Secondary prophylaxis to prevent rheumatic heart disease (RHD) progression, in the form of four-weekly intramuscular benzathine benzylpenicillin G (BPG) injections, has remained unchanged since 1955. Qualitative investigations into patient preference have highlighted the need for long-acting penicillins to be delivered less frequently, ideally with reduced pain. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2023
• April 2023

Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is the result of an autoimmune response to pharyngitis caused by infection with group A Streptococcus. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2016
• January 2016

Skin infections such as impetigo and scabies are highly contagious, and can lead to serious health complications without treatment. These types of skin infections are major problems in remote Aboriginal communities. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Research Topics

Intramuscular benzathine penicillin G (BPG) injections are a cornerstone of secondary prophylaxis to prevent acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Uncertainties regarding inter-ethnic and preparation variability, and target exposure profiles of BPG injection are key knowledge gaps for RHD control. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2021
• June 2021

Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) occur at very high rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2013
• January 2013

Benzathine penicillin G has been used as monthly deep intramuscular (IM) injections since the 1950s for secondary prevention of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Injection frequency and pain are major programmatic barriers for adherence, prompting calls for development of better long-acting penicillin preparations to prevent RHD. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2020
• October 2020

Regular intramuscular benzathine penicillin G injections have been the cornerstone of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) secondary prophylaxis since the 1950s. As the pharmacological correlate of protection remains unknown, it is difficult to recommend changes to this established regimen. Determining the minimum effective penicillin exposure required to prevent Streptococcus pyogenes infection will accelerate development of new long-acting penicillins for RHD prevention as well as inform opportunities to improve existing regimens. The CHIPS trial will address this knowledge gap by directly testing protection afforded by different steady state plasma concentrations of penicillin in an established model of experimental human S. pyogenes pharyngitis. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2022
• December 2022

ARF is a classical example of an autoimmune syndrome and is of particular immunological interest because it follows a known antecedent infection with group A... ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2015
• April 2015

Echocardiographic screening for rheumatic heart disease is cost-effective in our context ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2017
• March 2017

Jonathan Carapetis AM JR AM MBBS FRACP FAFPHM PhD FAHMS Executive Director; Head, Strep A Translation; Co-Founder of REACH 08 6319 1000 contact@telethonkids.org.au Institute Director; Head, Strep A Translation; Co-Founder of REACH Professor ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
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Rosemary Sophie Jonathan Wyber La Vincente Carapetis AM R SLV JR MBChB MPH FRACGP PhD BPsych (Hons) MAppEpi PhD AM MBBS FRACP FAFPHM PhD FAHMS Senior Research Fellow Rheach Deputy Director Executive Director; Head, Strep A Translation; Co-Founder of ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Projects

The association between group A streptococcal infection and rheumatic fever (RF) was established in the early 20th century. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2015
• May 2015