Skin infections in Australian Aboriginal children: a narrative review

Eliminate all risks: A call to reexamine the link between canine scabies and rheumatic heart disease

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and acute rheumatic fever (ARF) disproportionately affect individuals in low-resource settings. ARF is attributed to an immune response to Group A Streptococcus (GAS) following GAS pharyngitis and potentially GAS impetigo in which infection can be initiated by scabies infestation. The burden of ARF and RHD in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia is among the highest globally. Following recent calls to include dog management programs in ARF and RHD prevention programs, we believe it is timely to assess the evidence for this, particularly since previous recommendations excluded resources to prevent zoonotic canine scabies. While phylogenetic analyses have suggested that the Sarcoptes mite is host specific, they have differed in interpretation of the strength of their findings regarding species cross-over and the need for canine scabies control to prevent human itch. Given that there is also indication from case reports that canine scabies leads to human itch, we propose that further investigation of the potential burden of zoonotic canine scabies and intervention trials of canine scabies prevention on the incidence of impetigo are warranted. Considering the devastating impacts of ARF and RHD, evidence is required to support policy to eliminate all risk factors.

Repurposing antibiotic resistance surveillance data to support treatment of recurrent infections in a remote setting

In northern Australia, a region with limited access to healthcare and a substantial population living remotely, antibiotic resistance adds to the complexity of treating infections. Focussing on Escherichia coli urinary tract infections (UTIs) and Staphylococcus aureus skin & soft tissue infections (SSTIs) captured by a northern Australian antibiotic resistance surveillance system, we used logistic regression to investigate predictors of a subsequent resistant isolate during the same infection episode. We also investigated predictors of recurrent infection. Our analysis included 98,651 E. coli isolates and 121,755 S. aureus isolates from 70,851 patients between January 2007 and June 2020. Following an initially susceptible E. coli UTI, subsequent recovery of a cefazolin (8%) or ampicillin (13%) -resistant isolate during the same infection episode was more common than a ceftriaxone-resistant isolate (2%). For an initially susceptible S. aureus SSTI, subsequent recovery of a methicillin-resistant isolate (8%) was more common than a trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole-resistant isolate (2%). For UTIs and SSTIs, prior infection with a resistant pathogen was a strong predictor of both recurrent infection and resistance in future infection episodes. This multi-centre study demonstrates an association between antibiotic resistance and an increased likelihood of recurrent infection. Particularly in remote areas, a patient's past antibiograms should guide current treatment choices since recurrent infection will most likely be at least as resistant as previous infection episodes. Using population-level surveillance data in this way can also help clinicians decide if they should switch antibiotics for patients with ongoing symptoms, while waiting for diagnostic results.

Describing skin health and disease in urban-living Aboriginal children: co-design, development and feasibility testing of the Koolungar Moorditj Healthy Skin pilot project

BACKGROUND

Indigenous children in colonised nations experience high rates of health disparities linked to historical trauma resulting from displacement and dispossession, as well as ongoing systemic racism. Skin infections and their complications are one such health inequity, with the highest global burden described in remote-living Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (hereafter respectfully referred to as Aboriginal) children. Yet despite increasing urbanisation, little is known about the skin infection burden for urban-living Aboriginal children. More knowledge is needed to inform service provision, treatment guidelines and community-wide healthy skin strategies. In this pilot study, we aimed to test the feasibility and design of larger multi-site observational studies, provide initial descriptions of skin disease frequency and generate preliminary hypotheses of association.

METHODS

This project has been co-designed with local (Noongar) Elders to provide an Australian-first description of skin health and disease in urban-living Aboriginal children. In collaboration with an urban Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service), we conducted a week-long cross-sectional observational cohort study of Aboriginal children (0-18 years) recruited from the waiting room. Participants completed a questionnaire, skin examination, clinical photos, and swabs and received appropriate treatment. We assessed the feasibility and impact of the pilot study.

RESULTS

From 4 to 8 October 2021, we recruited 84 Aboriginal children of whom 80 (95%) were urban-living. With a trusted Aboriginal Health Practitioner leading recruitment, most parents (or caregivers) who were approached consented to participate. Among urban-living children, over half (45/80, 56%) of parents described a current concern with their child's skin, hair and/or nails; and one-third (26/80, 33%) reported current itchy skin. Using a research-service model, 27% (21/79) of examined urban-living participants received opportunistic same-day treatment and 18% (14/79) were referred for later review.

CONCLUSIONS

This co-designed pilot study to understand skin health in urban-living Aboriginal children was feasible and acceptable, with high study participation and subsequent engagement in clinical care observed. Co-design and the strong involvement of Aboriginal people to lead and deliver the project was crucial. The successful pilot has informed larger, multi-site observational studies to more accurately answer questions of disease burden and inform the development of healthy skin messages for urban-living Aboriginal children.

