Hearing loss in Australian First Nations children at 6-monthly assessments from age 12 to 36 months: Secondary outcomes from randomised controlled trials of novel pneumococcal conjugate vaccine schedules.

Background: In Australian remote communities, First Nations children with otitis media (OM)-related hearing loss are disproportionately at risk of developmental delay and poor school performance, compared to those with normal hearing. Our objective was to compare OM-related hearing loss in children randomised to one of 2 pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) formulations.

Methods And Findings: In 2 sequential parallel, open-label, randomised controlled trials (the PREVIX trials), eligible infants were first allocated 1:1:1 at age 28 to 38 days to standard or mixed PCV schedules, then at age 12 months to PCV13 (13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, +P) or PHiD-CV10 (10-valent pneumococcal Haemophilus influenzae protein D conjugate vaccine, +S) (1:1).

The effectiveness of maternal pertussis vaccination for protecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants against infection, 2012-2017: a retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of maternal pertussis vaccination for preventing pertussis infections in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants under seven months of age.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study; analysis of linked administrative health data.

Setting, Participants: Mother-infant cohort (Links2HealthierBubs) including all pregnant women who gave birth to live infants (gestational age ≥ 20 weeks, birthweight ≥ 400 g) in the Northern Territory, Queensland, and Western Australia during 1 January 2012 - 31 December 2017.

Inequity of antenatal influenza and pertussis vaccine coverage in Australia: the Links2HealthierBubs record linkage cohort study, 2012-2017.

Background: Pregnancy and early infancy are increased risk periods for severe adverse effects of respiratory infections. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (respectfully referred to as First Nations) women and children in Australia bear a disproportionately higher burden of respiratory diseases compared to non-Indigenous women and infants. Influenza vaccines and whooping cough (pertussis) vaccines are recommended and free in every Australian pregnancy to combat these infections.

Evidence of maternal transfer of antigen-specific antibodies in serum and breast milk to infants at high-risk of and disease.

Introduction: Children in low-mid income countries, and First Nations children in high-income countries, experience disproportionately high rates of and infections and diseases including pneumonia and otitis media. We previously observed that infants from Papua New Guinea had no evidence of waning maternal immunity for -specific antibodies. In this study, we assessed and antibody titres in Australian First Nation mothers and infants to determine antigen-specific antibody ontogenies and whether antibody titres in infants were due to low maternal antibody titres or lack of placental transfer.

Novel Human Parechovirus 3 Diversity, Recombination, and Clinical Impact Across 7 Years: An Australian Story.

Background: A novel human parechovirus 3 Australian recombinant (HPeV3-AR) strain emerged in 2013 and coincided with biennial outbreaks of sepsis-like illnesses in infants. We evaluated the molecular evolution of the HPeV3-AR strain and its association with severe HPeV infections.

Methods: HPeV3-positive samples collected from hospitalized infants aged 5-252 days in 2 Australian states (2013-2020) and from a community-based birth cohort (2010-2014) were sequenced.

Timing and temporal trends of influenza and pertussis vaccinations during pregnancy in three Australian jurisdictions: The Links2HealthierBubs population-based linked cohort study, 2012-2017.

Background: Antenatal inactivated influenza (IIV) and pertussis-containing vaccines (dTpa) offer protection against severe respiratory infections for pregnant women and infants <6 months of age. Both vaccines are recommended in pregnancy; however, little is known about temporal or jurisdictional trends and predictors of uptake.

Aims: To identify gaps and predictors of IIV and/or dTpa vaccinations in Australian pregnancies from 2012 to 2017.

Discord between presence of follicular conjunctivitis and Chlamydia trachomatis infection in a single Torres Strait Island community: a cross-sectional survey.

Objective: Recent surveys identified trachomatous inflammation - follicular (TF) at endemic levels in the Torres Strait Islands; however, local health staff do not report trachomatous trichiasis (TT) in adults. We undertook a cross-sectional survey involving eye examination and microbiological testing to better understand this disconnect.

Methods: We examined 169 of 207 (82%) residents and collected ocular swabs for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for Chlamydia trachomatis.

National predictors of influenza vaccine uptake in pregnancy: the FluMum prospective cohort study, Australia, 2012-2015.

Objective: Ascertain predictors of inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) uptake in pregnancy in mother-infant pairs from six Australian sites over four consecutive influenza seasons (2012-2015).

Methods: Prospective observational cohort study calculating proportions of unvaccinated and vaccinated pregnancies. Multivariable logistic regression calculating adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) to determine demographic, pregnancy and birth characteristics as predictors of IIV uptake in pregnancy.

Investigating inequities in cardiovascular care and outcomes for Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: protocol for a hospital-based retrospective cohort data linkage project.

