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Annual Report 2025

The Kids Research Institute Australia's annual report highlights the accomplishments of our researchers, furthering our mission to secure a happier, healthier future for kids everywhere.

Latest research identifies true danger of antimicrobial resistance in Australian kids

One out of every 10 children with a bloodstream infection are infected with a multi-drug resistant organism in the nation’s first-ever surveillance study investigating the prevalence of paediatric antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Determining the off-target effects of infant vaccines on respiratory infection outcomes in Western Australian children

Christopher Hannah Lea-Ann Blyth Moore Kirkham MBBS (Hons) DCH FRACP FRCPA PhD OAM BSc (Hons) GradDipClinEpi PhD PhD Centre Head, Wesfarmers Centre

Enhancing Protection against Influenza and COVID-19 for pregnant women and medically at risk children: EPIC Study

Pregnant women are 3 times more likely to die from COVID-19 and over 7 times more likely to be admitted to an intensive care unit with influenza compared to non-pregnant women.

Estimating the Impact And Costs of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) at Perth Children’s Hospital

AMR is a rapidly growing challenge and has been identified as one of the World Health Organizations top 10 global health threats, with the potential to undo many of the health gains observed over the last century.

Delayed diagnosis is associated with complications following invasive meningococcal disease in Australian adolescents and young adults

This study described the presenting features, initial assessment, hospital care, and complications at discharge among Australian adolescents and young adults with Invasive meningococcal disease.

The impact of a vancomycin intervention on vancomycin-associated nephrotoxicity in children: a quality improvement initiative

Vancomycin is first-line treatment for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections. However, despite guideline recommendations, there is no evidence that targeting vancomycin trough concentrations of ≥15 mg/L in children confers clinical benefit and is associated with vancomycin-associated nephrotoxicity. 

Nasal Delivery of Haemophilus haemolyticus Is Safe, Reduces Influenza Severity, and Prevents Development of Otitis Media in Mice

Despite vaccination, influenza and otitis media (OM) remain leading causes of illness. We previously found that the human respiratory commensal Haemophilus haemolyticus prevents bacterial infection in vitro and that the related murine commensal Muribacter muris delays OM development in mice. The observation that M muris pretreatment reduced lung influenza titer and inflammation suggests that these bacteria could be exploited for protection against influenza/OM.

Friendly bacteria reduces flu symptoms and ear infections in mice

Research reveals that friendly bacteria may help reduce flu symptoms, offering new insights into potential treatments and enhancing our understanding of immune health.

Haemophilus influenzae remains the predominant otitis media pathogen in Australian children undergoing ventilation tube insertion in the PCV13 era

Understanding 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.