The epidemiology of superficial Streptococcal A (impetigo and pharyngitis) infections in Australia: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Streptoccocal A (Strep A, GAS) infections in Australia are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality through both invasive (iGAS) and post-streptococcal (postGAS) diseases as well as preceding superficial (sGAS) skin and throat infection. The burden of iGAS and postGAS are addressed in some jurisdictions by mandatory notification systems; in contrast, the burden of preceding sGAS has no reporting structure, and is less well defined. This review provides valuable, contemporaneous evidence on the epidemiology of sGAS presentations in Australia, informing preventative health projects such as a Streptococcal A vaccine and standardisation of primary care notification.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, Global Health, Cochrane, CINAHL databases and the grey literature were searched for studies from an Australian setting relating to the epidemiology of sGAS infections between 1970 and 2020 inclusive. Extracted data were pooled for relevant population and subgroup analysis. From 5157 titles in the databases combined with 186 grey literature reports and following removal of duplicates, 4889 articles underwent preliminary title screening. The abstract of 519 articles were reviewed with 162 articles identified for full text review, and 38 articles identified for inclusion. The majority of data was collected for impetigo in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations, remote communities, and in the Northern Territory, Australia. A paucity of data was noted for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in urban centres or with pharyngitis. Prevalence estimates have not significantly changed over time. Community estimates of impetigo point prevalence ranged from 5.5-66.1%, with a pooled prevalence of 27.9% [95% CI: 20.0-36.5%]. All studies excepting one included >80% Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and all excepting two were in remote or very remote settings. Observed prevalence of impetigo as diagnosed in healthcare encounters was lower, with a pooled estimate of 10.6% [95% CI: 3.1-21.8%], and a range of 0.1-50.0%. Community prevalence estimates for pharyngitis ranged from 0.2-39.4%, with a pooled estimate of 12.5% [95% CI: 3.5-25.9%], higher than the prevalence of pharyngitis in healthcare encounters; ranging from 1.0-5.0%, and a pooled estimate of 2.0% [95% CI: 1.3-2.8%]. The review was limited by heterogeneity in study design and lack of comparator studies for some populations.

CONCLUSIONS

Superficial Streptococcal A infections contribute to an inequitable burden of disease in Australia and persists despite public health interventions. The burden in community studies is generally higher than in health-services settings, suggesting under-recognition, possible normalisation and missed opportunities for treatment to prevent postGAS. The available, reported epidemiology is heterogeneous. Standardised nation-wide notification for sGAS disease surveillance must be considered in combination with the development of a Communicable Diseases Network of Australia (CDNA) Series of National Guideline (SoNG), to accurately define and address disease burden across populations in Australia.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This review is registered with PROSPERO. Registration number: CRD42019140440.

Burden of Disease and Unmet Needs in the Diagnosis and Management of Atopic Dermatitis in Diverse Skin Types in Australia

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common, chronic, inflammatory skin disease affecting Australians of all ages, races, ethnicities, and social classes. Significant physical, psychosocial, and financial burdens to both individuals and Australian communities have been demonstrated. This narrative review highlights knowledge gaps for AD in Australian skin of colour. We searched PubMed, Wiley Online Library, and Cochrane Library databases for review articles, systematic reviews, and cross-sectional and observational studies relating to AD in Australia for skin of colour and for different ethnicities. Statistical data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and the Australian Bureau of Statistics was collected. In recent years, there has been substantially increased awareness of and research into skin infections, such as scabies and impetigo, among various Australian subpopulations. Many such infections disproportionately affect First Nations Peoples. However, data for AD itself in these groups are limited. There is also little written regarding AD in recent, racially diverse immigrants with skin of colour. Areas for future research include AD epidemiology and AD phenotypes for First Nations Peoples and AD trajectories for non-Caucasian immigrants. We also note the evident disparity in both the level of understanding and the management standards of AD between urban and remote communities in Australia. This discrepancy relates to a relative lack of healthcare resources in marginalised communities. First Nations Peoples in particular experience socioeconomic disadvantage, have worse health outcomes, and experience healthcare inequality in Australia. Barriers to effective AD management must be identified and responsibly addressed for socioeconomically disadvantaged and remote-living communities to achieve healthcare equity.

Skin morbidity in Indigenous children in relation to housing conditions in remote communities in Northwestern Ontario, Canada

BACKGROUND

Elevated rates of eczema and skin infections in Canadian First Nation (FN) communities are of concern to families, community leaders and healthcare professionals.

AIM

To determine whether skin morbidity was associated with indoor environmental quality factors in Canadian FN children living in remote communities.

METHODS

We quantified indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in the homes of FN children aged < 4 years of age living in four remote communities in the Sioux Lookout region of Northwestern Ontario, Canada. We conducted a quantitative housing inspection, including measuring surface area of mould (SAM), and monitored air quality for 5 days in each home, including carbon dioxide and relative humidity and quantified endotoxin in settled floor dust. We reviewed the medical charts of participating children for skin conditions and administered a health questionnaire. Relationships between IEQ and skin infections or eczema were evaluated using multivariable regression.

