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Continued challenge of rheumatic heart disease: The gap of understanding or the gap of implementation?

We still do not have a RF vaccine, although the recent announcement that the Australian and New Zealand governments are jointly sponsoring a program to fast...

Position statement of the World Heart Federation on the prevention and control of rheumatic heart disease

In the 21st century, rheumatic fever (RF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) are neglected diseases of marginalized communities.

Screening for rheumatic heart disease: current approaches and controversies

In endemic areas, RHD has long been a target of screening programmes that, historically, have relied on cardiac auscultation.

Acute Rheumatic Fever and Chronic Rheumatic Disease

This chapter describes the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnostic criteria, and management principles of acute rheumatic fever.

Trends in incident acute rheumatic fever or rheumatic heart disease in Indigenous youth in Western Australia: a retrospective cohort study

To determine age-specific and age-standardised incidence trends of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) or rheumatic heart disease (RHD) among Indigenous Western Australians aged less than 35 years of age.

Scoping review of variation in clinical guidelines for delivery of injectable long-acting penicillin across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand

This scoping review explores existing clinical guidelines on administration of benzathine benzylpenicillin (Bicillin L-A, Pfizer Australia) in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. The objective is to understand existing delivery guidance to address variation in care and cultural safety considerations, to support messaging during periods of stockout and to inform planning for new administration techniques.

Acute rheumatic fever

Acute rheumatic fever is an autoimmune disorder resulting from Group A Streptococcus pharyngitis or impetigo in children and adolescents, which may evolve to rheumatic heart disease (RHD) with persistent cardiac valve damage. RHD causes substantial mortality and morbidity globally, predominantly among socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, with an interplay of social determinants of health and genetic factors determining overall risk.

High dose, subcutaneous injections of benzathine penicillin G (SCIP) to prevent rheumatic fever: A single arm, phase IIa trial of safety and pharmacokinetics

This Phase-IIa trial evaluates the safety and pharmacokinetics of high-dose, 10 weekly subcutaneous injections of penicillin (SCIP) in young people with a history of acute rheumatic fever (ARF).

Establishing the lowest penicillin concentration to prevent pharyngitis due to Streptococcus pyogenes using a human challenge model (CHIPS)

The in-vivo plasma concentration of penicillin needed to prevent Streptococcus pyogenes pharyngitis, recurrent acute rheumatic fever, and progressive rheumatic heart disease is not known. We used a human challenge model to assess the minimum penicillin concentration required to prevent streptococcal pharyngitis.

The need for community-controlled tools to monitor health impacts of housing and living conditions in Australia

We explore the contemporary landscape of housing investments and initiatives seeking to improve health outcomes among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia, as well as the dearth of quality evidence and agreed approaches to evaluation.