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Research
Haemophilus influenzae remains the predominant otitis media pathogen in Australian children undergoing ventilation tube insertion in the PCV13 eraUnderstanding patterns of bacterial carriage and otitis media (OM) microbiology is crucial for assessing vaccine impact and informing policy. The microbiology of OM can vary with geography, time, and interventions like pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs). We evaluated the microbiology of nasopharyngeal and middle ear effusions in children living in Western Australia, 11 years following the introduction of PCV13.
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Estimating the impact of Western Australia's first respiratory syncytial virus immunisation program for all infants: A mathematical modelling studyThe Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration approved the use of nirsevimab, a long-acting monoclonal antibody for the prevention of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), in November 2023. Western Australia (WA) implemented a combination of nirsevimab administration strategies designed to protect all infants starting in April 2024, before the epidemic season. We developed a dynamic transmission model to predict the impact of WA's RSV immunisation program on infant hospitalisations.
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Nirsevimab binding-site conservation in respiratory syncytial virus fusion glycoprotein worldwide between 1956 and 2021: an analysis of observational study sequencing dataNirsevimab is an extended half-life monoclonal antibody to the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) fusion protein that has been developed to protect infants for an entire RSV season. Previous studies have shown that the nirsevimab binding site is highly conserved. However, investigations of the geotemporal evolution of potential escape variants in recent (ie, 2015–2021) RSV seasons have been minimal.
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Parental awareness and attitudes towards prevention of respiratory syncytial virus in infants and young children in AustraliaTo assess parental awareness of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and the level of acceptance of future RSV prevention strategies. A cross-sectional online survey was implemented targeting "future" and "current" parents of children aged ≤5 years in Australia.
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Antibiotic duration and timing of the switch from intravenous to oral route for bacterial infections in children: systematic review and guidelinesSystematic review of antibiotic duration and timing of intravenous to oral switch for paediatric infectious diseases and evidence-graded recommendations
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Influenza vaccine effectiveness and uptake in children at risk of severe diseaseParticipation in the preschool influenza vaccination program remains low with parents unconvinced of the benefits and safety of influenza vaccine
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Otitis-prone children produce functional antibodies to pneumolysin and pneumococcal polysaccharidesThe production of functional antipneumococcal antibodies in otitisprone children demonstrates that they respond to the current pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)and are likely to respond to pneumolysin-based vaccines as effectively as healthy children.
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Ahead of consensus: A paediatric antifungal prophylaxis censusTo contextualise the ‘Australian & New Zealand Antifungal Consensus Guidelines, 2014, researchers surveyed current routine primary antifungal prophylaxis.
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Predominant bacteria detected from the middle ear fluid of children experiencing otitis media: A systematic reviewGlobally, S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae remain the predominant otopathogens associated with OM as identified through bacterial culture
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No evidence for impaired humoral immunity to pneumococcal proteins in Australian Aboriginal children with otitis mediaConserved vaccine candidate proteins from S.pneumoniae induce serum and salivary antibody responses in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children with history of OM