RESULTS

In total, 98 children were included in the descriptive analyses, of whom 86 had complete data and were evaluated in multivariate analyses for dermatological outcomes (mean age 1.6 years). Of these 86 children, 55% had made ≥ 1 visits to the local health centre (HC) for skin and soft tissue infections and 25.5% for eczema. Unexpectedly, annualized eczema visits were inversely associated with SAM (RR = 0.14; 95% CI 0.01-0.93). There was a trend suggesting an inverse relationship between endotoxin and HC encounters for eczema and skin and soft tissue infections.

CONCLUSION

Skin infections were common in this population of FN children. IEQ did not appear to be associated with skin infections or eczema. Mould exposure appeared to be inversely associated with HC encounters for eczema, possibly related to complex microorganism-host interactions occurring early in life.

The burden of atopic dermatitis and bacterial skin infections among urban-living Indigenous children and young people in high-income countries: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

A high burden of bacterial skin infections (BSI) is well documented in remote-living Indigenous children and young people (CYP) in high-income countries (HIC). Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common chronic inflammatory skin condition seen in CYP and predisposes to BSI. Despite the rate of urbanization for Indigenous people increasing globally, research is lacking on the burden of AD and BSI for urban-living Indigenous CYP in HIC. Indigenous people in HIC share a history of colonization, displacement and subsequent ongoing negative impacts on health.

OBJECTIVE

To provide a global background on the burden of AD and BSI in urban-living Indigenous CYP in HIC.

METHODS

A systematic review of primary observational studies on AD and BSI in English containing epidemiologic data was performed. MEDLINE, EMBASE, EMCARE, Web of Science, and PubMed databases were searched for articles between January 1990 and December 2021.

RESULTS

From 2278 original manuscripts, 16 were included: seven manuscripts documenting eight studies on AD; and nine manuscripts documenting nine studies on BSI. Current and severe symptoms of AD were more common in urban-living Indigenous CYP in HIC compared with their non-Indigenous peers, with children having a higher prevalence than adolescents. Urban-living Indigenous CYP in HIC had a higher incidence of all measures of BSI compared with their non-Indigenous peers, and were over-represented for all measures of BSI compared with their proportion of the background population. Limitations include incomplete representation of all Indigenous populations in HIC.

CONCLUSION

A significant burden of AD and BSI exists in urban-living Indigenous CYP in HIC.

Evaluation of a Community-Led Program for Primordial and Primary Prevention of Rheumatic Fever in Remote Northern Australia

Environmental factors including household crowding and inadequate washing facilities underpin recurrent streptococcal infections in childhood that cause acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and subsequent rheumatic heart disease (RHD). No community-based 'primordial'-level interventions to reduce streptococcal infection and ARF rates have been reported from Australia previously. We conducted a study at three Australian Aboriginal communities aiming to reduce infections including skin sores and sore throats, usually caused by Group A Streptococci, and ARF. Data were collected for primary care diagnoses consistent with likely or potential streptococcal infection, relating to ARF or RHD or related to environmental living conditions. Rates of these diagnoses during a one-year Baseline Phase were compared with a three-year Activity Phase. Participants were children or adults receiving penicillin prophylaxis for ARF. Aboriginal community members were trained and employed to share knowledge about ARF prevention, support reporting and repairs of faulty health-hardware including showers and provide healthcare navigation for families focusing on skin sores, sore throat and ARF. We hypothesized that infection-related diagnoses would increase through greater recognition, then decrease. We enrolled 29 participants and their families. Overall infection-related diagnosis rates increased from Baseline (mean rate per-person-year 1.69 [95% CI 1.10-2.28]) to Year One (2.12 [95% CI 1.17-3.07]) then decreased (Year Three: 0.72 [95% CI 0.29-1.15]) but this was not statistically significant (p = 0.064). Annual numbers of first-known ARF decreased, but numbers were small: there were six cases of first-known ARF during Baseline, then five, 1, 0 over the next three years respectively. There was a relationship between household occupancy and numbers (p = 0.018), but not rates (p = 0.447) of infections. This first Australian ARF primordial prevention study provides a feasible model with encouraging findings.

Antiparasitic Activity of Tea Tree Oil (TTO) and Its Components against Medically Important Ectoparasites: A Systematic Review

Ectoparasites are pathogens that can infect the skin and cause immense pain, discomfort, and disease. They are typically managed with insecticides. However, the fast-emerging antimicrobial resistance and the slow rate of development of new bio-actives combined with environmental and health concerns over the continued use of neurotoxic insecticides warrant newer and alternative methods of control. Tea tree oil (TTO), as an alternative agent, has shown remarkable promise against ectoparasites in recent studies. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic review to assess preclinical and clinical studies exploring the antiparasitic activity of TTO and its components against clinically significant ectoparasites, such as Demodex mites, scabies mites, house dust mites, lice, fleas, chiggers, and bed bugs. We systematically searched databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE (EBSCOhost), Embase (Scopus), CENTRAL, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, SciELO, and LILACS in any language from inception to 4 April 2022. Studies exploring the therapeutic activity of TTO and its components against the ectoparasites were eligible. We used the ToxRTool (Toxicological data reliability assessment) tool, the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools, and the Jadad scale to assess the methodological qualities of preclinical (in vitro and in vivo) studies, non-randomised controlled trials (including cohort, case series, and case studies), and randomised controlled trials, respectively. Of 497 identified records, 71 studies were included in this systematic review, and most (66%) had high methodological quality. The findings of this review revealed the promising efficacy of TTO and its components against ectoparasites of medical importance. Most importantly, the compelling in vitro activity of TTO against ectoparasites noted in this review seems to have translated well into the clinical environment. The promising outcomes observed in clinical studies provide enough evidence to justify the use of TTO in the pharmacotherapy of ectoparasitic infections.

