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Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of bacteremia, yet the epidemiology and predictors of poor outcome remain inadequately defined in childhood. ISAIAH (Invasive Staphylococcus aureus Infections and Hospitalizations in children) is a prospective, cross-sectional study of S. aureus bacteremia in children hospitalized in Australia and New Zealand over 24 months.

Prevalence of impetigo (skin sores) remains high in remote Australian Aboriginal communities, Fiji, and other areas of socio-economic disadvantage. Skin sore infections, driven primarily in these settings by Group A Streptococcus (GAS) contribute substantially to the disease burden in these areas. Despite this, estimates for the force of infection, infectious period and basic reproductive ratio-all necessary for the construction of dynamic transmission models-have not been obtained.

These data highlight the importance of recognising Sporotrichosis in children outside an outbreak setting

The Australian National Healthy Skin Guideline summarises evidence-based treatment of impetigo, scabies and fungal infections in high burden settings

Health service utilisation in this setting may be enhanced by improving general awareness of the significance of childhood skin infections

Skin infection burden in remote Aboriginal communities can be reduced by the See, Treat, Prevent (SToP skin sores and scabies) trial

Skin infections are an under-appreciated and dominant reason for presentation to primary healthcare centres in these indigenous communities

Improved public health measures targeting bacterial skin infections are needed to reduce this high burden of skin infections in Western Australia

The association between scabies and skin sores is highly significant and indicates a causal relationship

Scabies and impetigo are common in Timor-Leste, with very high prevalence of scabies in the rural district of Ermera