Search
Research
Using record linkage to validate notification and laboratory data for a more accurate assessment of notifiable infectious diseasesStudies investigating pathogen-specific infectious disease would benefit from using multiple data sources.
News & Events
Bold bid to end rheumatic heart diseaseSome of the nation’s leading medical researchers will converge on Darwin this week to step out a plan to wipe out rheumatic heart disease.
Research
Neonatal and infant mortality after maternal influenza and pertussis vaccination: Probabilistically linked cohort studyMaternal influenza and pertussis vaccination is an important strategy to reduce morbidity and mortality in infants. Previous vaccine safety studies have mostly focused on the association between maternal vaccination and fetal death.
Research
Invasive mould infection in children – advances made or obstacles remaining?Invasive mould infection (IMI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised children. Outcomes for paediatric patients with IMI remain poor, due in part to the limitations of available diagnostic tools and therapeutic agents.
Research
Emerging elements of paediatric post-sepsis care programs: A scoping reviewSepsis is a significant cause of mortality for children in Australia, particularly affecting young children, those with pre-existing health conditions and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations. The transition from hospital to home can be challenging for survivors, often leaving long-term impacts unaddressed.
Research
Boosting the influenza vaccine schedule in children with cancer: a prospective open-label studyCurrent immunization guidelines recommend one dose of influenza vaccine for children aged ≥9 years and two doses for younger or vaccine-naïve children. However, children receiving chemotherapy have an attenuated immune response. We performed a prospective open-label study in children undergoing treatment for cancer at Perth Children's Hospital, Western Australia, to examine the safety and efficacy of a boosted influenza schedule.
Research
Collecting behavioural data across countries during pandemics: Development of the COVID-19 Risk Assessment ToolTools that can be used to collect behavioural data during pandemics are needed to inform policy and practice. The objective of this project was to develop the Your COVID-19 Risk tool in response to the global spread of COVID-19, aiming to promote health behaviour change. We developed an online resource based on key behavioural evidence-based risk factors related to contracting and spreading COVID-19. This tool allows for assessing risk and provides instant support to protect individuals from infection.
Research
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Strain Evolution and Mutations in Western Australia in the Context of Nirsevimab ProphylaxisNirsevimab is a long-acting monoclonal antibody used to prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in infants and high-risk children. During the 2024 RSV season in Western Australia, 21 922 doses were administered to infants entering their first season and 1221 doses to at-risk children. In this context, the selection and spread of escape variants are a potential concern. This study aimed to investigate nirsevimab binding site mutations using clinical and wastewater data.
Research
Spatiotemporal patterns of influenza in Western AustraliaUnderstanding the geospatial distribution of influenza infection and the risk factors associated with infection clustering can inform targeted preventive interventions. We conducted a geospatial analysis to investigate the spatial patterns and identify drivers of medically attended influenza infection across all age groups in Western Australia.
Research
Postsepsis Care Needs in Children and Families: Single-Center, Codesign Qualitative Research from Western AustraliaSepsis, for children and their parents, is a life-altering illness with far-reaching psychosocial and physical impacts. We aimed to explore the needs of such patients and their parents after hospital admission for sepsis to inform the development of a Western Australian postsepsis care service.