Induction therapy and outcome of proliferative lupus nephritis in the top end of Northern Australia - a single centre study retrospective study

Background

Lupus nephritis is a common manifestation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Mycophenolate is recommended by guidelines for induction therapy in patients with proliferative lupus nephritis and nephrotic range proteinuria Class V lupus nephritis. Indigenous Australians suffer disproportionally from systemic lupus erythematosus compared to non-Indigenous Australians (Anstey et al., Aust N Z J Med 23:646–651, 1993; Segasothy et al., Lupus 10:439–444, 2001; Bossingham, Lupus 12:327–331, 2003; Grennan et al., Aust N Z J Med 25:182–183, 1995).

Methods

We retrospectively identified patients with newly diagnosed biopsy-proven class III lupus nephritis, class IV lupus nephritis and class V lupus nephritis with nephrotic range proteinuria from 1^st Jan 2010 to 31^st Dec 2019 in our institution and examined for the patterns of prescribed induction therapy and clinical outcome. The primary efficacy outcome of interest was the incidence of complete response (CR) and partial response (PR) at one-year post diagnosis as defined by the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcome (KDIGO) guideline. Secondary efficacy outcome was a composite of renal adverse outcome in the follow-up period. Adverse effect outcome of interest was any hospitalisations secondary to infections in the follow-up period. Continuous variables were compared using Student’s t-test or Mann–Whitney U-test. Categorical variables were summarised using frequencies and percentages and assessed by Fisher’s exact test. Time-to-event data was compared using the Kaplan–Meier method and Log-rank test. Count data were assessed using the Poisson’s regression method and expressed as incident rate ratio.

Results

Twenty of the 23 patients included in the analysis were managed with mycophenolate induction upfront. Indigenous Australian patients (N = 15), compared to non-Indigenous patients (N = 5) received lower cumulative dose of mycophenolate mofetil over the 24 weeks (375 g vs. 256 g, p < 0.05), had a non-significant lower incidence of complete remission at 12 months (60% vs. 40%, p = 0.617), higher incidence of composite renal adverse outcome (0/5 patients vs. 5/15 patients, p = 0.20) and higher incidence of infection related hospitalisations, (incident rate ratio 3.66, 95% confidence interval 0.89–15.09, p = 0.073).

Conclusion

Mycophenolate as upfront induction in Indigenous Australian patients were associated with lower incidence of remission and higher incidence of adverse outcomes. These observations bring the safety and efficacy profile of mycophenolate in Indigenous Australians into question.

Missing Piece Study protocol: prospective surveillance to determine the epidemiology of group A streptococcal pharyngitis and impetigo in remote Western Australia

INTRODUCTION

Group A β-haemolytic Streptococcus (GAS), a Gram-positive bacterium, causes skin, mucosal and systemic infections. Repeated GAS infections can lead to autoimmune diseases acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia have the highest rates of ARF and RHD in the world. Despite this, the contemporaneous prevalence and incidence of GAS pharyngitis and impetigo in remote Australia remains unknown. To address this, we have designed a prospective surveillance study of GAS pharyngitis and impetigo to collect coincident contemporary evidence to inform and enhance primary prevention strategies for ARF.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The Missing Piece Study aims to document the epidemiology of GAS pharyngitis and impetigo through collection of clinical, serological, microbiological and bacterial genomic data among remote-living Australian children. The study comprises two components: (1) screening of all children at school for GAS pharyngitis and impetigo up to three times a year and (2) weekly active surveillance visits to detect new cases of pharyngitis and impetigo. Environmental swabbing in remote schools will be included, to inform environmental health interventions. In addition, the application of new diagnostic technologies, microbiome analysis and bacterial genomic evaluations will enhance primary prevention strategies, having direct bearing on clinical care, vaccine development and surveillance for vaccine clinical trials.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval has been obtained from the Western Australian Aboriginal Health Ethics Committee (Ref: 892) and Human Research Ethics Committee of the University of Western Australia (Ref: RA/4/20/5101). Study findings will be shared with community members, teachers and children at participating schools, together with academic and medical services. Sharing findings in an appropriate manner is important and will be done in a suitable way which includes plain language summaries and presentations. Finally, findings and updates will also be disseminated to collaborators, researchers and health planners through peer-reviewed journal publications.

