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Research
Progress toward a global Group A streptococcal vaccineThe desire for an effective vaccine arises from the large burden of disease caused by the bacterium, particularly rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.
Research
Group A streptococcal vaccines: Paving a path for accelerated developmentVaccine prevention of GAS infections and their immunological complications has been a goal of researchers for decades.
Research
A national prospective surveillance study of acute rheumatic fever in Australian childrenAcute rheumatic fever (ARF) is an important cause of heart disease in Indigenous people of northern and central Australia.
News & Events
Point-of-care Strep A tests set to save lives in remote settingsInstant diagnosis and treatment of potentially life-threatening Strep A infections is now very close to reality across Australia’s remote and regional areas thanks to molecular point-of-care testing (POCT) that slashes result times from five days to just minutes.
News & Events
Australia a key contributor to global commitment to end deadly rheumatic heart diseaseThe World Health Organisation resolution for global action to tackle rheumatic heart disease (RHD) will have significant implications for Australia, which has some of the highest rates of the disease in the world.
News & Events
Researchers share their expertise with the community in CockburnResearchers from the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases at The Kids Research Institute Australia have shared their expertise with the community in Cockburn, covering topics ranging from respiratory disease in babies to recurring ear infections in kids.
Research
Penicillin Reactions in Patients With Severe Rheumatic Heart Disease: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart AssociationJonathan Rosemary Carapetis AM Wyber AM MBBS FRACP FAFPHM PhD FAHMS MBChB MPH FRACGP PhD Executive Director; Co-Head, Strep A Translation; Co-Founder
Research
Preventing heart failure: a position paper of the Heart Failure Association in collaboration with the European Association of Preventive CardiologyThe heart failure epidemic is growing and its prevention, in order to reduce associated hospital readmission rates and its clinical and economic burden, is a key issue in modern cardiovascular medicine. The present position paper aims to provide practical evidence-based information to support the implementation of effective preventive measures.
Research
Outcomes of latent rheumatic heart disease: External validation of a simplified score in patients with and without secondary prophylaxisSecondary antibiotic prophylaxis reduces progression of latent rheumatic heart disease (RHD) but not all children benefit. Improved risk stratification could refine recommendations following positive screening. We aimed to evaluate the performance of a previously developed echocardiographic risk score to predict mid-term outcomes among children with latent RHD.
Research
Development of a sustained release implant of benzathine penicillin G for secondary prophylaxis of rheumatic heart diseaseRegular intramuscular (i.m.) benzathine penicillin G (BPG) injections have been the cornerstone of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) secondary prophylaxis since the 1950s. Patient adherence to IM BPG is poor, largely due to pain, the need for regular injections every 3-4 weeks and health sector delivery challenges in resource-limited settings. There is an urgent need for new approaches for secondary prophylaxis, such as an implant which could provide sustained penicillin concentrations for more than 6 months.