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International Pediatric COVID-19 Severity over the Course of the PandemicMultiple SARS-CoV-2 variants have emerged over the COVID-19 pandemic. The implications for COVID-19 severity in children worldwide are unclear. The objective was to determine whether the dominant circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) were associated with differences in COVID-19 severity among hospitalized children.
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Searching for Strep A in the clinical environment during a human challenge trial: a sub-study protocolStreptococcus pyogenes (also known as group A Streptococcus , Strep A) is an obligate human pathogen with significant global morbidity and mortality. Transmission is believed to occur primarily between individuals via respiratory droplets, but knowledge about other potential sources of transmission via aerosols or the environment is limited. Such knowledge is required to design optimal interventions to control transmission, particularly in endemic settings.

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The Kids researchers named as finalists in 2023 Premier’s Science AwardsFive The Kids Research Institute Australia researchers working across diverse and highly impactful areas of child health research have been named as finalists for the 2023 Premier’s Science Awards.
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Ngangk Ngabala Ngoonda (Sun Safety)The ‘Ngangk Ngabala Ngoonda (Sun Safety) of Aboriginal young mob of WA’ is a community-led project that aims to identify the sun safety needs and strengthen sun safety knowledge of Aboriginal Children and Young People in Western Australia.
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Science of the swab: optimising Strep A typing from clinical samplesAsha Dylan Janessa Tim Bowen Barth Pickering Barnett BA MBBS DCH FRACP PhD GAICD FAHMS OAM B.Tech, MPH, PhD BSc PhD PhD Head, Healthy Skin and ARF
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Prevalence of Group A β-hemolytic Streptococcal Throat Carriage and Prospective Pilot Surveillance of Streptococcal Sore Throat in Ugandan School ChildrenThe Group A β-hemolytic Streptococcus pharyngeal carriage rates seen in Uganda (15.9%) are higher than the most recent pooled results globally, at 12%
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In vitro antibacterial activity of Western Australian honeys, and manuka honey, against bacteria implicated in impetigoImpetigo is a contagious skin disease caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. Without treatment, impetigo may be recurrent, develop into severe disease, or have serious, life-threatening sequelae. Standard treatment consists of topical or systemic antibiotic therapy (depending on severity), however, due to antibiotic resistance some therapies are increasingly ineffective.
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Lessons learnt during the COVID-19 pandemic: Why Australian schools should be prioritised to stay openIn 2020, school and early childhood educational centre (ECEC) closures affected over 1.5 billion school-aged children globally as part of the COVID-19 pandemic response. Attendance at school and access to ECEC is critical to a child's learning, well-being and health. School closures increase inequities by disproportionately affecting vulnerable children. Here, we summarise the role of children and adolescents in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission and that of schools and ECECs in community transmission and describe the Australian experience.
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Clindamycin adjunctive therapy for severe Staphylococcus aureus treatment evaluation (CASSETTE)-an open-labelled pilot randomized controlled trialCombination antibiotic therapy with an antitoxin agent, such as clindamycin, is included in some guidelines for severe, toxin-mediated Staphylococcus aureus infections. The evidence to support this practice is currently limited to in vitro, animal and observational human case-series data, with no previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
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The Impact of a Multifaceted Tertiary Pediatric Hospital's Antimicrobial Stewardship ServiceAntimicrobials are the most commonly prescribed drug class in children. Overuse through inappropriate prescribing is a key driver of antimicrobial resistance and is recognized as one of the top 10 threats to global health by the World Health Organization.