The increased length of hospital stay and mortality associated with community-associated infections in Australia

Background

An increasing proportion of antibiotic-resistant infections are community acquired. However, the burden of community-associated infections (CAIs) and the resulting impact due to resistance have not been well described.

Methods

We conducted a multisite, retrospective case–cohort study of all acute care hospital admissions across 134 hospitals in Australia. Patients admitted with a positive culture of 1 of 5 organisms of interest, namely Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecium, from January 1, 2012, through December 30, 2016, were included. Data linkage was used to link hospital admissions and pathology data. Patients with a bloodstream infection (BSI), urinary tract infection (UTI), or respiratory tract infection (RTI) were included in the analysis. We compared patients with a resistant and drug-sensitive infection and used regression analyses to derive the difference in length of hospital stay (LOS) and mortality estimates associated with resistance.

Results

No statistically significant impact on hospital LOS for patients with resistant CAIs compared with drug-sensitive CAIs was identified. CAI patients with drug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (E. coli, K. pneumoniae) BSIs were more likely to die in the hospital than those with drug-sensitive Enterobacteriaceae BSIs (odds ratio [OR], 3.28; 95% CI, 1.40–6.92). CAI patients with drug-resistant P. aeruginosa UTIs were more likely to die in the hospital than those with the drug-sensitive counterpart (OR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.12–4.85).

Conclusions

The burden of CAI in the hospital is significant, and antibiotic resistance is adding to associated mortality.

Improving primary prevention of acute rheumatic fever in Australia: consensus primary care priorities identified through an eDelphi process

OBJECTIVES

To establish the priorities of primary care providers to improve assessment and treatment of skin sores and sore throats among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at risk of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD).

DESIGN

Modified eDelphi survey, informed by an expert focus group and literature review.

SETTING

Primary care services in any one of the five Australian states or territories with a high burden of ARF.

PARTICIPANTS

People working in any primary care role within the last 5 years in jurisdiction with a high burden of ARF.

RESULTS

Nine people participated in the scoping expert focus group which informed identification of an access framework for subsequent literature review. Fifteen broad concepts, comprising 29 strategies and 63 different actions, were identified on this review. These concepts were presented to participants in a two-round eDelphi survey. Twenty-six participants from five jurisdictions participated, 16/26 (62%) completed both survey rounds. Seven strategies were endorsed as high priorities. Most were demand-side strategies with a focus on engaging communities and individuals in accessible, comprehensive, culturally appropriate primary healthcare. Eight strategies were not endorsed as high priority, all of which were supply-side approaches. Qualitative responses highlighted the importance of a comprehensive primary healthcare approach as standard of care rather than disease-specific strategies related to management of skin sores and sore throat.

CONCLUSION

Primary care staff priorities should inform Australia's commitments to reduce the burden of RHD. In particular, strategies to support comprehensive Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary care services rather than an exclusive focus on discrete, disease-specific initiatives are needed.

Healthy Skin, Healthy Mepla: A skin health promotional event for children in the Torres Strait

ISSUE ADDRESSED

Skin infections such as impetigo and scabies are common in Aboriginal Australian and Torres Strait Islander children living in rural and remote settings. Effective health promotion is a key element when addressing health literacy aimed at reducing the burden of skin disease. Community-driven health promotion provides a potentially effective and sustainable model for improved health outcomes.

METHODS

A one-day community-driven skin health promotional event was conducted on Waiben [Thursday Island] with the aim of improving local Torres Strait Islander children's appreciation of the importance of skin health through art, music and creation of a video. Participants completed written pre- and post-questionnaires to determine their response.

RESULTS

Fifty-two children participated in the event; median (range) age was 11 (9-12) years and all identified as Torres Strait Islander. Overall, 34 of 50 children (68%) felt that participating in this workshop improved their skin health knowledge.

CONCLUSIONS

Skin health promotion can be successful achieved through a locally conceived, locally driven and locally owned approach. SO WHAT?: This skin health promotional event could be a model for other health promotion activities in the Torres Strait.

Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance to Support Decision-Making in a High-Prevalence Region: An Evaluation

Despite a high use of antibiotics and a significant burden of infectious disease, ongoing monitoring and reporting of antimicrobial resistant pathogens in rural and regional Australia is insufficient. Many geographically isolated regions of Australia have limited infrastructure, resources and fall outside of surveillance reach, limiting health services’ ability to provide an early warning signal and appropriate response. To monitor trends in the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), identify high-risk populations and to evaluate effectiveness of control and prevention in rural and regional Australia, a subnational surveillance system termed HOTspots was developed. To promote the best use of public health resources through the development of effective and efficient surveillance systems, we evaluated HOTspots and its prototype surveillance platform for data quality, acceptability, representativeness, and timeliness. We used the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) guidelines for evaluating public health surveillance systems and assessed the four attributes using a descriptive analysis of quantitative data and a thematic analysis of qualitative data. We report that the HOTspots surveillance system and its prototype platform effectively captures and represents AMR data across Northern Australia. The descriptive analysis of HOTspots data demonstrated some variation in data completeness but that data validity and representativeness were high. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts found that the system was acceptable, with almost all study participants identifying timeliness, online accessibility, and community representativeness as drivers for adoption of the system, and that the system provided timely data. The evaluation also identified areas for improvement and made recommendations to the HOTspots surveillance system and its associated prototype platform.

