experience of rheumatic heart diseaseThis systematic review presents a critical, interpretive analysis of publications that include lived experiences of rheumatic heart disease