Skin infections among Indigenous Australians in an urban setting in Far North Queensland

P C Valery; M Wenitong; V Clements; M Sheel; David J McMillan; J Stirling; K S Sriprakash; M Batzloff; R Vohra; J S McCarthy

doi:10.1017/S0950268807009740

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Skin infections among Indigenous Australians in an urban setting in Far North Queensland

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Skin infections among Indigenous Australians in an urban setting in Far North Queensland

P C Valery, M Wenitong, V Clements, M Sheel, David J McMillan, J Stirling, K S Sriprakash, M Batzloff, R Vohra and J S McCarthy

Epidemiology and Infection, Vol.136(8), pp.1103-1108

2008

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268807009740

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Abstract

Skin infections are highly prevalent in many Australian Aboriginal communities. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of group A streptococcus (GAS) and Staphylococcus aureus in skin sores of Indigenous people living in an urban setting. We undertook a cross-sectional study of 173 children and youths attending the Wuchopperen Clinic (Cairns) for treatment of skin infections. Participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire, and a skin lesion swab obtained. The median age was 5·3 years, with 42% identifying themselves as Torres Strait Islanders and 34% as Aboriginal. Impetigo (65%) was the most frequent diagnosis reported followed by scabies (19%); 79% of the lesions had erythema and 70% had exudate. Of 118 lesions, 114 were positive for pathogenic bacteria, with GAS isolated in 84 cases and S. aureus in 92; both these species were recovered from 63 lesions. Significant diversity of emm-types of GAS was associated with skin lesions in Indigenous patients (22 emm-types identified). Fifteen of the 92 S. aureus isolates were suggestive of being community-acquired on the basis of antimicrobial susceptibility profile and nine of these strains were co-cultured from nine lesions. These results have implications for future changes of antibiotic policies for the treatment of skin infections in this population.

Details

Title: Skin infections among Indigenous Australians in an urban setting in Far North Queensland
Authors: P C Valery (Author) - University of Queensland
M Wenitong (Author) - Queensland Institute of Medical Research
V Clements (Author) - Queensland Institute of Medical Research
M Sheel (Author) - Queensland Institute of Medical Research
David J McMillan (Author) - Queensland Institute of Medical Research
J Stirling (Author) - Queensland Institute of Medical Research
K S Sriprakash (Author) - Queensland Institute of Medical Research
M Batzloff (Author) - Queensland Institute of Medical Research
R Vohra (Author) - Queensland Institute of Medical Research
J S McCarthy (Author) - Queensland Institute of Medical Research
Publication details: Epidemiology and Infection, Vol.136(8), pp.1103-1108
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Date published: 2008
DOI: 10.1017/S0950268807009740
ISSN: 0950-2688
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450238902621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Infectious Diseases; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

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