Scabies in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations in Australia: A narrative review

Scabies has recently gained international attention, with the World Health Organization (WHO) recognizing it as a neglected tropical disease. The International Alliance for the Control of Scabies recently formed as a partnership of more than 15 different countries, with an aim to lead a consistent and collaborative approach to preventing and controlling scabies globally. Scabies is most prevalent in low-resource and low socioeconomic areas that experience overcrowding and has a particularly high prevalence in children, with an estimated 5% to 10% in endemic countries. Scabies is widespread in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia with the prevalence of scabies in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in remote communities estimated to be as high as 33%, making it the region with the third highest prevalence in the world. This population group also have very high rates of secondary complications of scabies such as impetigo, poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN), and rheumatic heart disease (RHD). This article is a narrative review of scabies in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations in Australia, including clinical manifestations of disease and current treatment options and guidelines. We discuss traditional approaches to prevention and control as well as suggestions for future interventions including revising Australian treatment guidelines to widen the use of oral ivermectin in high-risk groups or as a first-line treatment.

Antibiotic resistance in uropathogens across northern Australia 2007-20 and impact on treatment guidelines

BACKGROUND

Urinary tract infections are common and are increasingly resistant to antibiotic therapy. Northern Australia is a sparsely populated region with limited access to healthcare, a relatively high burden of disease, a substantial regional and remote population, and high rates of antibiotic resistance in skin pathogens.

OBJECTIVES

To explore trends in antibiotic resistance for common uropathogens Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in northern Australia, and how these relate to current treatment guidelines in the community and hospital settings.

METHODS

We used data from an antibiotic resistance surveillance system. We calculated the monthly and yearly percentage of isolates that were resistant in each antibiotic class, by bacterium. We analysed resistance proportions geographically and temporally, stratifying by healthcare setting. Using simple linear regression, we investigated longitudinal trends in monthly resistance proportions and correlation between community and hospital isolates.

RESULTS

Our analysis included 177 223 urinary isolates from four pathology providers between 2007 and 2020. Resistance to most studied antibiotics remained <20% (for E. coli and K. pneumoniae, respectively, in 2019: amoxicillin/clavulanate 16%, 5%; cefazolin 17%, 8%; nitrofurantoin 1%, 31%; trimethoprim 36%, 17%; gentamicin 7%, 2%; extended-spectrum cephalosporins 8%, 5%), but many are increasing by 1%-3% (absolute) per year. Patterns of resistance were similar between isolates from community and hospital patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Antibiotic resistance in uropathogens is increasing in northern Australia, but treatment guidelines generally remain appropriate for empirical therapy of patients with suspected infection (except trimethoprim in some settings). Our findings demonstrate the importance of local surveillance data (HOTspots) to inform clinical decision making and guidelines.

Protocol for the systematic review of the epidemiology of superficial Streptococcal A infections (skin and throat) in Australia

OBJECTIVE

We have produced a protocol for the comprehensive systematic review of the current literature around superficial group A Streptococcal infections in Australia.

METHODS

MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, Global Health, Cochrane, CINAHL databases and the gray literature will be methodically and thoroughly searched for studies relating to the epidemiology of superficial group A Streptococcal infections between the years 1970 and 2019. Data will be extracted to present in the follow up systematic review.

CONCLUSION

A rigorous and well-organised search of the current literature will be performed to determine the current and evolving epidemiology of superficial group A Streptococcal infections in Australia.

Increasing incidence of invasive group A streptococcal disease in Western Australia, particularly among Indigenous people

OBJECTIVE

To quantify the burden of invasive group A Streptococcus (GAS) disease in Western Australia during 2000-2018.

DESIGN, SETTING

Population-based data linkage study: Hospital Morbidity Data Collection (HMDC; all WA public and private hospital records), PathWest pathology data (government-owned pathology services provider), and death registrations.

