High burden of infectious disease and antibiotic use in early life in Australian Aboriginal communities

Will Cuningham; Jodie McVernon; Michael J. Lydeamore; Ross M. Andrews; Jonathan Carapetis; Therese Kearns; Danielle Clucas; Roslyn Gundjirryirr Dhurrkay; Steven Y.C. Tong; Patricia T. Campbell

doi:10.1111/1753-6405.12876

High burden of infectious disease and antibiotic use in early life in Australian Aboriginal communities

Will Cuningham, Jodie McVernon, Michael J. Lydeamore, Ross M. Andrews, Jonathan Carapetis, Therese Kearns, Danielle Clucas, Roslyn Gundjirryirr Dhurrkay, Steven Y.C. Tong, Patricia T. Campbell

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Abstract

Objective: To quantify the childhood infectious disease burden and antibiotic use in the Northern Territory’s East Arnhem region through synthesis and analysis of historical data resources.

Methods: We combined primary health clinic data originally reported in three separate publications stemming from the East Arnhem Healthy Skin Project (Jan-01 to Sep-07). Common statistical techniques were used to explore the prevalence of infectious conditions and the seasonality of infections, and to measure rates of antibiotic use.

Results: There was a high monthly prevalence of respiratory (mean: 32% [95% confidence interval (CI): 20%, 34%]) and skin (mean: 20% [95%CI: 19%, 22%]) infectious syndromes, with upper respiratory tract infections (mean: 29% [95%CI: 27%, 31%]) and skin sores (mean: 15% [95%CI: 14%, 17%]) the most common conditions. Antibiotics were frequently prescribed with 95% (95%CI: 91%, 97%) of children having received at least one antibiotic prescription by their first birthday, and 47% having received six antibiotic prescriptions; skin sores being a key driver.

Conclusions: Early life infections drive high antibiotic prescribing rates in remote Aboriginal communities.

Implications for public health: Eliminating skin disease could reduce antibiotic use by almost 20% in children under five years of age in this population.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	149-155
Number of pages	7
Journal	Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
Volume	43
Issue number	2
Early online date	6 Feb 2019
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12876
Publication status	Published - Apr 2019

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Cuningham, W., McVernon, J., Lydeamore, M. J., Andrews, R. M., Carapetis, J., Kearns, T., Clucas, D., Dhurrkay, R. G., Tong, S. Y. C., & Campbell, P. T. (2019). High burden of infectious disease and antibiotic use in early life in Australian Aboriginal communities. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 43(2), 149-155. https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12876

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abstract = "Objective: To quantify the childhood infectious disease burden and antibiotic use in the Northern Territory{\textquoteright}s East Arnhem region through synthesis and analysis of historical data resources. Methods: We combined primary health clinic data originally reported in three separate publications stemming from the East Arnhem Healthy Skin Project (Jan-01 to Sep-07). Common statistical techniques were used to explore the prevalence of infectious conditions and the seasonality of infections, and to measure rates of antibiotic use. Results: There was a high monthly prevalence of respiratory (mean: 32% [95% confidence interval (CI): 20%, 34%]) and skin (mean: 20% [95%CI: 19%, 22%]) infectious syndromes, with upper respiratory tract infections (mean: 29% [95%CI: 27%, 31%]) and skin sores (mean: 15% [95%CI: 14%, 17%]) the most common conditions. Antibiotics were frequently prescribed with 95% (95%CI: 91%, 97%) of children having received at least one antibiotic prescription by their first birthday, and 47% having received six antibiotic prescriptions; skin sores being a key driver. Conclusions: Early life infections drive high antibiotic prescribing rates in remote Aboriginal communities. Implications for public health: Eliminating skin disease could reduce antibiotic use by almost 20% in children under five years of age in this population.",

keywords = "antibiotic use, infectious disease, remote Aboriginal communities",

author = "Will Cuningham and Jodie McVernon and Lydeamore, {Michael J.} and Andrews, {Ross M.} and Jonathan Carapetis and Therese Kearns and Danielle Clucas and Dhurrkay, {Roslyn Gundjirryirr} and Tong, {Steven Y.C.} and Campbell, {Patricia T.}",

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AU - Clucas, Danielle

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AB - Objective: To quantify the childhood infectious disease burden and antibiotic use in the Northern Territory’s East Arnhem region through synthesis and analysis of historical data resources. Methods: We combined primary health clinic data originally reported in three separate publications stemming from the East Arnhem Healthy Skin Project (Jan-01 to Sep-07). Common statistical techniques were used to explore the prevalence of infectious conditions and the seasonality of infections, and to measure rates of antibiotic use. Results: There was a high monthly prevalence of respiratory (mean: 32% [95% confidence interval (CI): 20%, 34%]) and skin (mean: 20% [95%CI: 19%, 22%]) infectious syndromes, with upper respiratory tract infections (mean: 29% [95%CI: 27%, 31%]) and skin sores (mean: 15% [95%CI: 14%, 17%]) the most common conditions. Antibiotics were frequently prescribed with 95% (95%CI: 91%, 97%) of children having received at least one antibiotic prescription by their first birthday, and 47% having received six antibiotic prescriptions; skin sores being a key driver. Conclusions: Early life infections drive high antibiotic prescribing rates in remote Aboriginal communities. Implications for public health: Eliminating skin disease could reduce antibiotic use by almost 20% in children under five years of age in this population.

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High burden of infectious disease and antibiotic use in early life in Australian Aboriginal communities

Abstract

UN SDGs

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Understanding current antimicrobial prescribing practice in remote Aboriginal primary healthcare across northern Australia

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High burden of infectious disease and antibiotic use in early life in Australian Aboriginal communities

Abstract

UN SDGs

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Understanding current antimicrobial prescribing practice in remote Aboriginal primary healthcare across northern Australia

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