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) represents a significant burden of disease for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, a population that continues to experience a lower life expectancy than other Australians. The aim of the Better Cardiac Care Data Linkage project is to describe patient care pathways and to identify disparities in care and health outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Queensland residents diagnosed with CVD in the state of Queensland.

Methods: This is a population-based retrospective cohort study using linked regional, state and national health and administrative data collections to describe disparities in CVD healthcare in primary and secondary prevention settings and during hospitalisation.

Effectiveness of Meningococcal Vaccines at Reducing Invasive Meningococcal Disease and Pharyngeal Neisseria meningitidis Carriage: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD), caused by Neisseria meningitidis, leads to significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. This review aimed to establish the effectiveness of meningococcal vaccines at preventing IMD and N. meningitidis pharyngeal carriage.

Estimation of the force of infection and infectious period of skin sores in remote Australian communities using interval-censored data.

Prevalence of impetigo (skin sores) remains high in remote Australian Aboriginal communities, Fiji, and other areas of socio-economic disadvantage. Skin sore infections, driven primarily in these settings by Group A Streptococcus (GAS) contribute substantially to the disease burden in these areas. Despite this, estimates for the force of infection, infectious period and basic reproductive ratio-all necessary for the construction of dynamic transmission models-have not been obtained.

Impact of Meningococcal B (4CMenB) Vaccine on Pharyngeal Neisseria meningitidis Carriage Density and Persistence in Adolescents.

Background: Higher density of Neisseria meningitidis carriage may be associated with transmission of the meningococcus. Our aim was to establish the impact of meningococcal B (4CMenB) vaccine on N. meningitidis carriage density.

Correction: Antibiotic use for Australian Aboriginal children in three remote Northern Territory communities.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Strongyloides stercoralis seropositivity is not associated with increased symptoms in a remote Aboriginal community.

Background: Strongyloides stercoralis is a soil-transmitted helminth, endemic in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in northern Australia with estimates of prevalences up to 60%. Hyperinfection in the setting of immunosuppression is a rare, but well recognised cause of significant morbidity and mortality. However, the morbidity associated with chronic uncomplicated infection is less well characterised.

Antibiotic use for Australian Aboriginal children in three remote Northern Territory communities.

Objective: To describe antibiotic prescription rates for Australian Aboriginal children aged <2 years living in three remote Northern Territory communities.

Design: A retrospective cohort study using electronic health records.

Setting: Three primary health care centres located in the Katherine East region.

Infant, maternal and demographic predictors of delayed vaccination: A population-based cohort study.

Background: Receiving vaccines at or close to their due date (vaccination timeliness) is a now key measure of program performance. However, studies comprehensively examining predictors of delayed infant vaccination are lacking. We aimed to identify predictors of short and longer-term delays in diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccination by dose number and ethnicity.

Giardia duodenalis infection in the context of a community-based deworming and water, sanitation and hygiene trial in Timor-Leste.

Background: Giardiasis is a common diarrhoeal disease caused by the protozoan Giardia duodenalis. It is prevalent in low-income countries in the context of inadequate access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and is frequently co-endemic with neglected tropical diseases such as soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections. Large-scale periodic deworming programmes are often implemented in these settings; however, there is limited evidence for the impact of regular anthelminthic treatment on G.

Influenza vaccination in pregnancy among a group of remote dwelling Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers in the Northern Territory: The 1+1 Healthy Start to Life study.

Remote-living Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women experience a higher burden of influenza infection during pregnancy than any other Australian women. Despite recommendations of inactivated influenza vaccination (IIV) in pregnancy, uptake and safety data are scarce for this population. We examined uptake of IIV in pregnancy and report adverse birth outcomes amongst a predominantly unvaccinated group of remote-living Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women from the Northern Territory (NT), using data from the 1+1 Healthy Start to Life study.

Safety, equity and monitoring: a review of the gaps in maternal vaccination strategies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.

Influenza and pertussis infections are disproportionately higher among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their infants compared to other Australians. These infections are potentially preventable through vaccination in pregnancy; however, there is a lack of systematic monitoring and therefore knowledge of vaccine uptake, safety and effectiveness in Australia, and specifically among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. The limited data available suggest there is a lower uptake of maternal vaccination among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women compared to non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, and this review seeks to explore potential reasons and the knowledge gaps in this regard.

A Rationale for Change: An Increase in Invasive Pneumococcal Disease in Fully Vaccinated Children.

Increasing numbers of cases of invasive pneumococcal disease in fully vaccinated children have occurred in Australia since 2013. A review of cases informed a change from a "3 + 0" infant schedule (13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine at 2, 4, and 6 months) to a "2 + 1" schedule (2, 4, and 12 months).