PARTICIPANTS

People with invasive GAS disease, defined by an isolate from a normally sterile site (PathWest) or a hospital-based principal ICD-10-AM diagnosis code (HMDC).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Incidence of invasive GAS disease; median length of hospital stay; all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

We identified 2237 cases of GAS disease during 2000-2018; 1283 were in male patients (57%). 1950 cases had been confirmed by GAS isolates from normally sterile tissues (87%; including 1089 from blood [56% of cases] and 750 from tissue [38%]). The age-standardised incidence increased from 2.0 (95% CI, 1.4-2.7) cases per 100 000 population in 2000 to 9.1 (95% CI, 7.9-10.2) cases per 100 000 in 2017 (by year, adjusted for age group and sex: incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.09; 95% CI, 1.08-1.10). Incidence was consistently higher among Indigenous than non-Indigenous Australians (year-adjusted IRR, 13.1; 95% CI, 11.3-15.1). All-cause 30-day mortality was 5% (116 deaths), and 90-day mortality 7% (156 deaths); 30-day mortality, adjusted for age group and sex, was not statistically significantly different for cases involving Indigenous or non-Indigenous patients (adjusted odds ratio, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.6-1.1).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of invasive GAS disease in WA increased between 2000 and 2018, particularly among Indigenous Australians. Mandatory notification of invasive GAS disease would therefore be appropriate. The social determinants of differences in incidence should be addressed, and other relevant host, pathogen, and health system factors investigated.

Emerging Treatment Strategies for Impetigo in Endemic and Nonendemic Settings: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE

Impetigo affects approximately 162 million children worldwide at any given time. Lack of consensus on the most effective treatment strategy for impetigo and increasing antibiotic resistance continue to drive research into newer and alternative treatment options. We conducted a systematic review to assess the effectiveness of new treatments for impetigo in endemic and nonendemic settings.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Embase via Scopus for studies that explored treatments for bullous, nonbullous, primary, and secondary impetigo published between August 1, 2011, and February 29, 2020. We also searched online trial registries and hand-searched the reference lists of the included studies. We used the revised Cochrane risk of bias (version 2.0) tool for randomized trials and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute for nonrandomized uncontrolled studies to assess the risk of bias.

FINDINGS

We included 10 studies that involved 6651 participants and reported on 9 treatments in the final analysis. Most clinical trials targeted nonbullous impetigo or did not specify this. The risk of bias varied among the studies. In nonendemic settings, ozenoxacin 1% cream appeared to have the strongest evidence base compared with retapamulin and a new minocycline formulation. In endemic settings, oral co-trimoxazole and benzathine benzylpenicillin G injection were equally effective in the treatment of severe impetigo. Mass drug administration intervention emerged as a promising public health strategy to reduce the prevalence of impetigo in endemic settings.

IMPLICATIONS

This review highlights the limited research into new drugs used for the treatment of impetigo in endemic and nonendemic settings. Limited recent evidence supports the use of topical ozenoxacin or retapamulin for impetigo treatment in nonendemic settings, whereas systemic antibiotics and the mass drug administration strategy have evidence for use in endemic settings. Given the troubling increase in resistance to existing treatments, there is a clear need to ensure the judicious use of antibiotics and to develop new treatments and alternative strategies; this is particularly important in endemic settings. PROSPERO identifier: CRD42020173042.

Intolerable Burden of Impetigo in Endemic Settings: A Review of the Current State of Play and Future Directions for Alternative Treatments

Impetigo (school sores) is a common superficial bacterial skin infection affecting around 162 million children worldwide, with the highest burden in Australian Aboriginal children. While impetigo itself is treatable, if left untreated, it can lead to life-threatening conditions, such as chronic heart and kidney diseases. Topical antibiotics are often considered the treatment of choice for impetigo, but the clinical efficacy of these treatments is declining at an alarming rate due to the rapid emergence and spread of resistant bacteria. In remote settings in Australia, topical antibiotics are no longer used for impetigo due to the troubling rise of antimicrobial resistance, demanding the use of oral and injectable antibiotic therapies. However, widespread use of these agents not only contributes to existing resistance, but also associated with adverse consequences for individuals and communities. These underscore the urgent need to reinvigorate the antibiotic discovery and alternative impetigo therapies in these settings. This review discusses the current impetigo treatment challenges in endemic settings in Australia and explores potential alternative antimicrobial therapies. The goals are to promote intensified research programs to facilitate effective use of currently available treatments, as well as developing new alternatives for impetigo.

Health Disparities among Australia's Remote-Dwelling Aboriginal People: A Report from 2020

BACKGROUND

Australia has 2 distinct indigenous groups, Torres Strait Islanders and Aborigines. The Aborigines, described in this report, first colonized the continent 65 millennia ago. Those still living in the Northern Territory (NT) retain much ancestrally derived genetic complement but also are the most health-challenged by environment and lifestyle in 21st century. Reports providing overviews of these disparities are, as yet, rare.

CONTENT

This review defines the studied population and then describes and attempts to explain contemporary clinical findings among Australia's remote-dwelling Aborigines, principally in the NT. The report is structured by life stage and then by organ system. Finally, a brief synthesis is advanced concerning the disparities that Australia's Aboriginals face.

SUMMARY

In 2015-2017, NT aboriginal life expectancy for people then born was 66.6 years for men and 69.9 years for women compared with 78.1 and 82.7 years, respectively, among nonindigenous Territorians. Principal causes of the reduced longevity, with nonindigenous comparisons, include adolescent pregnancy, with maternal use of alcohol and tobacco (each 7-fold greater); fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; skin infections, both scabies and impetigo (50-fold greater); rheumatic heart disease (260-fold greater); premature acute myocardial infarction (9-fold greater); bronchiectasis (40-fold greater); lung cancer (2-fold greater); diabetes mellitus (10-fold greater); renal failure (30-fold greater); and suicide (2-fold greater). Some disease has genetic roots, secondary to prolonged genetic drift. Much arises from avoidable stressors and from contemporary environmental disparities in housing. The Europid diet is also not helpful.

