26th May 2010

Medical researchers and practitioners from across Australia and around the world gathered for the first national Otitis Media Conference (OMOZ) in the Northern Territory this week.

The two day OMOZ workshop was co-hosted by Menzies School of Health Research at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Darwin.

Menzies Senior Researcher Heidi Smith-Vaughan said it’s an important step to addressing ear infection in Australia.

“The aim of the conference is to bring together new and established Otitis Media experts to enhance collaborations and provide up to date information on ear health research in Australia.”

International expert Roman Prymula MD PhD travelled from the Czech Republic to address the gathering on the growing problem of Otitis Media and the possibility of prevention.

Ear health gained national attention in Australia earlier this month when a senate enquiry called for a national approach to tackling the issue.

The enquiry found appalling rates of ear disease amongst Indigenous Australians. Those figures didn’t come as a surprise to Menzies’ Associate Professor Ross Andrews.

“This is not news to researchers, nor is it news to the many families who continue to live with ear disease. Menzies has been working in remote Indigenous communities for 25 years and there is no doubt that the rate of ear infections is unacceptably high. While improvements in housing, hygiene and poverty are critical, we need to continue to find ways to prevent severe ear infections and to adequately treat them when they do occur because the hearing loss that often follows has clear implications for health, education and in the long term employment.”

Assoc Prof Ross Andrews tabled his work on a new vaccine strategy at the conference.

“It’s using an old vaccine in a new way, vaccinating expectant Indigenous mothers. Early results have shown that the pneumococcal vaccine passes antibodies from the mother to the baby through the womb and through breast milk.”

It’s hoped the vaccination will reduce the instance of ear disease in the babies involved in the trial. The results are expected late this year.

The workshop also had a strong focus on Otitis Media treatment led by Menzies Dr Peter Morris.

Dr Morris said the conference was an excellent vehicle for driving best practice in ear health treatment and for keeping it on the national agenda.

“We know that 20 per cent of Indigenous children in remote community have perforated ear drums and 90 per cent have ear infections. That has huge long term health and education implications and we need to take a national approach to tackle it.”

The workshop ends today, but there are high hopes it will become an annual event.

To arrange an interview please call Laetitia Lemke 0447 275 415
Laetitia Lemke, Communications and Development Manager Ph: 08 89435018 | Mob: 0447 275 415 | Fax: 08 8927 5187 | www.menzies.edu.au