Infectious Disease

Why are they a problem?

Infectious diseases are diseases that can be spread from person to person – this can be directly through close contact, or indirectly, from an infected person to an object, e.g. food, handles etc.

Skin infections in New Zealand

Children in Aotearoa New Zealand have relatively high rates of skin infections, particularly serious skin infections, such as cellulitis, compared with other high-income countries.

Damage to the skin (whether caused by injuries, stings or bites, chickenpox, scabies, or skin conditions like eczema) can provide an entry point for infection with bacteria, fungi, viruses, or parasites, as can hair follicles.

Most mild skin infections can be treated at home by keeping infected sores clean and covered and using over-the-counter medicines. Other infections can be effectively managed in primary care. However, if minor skin infections are not detected and treated early, they can cause complications that require admission to hospital.

Serious skin infections may need costly treatment with intravenous antibiotics for cellulitis or sepsis or surgical interventions for abscesses or complex wounds.

Inequality

Rates of skin infection differ widely in children from different ethnic and socioeconomic groups.

Although disparities in rates of hospitalisation for serious skin infections in children have reduced in the last five years, inequities remain.

The rate of hospitalisation for Pasifika children with serious skin infections is three times that of children of European or Other ethnic groups, and for tamariki Māori, it is almost twice the rate.

Research has shown that deprivation is linked to skin infections through factors such as:

• affordability of hot water, electricity, and machines for washing and drying clothes
• access to medical care
• adequacy of nutrition
• and crowded housing conditions

What are we doing to help?

Developing a safer test for joint and bone infections in children

Amy Scott-Thomas, University of Otago

Māori and Pacific children have more frequent bone and joint infections than other children. This study aims to develop a new technique to detect bacterial infection inside children’s bones and joints without having to use invasive tests (e.g. using a needle to withdraw fluid from a joint).

Dr Amy Scott-Thomas will test a new method using magnetic beads to recognise and concentrate specific fragments of bacterial DNA found in samples of blood and urine, and therefore enable sensitive detection of the bacteria.

If the study is successful, it will reduce stress for children by avoiding needles and other invasive tests, and enable faster diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics. This should also help to avoid development