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Impact of early childhood infection on child development and school performance: a population-based study

Childhood infection might be associated with adverse child development and neurocognitive outcomes, but the results have been inconsistent. 

Bold bid to end rheumatic heart disease

Some of the nation’s leading medical researchers will converge on Darwin this week to step out a plan to wipe out rheumatic heart disease.

Association between village coverage of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and vaccine-type pneumococcal carriage among children aged 0–59 months with pneumonia in Papua New Guinea

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) prevents pneumococcal disease and pneumonia, but indirect effects are poorly understood in low-coverage, high-burden settings like Papua New Guinea (PNG). PNG introduced 13-valent PCV (PCV13) in 2014. We aimed to assess direct and indirect effectiveness of PCV13 against vaccine-type pneumococcal carriage among children with pneumonia or suspected meningitis in PNG

Cost constraints in supporting the Healthy Living Practices in remote Aboriginal communities: A Western Australian perspective

The Healthy Living Practices (HLPs) outline nine essential guidelines for maintaining health in remote Aboriginal communities, yet high costs and poor availability make them financially out of reach for many families. We assessed the cost and availability of essential goods required to support the HLPs in eight remote Kimberley community stores, recording prices during three visits in 2022 as part of the SToP (See, Treat, Prevent) Skin Sores and Scabies Trial, and retrospectively comparing these (inflation-adjusted) with Perth and Broome prices in 2024. 

Early Childhood Education and Care and Developmental Vulnerability at School Entry

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) is widely recognized for supporting children's development and school readiness; however, evidence from Western Australia remains limited.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Transmission in Closed Community Settings That Include Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of severe respiratory infections in children and is predominantly acquired and spread in community settings such as households and early childhood education centres. This review aims to synthesise the available evidence on RSV transmission in closed community settings that include children, with a focus on secondary attack rates.

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. 

Invasive pneumococcal disease in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

To determine the incidence, serotype distribution and clinical outcomes of invasive pneumococcal disease in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia following widespread use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines.

Model-informed precision dosing of vancomycin in children 3 months to 18 years of age using Australia-wide data

Vancomycin is used to treat serious gram-positive infections in children; however, effective dosing information for those aged 3 months to 18 years is limited. We aimed to determine an optimized dosing strategy for this age group.

Impact and effectiveness of Australia's 2025 hybrid RSV immunisation program: results from the PAEDS-FluCAN Network

Australia introduced a hybrid Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Maternal and Infant Protection Program (RSV-MIPP) in 2025, using National Immunisation Program-funded RSV vaccine for pregnant people from 28 weeks' gestation and jurisdiction-funded nirsevimab. We estimated real-world effectiveness and assessed the impact of the RSV-MIPP program across a participating surveillance network.