Asha C Bowen1
1 Department of Infectious Diseases, Perth Children’s Hospital and Wesfarmers Centre for Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia
Healthy skin is essential for overall health, as it is the body’s largest organ, always on show and the source of potential pathogens leading to sepsis, bone and joint infections and post-infectious sequelae including kidney and rheumatic heart disease. Skin infections are amongst the top 5 diagnostic codes for healthcare in remote Western Australia. In fact, amongst some communities, 75% of all residents present at least once a year with a skin and soft tissue infection and at any one time 45% of remote living Aboriginal children have skin sores. In the Kimberley, 15% of all Aboriginal infants are admitted to hospital with a skin infection in the first year of life. These statistics remind us of the important role of infection prevention in the community to reduce this heavy burden and consequently improve quality of life.
The opportunities to prevent skin infections commence with early identification by individuals, families and clinicians; high quality guidelines for ease of treatment; and a broad focus on improving the living environment and access to appropriate health literacy resources. This talk will discuss how the SToP Trial in the Kimberley as a key activity of the Healthy Skin team at Telethon Kids Institute in partnership with regional health care providers has advanced our knowledge in prevention of skin infections encompassing all of these activities.
Biography to come