Australian researchers will help lead an international study into the treatment of a potentially deadly bloodstream infection that kills about 20 Australian children a year.
Staphylococcus aureus can cause sepsis, among other infections, and sends more than 450 Australian babies, children and teenagers to hospital annually, according to Telethon Kids Institute.
As part of a wider study into the infection, a group of Australian scientists will focus their research on treatments for children and young people.
"Bacterial infections in kids are really, really dangerous and we want to know as doctors how we can offer the best possible treatments in order to save more lives," Telethon Kids Institute lead researcher associate professor Asha Bowen said.
Dr Bowen told ABC Radio's Christine Layton that existing research into treatments for the infection was more focused on adults.
The new trial will investigate which of the available medications are most effective for children.
Dr Bowen, who is also a paediatric infectious diseases clinician at Perth Children's Hospital, said currently doctors had a choice of two antibiotics when treating young people.
Testing two antibiotics
"What I want to find out as a researcher is which of these two particular antibiotics is actually the best one," she said.
"And, therefore, make sure that every single child in Australia, but also the world, is receiving that one when they come in with this particular type of infection."
Ms Bowen's research will be based on a trial involving 7,000 children and adults across more than 100 hospitals in six countries, including Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
Dubbed the Staph aureus Network Adaptive Platform Paediatrics and Youth (SNAP-PY) trial, the recruitment aspect of the project will be led by the Doherty Institute in Melbourne.
Finding participants
She said once the child was diagnosed, the treating doctor would approach the parents to invite them to participate in the study.
Along with the question of which antibiotic is most effective in treating Staph aureus in children, Dr Bowen's research will aim to answer a second question.
Dr Bowen said the early signs of a bacterial infection in children were high fever, or the child not being as responsive as usual.
"It's important when families are worried, or they think there's a change in their child's condition with symptoms that are new that they haven't had before, that they seek appropriate medical care," she said.