Burn Injuries in Hospitalized Australian Children-An Epidemiological Profile

Globally, First Nations children sustain burns at a higher rate than other children. Little is understood about how health inequities contribute, especially from an Indigenous viewpoint. We analyzed data from the Burns Registry of Australian and New Zealand (BRANZ) for acute burns in children (<16 years) admitted to hospital between October 2009 and July 2018. Descriptive statistics examined equity variables in patient and injury characteristics. Poisson regression was used to describe factors associated with bacterial infection. Indigenous research methods were used throughout. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children represented 10.4% of the study population. Health inequities were present for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children with longer hospital length of stay (9.5 vs 4.6 days), rural residency (61.3% vs 13.9%), lower socioeconomic status (72.2% vs 34.9%), and more flame burns (19.5% vs 10.6%) compared to other Australian children. Streptococcus sp. infection risk was four times greater in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children compared to other Australian children. Flame burns and high percentage total body surface area burns were a risk for Staphylococcus sp. and Streptococcus sp. infection in all children. The epidemiological profile for burn injuries managed in Australian burns centers differs between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and other children, indicating persistent health inequities. These differences should be considered in the development of injury prevention strategies and the clinical management of burn injuries for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families.

Geospatial epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus in a tropical setting: an enabling digital surveillance platform

Delivery of information to clinicians on evolving antimicrobial susceptibility needs to be accurate for the local needs, up-to-date and readily available at point of care. In northern Australia, bacterial infection rates are high but resistance to first- and second-line antibiotics is poorly described and currently-available datasets exclude primary healthcare data. We aimed to develop an online geospatial and interactive platform for aggregating, analysing and disseminating data on regional bacterial pathogen susceptibility. We report the epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus as an example of the power of digital platforms to tackle the growing spread of antimicrobial resistance in a high-burden, geographically-sparse region and beyond. We developed an online geospatial platform called HOTspots that visualises antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and temporal trends. Data on clinically-important bacteria and their antibiotic susceptibility profiles were sought from retrospectively identified clinical specimens submitted to three participating pathology providers (96 unique tertiary and primary healthcare centres, n = 1,006,238 tests) between January 2008 and December 2017. Here we present data on S. aureus only. Data were available on specimen type, date and location of collection. Regions from the Australian Bureau of Statistics were used to provide spatial localisation. The online platform provides an engaging visual representation of spatial heterogeneity, demonstrating striking geographical variation in S. aureus susceptibility across northern Australia. Methicillin resistance rates vary from 46% in the west to 26% in the east. Plots generated by the platform show temporal trends in proportions of S. aureus resistant to methicillin and other antimicrobials across the three jurisdictions of northern Australia. A quarter of all, and up to 35% of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) blood isolates in parts of the northern Australia were resistant to inducible-clindamycin. Clindamycin resistance rates in MRSA are worryingly high in regions of northern Australia and are a local impediment to empirical use of this agent for community MRSA. Visualising routinely collected laboratory data with digital platforms, allows clinicians, public health physicians and guideline developers to monitor and respond to antimicrobial resistance in a timely manner. Deployment of this platform into clinical practice supports national and global efforts to innovate traditional disease surveillance systems with the use of digital technology and to provide practical solutions to reducing the threat of antimicrobial resistance.

Non-Classic (Surrepticius) Scabies Presenting as Erythematous Painful Palmar Pustules in an Octagenarian

Sarcoptes scabiei classically presents with pruritic burrows. In addition to finger and toe web lesions, the penis and scrotum of men, the breast and areola of women, and the buttocks and axillae of both gender are common locations for mite-associated lesions. Scabies surrepticius refers to mite-related lesions that are not classical in morphology and/or distribution; there are several subtypes of non-classic or atypical scabies. Scabies surrepticius not only occurs in immunosuppressed individuals, but also in infants and children, and in elderly patients. An elderly woman developed mite-related bilateral erythematous painful palmar pustules that were clinically suspicious for a primary neutrophilic dermatosis; she also had a concurrent bacterial infection. The diagnosis of surrepticius scabies was established after evaluation of the deeper levels of her tissue biopsy specimen demonstrated a mite in the epidermis. All of her symptoms and lesions resolved after treatment with oral and topical antiscabetic therapy, and systemic antibiotics. Since the clinical presentation of the mite-related lesions can mimic those of other dermatologic or systemic conditions, a high degree of suspicion for the diagnosis of mite infestation must be entertained. Therefore, the clinician should consider the possibility of scabies surrepticius in any patient who develops new cutaneous lesions that are not typical for a defined dermatosis or do not resolve or improve after treatment.