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Professor Tony Walls

Tony Walls 2019 imageProfessor

MB ChB DCH PGDipTertT(Otago) MD(Lond) FRACP

Tel +64 3 372 6755
Email tony.walls@otago.ac.nz

Tony Walls is a graduate of the University of Otago, having trained in Paediatrics at both Christchurch and Dunedin Hospitals.

He trained as a Paediatric Infectious Disease Specialist at the Royal London Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children. At this time he completed an MD through the University of London, focusing on adenovirus infection in children following bone marrow transplantation.

He has an ongoing clinical interest in the management of infection in immunocompromised children. Before returning to Christchurch he worked as a Consultant at Sydney Children’s Hospital, and was lead clinician for the Paediatric HIV Service.

Teaching

  • Convenor 5th year programme Paediatrics
  • Co-convenor Professional Development 4th/5th/6th year
  • Co-convenor Global Health Classroom
  • Convenor annual George Abbott Symposium

Affiliations

  • Paediatric Society of NZ – Chair of the Infection and Immunisation Special Interest Group
  • Australian and NZ Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ANZPID) Committee
  • Australasian Society of Infectious Diseases (ASID) Clinical Research Network
  • World Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases (WSPID) – Board Member

Research interests

Study Protocol – Pre-school osteoarticular infection (POI) study (PDF)

  • Kingella infections in preschool children
  • Epidemiology of common childhood infections
  • Optimising antibiotic prescribing in children
  • Impact of vaccinations on global health outcomes for children
  • Teaching Global Health in Paediatrics

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Publications

Gilmour, L. S., & Walls, T. (2023). Congenital syphilis: A review of global epidemiology. Clinical Microbiology Reviews. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1128/cmr.00126-22

Hagedoorn, N. N., Al-Busaidi, I., Bridgford, P., Gardiner, S. J., Walls, T., & Hudson, B. (2023). Longitudinal trends in community antibiotic consumption in the Waitaha Canterbury Region of Aotearoa New Zealand over 10 years (2012-2021): An observational study. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 136(1571), 49-64. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz/

Freyne, B., Nourse, C., & Walls, T. (2023). Congenital syphilis: Controversies and questions: A global perspective. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1097/inf.0000000000003808

Riley, G., Cloete, E., & Walls, T. (2022). Challenges of timely investigation and treatment of neonatal herpes simplex infection. Journal of Paediatrics & Child Health. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/jpc.16278

Nicolaou, A., Moore, A., Wamamili, B., Walls, T., & Pattemore, P. (2022). E-cigarette use patterns, brand preference and knowledge about vaping among teenagers (13-16 years) and parents of children attending Christchurch Hospital. New Zealand Medical Journal, 135(1561), 94-101. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz

Hagedoorn, N. N., Al-Busaidi, I., Bridgford, P., Gardiner, S. J., Walls, T., & Hudson, B. (2023). Longitudinal trends in community antibiotic consumption in the Waitaha Canterbury Region of Aotearoa New Zealand over 10 years (2012-2021): An observational study. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 136(1571), 49-64. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz/

Journal - Research Article

Gilmour, L. S., Best, E. J., Duncanson, M. J., Wheeler, B. J., Sherwood, J., Thirkell, C. E., & Walls, T. (2022). High incidence of congenital syphilis in New Zealand: A New Zealand Pediatric Surveillance Unit study. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 41(1), 66-71. doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000003233

Journal - Research Article

McBride, M., Williman, J., Best, E., Walls, T., Sadarangani, M., Grant, C. C., & Martin, N. G. (2022). The epidemiology of aseptic meningitis in New Zealand children from 1991 to 2020. Journal of Paediatrics & Child Health. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/jpc.16131

Journal - Research Article

Nicolaou, A., Moore, A., Wamamili, B., Walls, T., & Pattemore, P. (2022). E-cigarette use patterns, brand preference and knowledge about vaping among teenagers (13-16 years) and parents of children attending Christchurch Hospital. New Zealand Medical Journal, 135(1561), 94-101. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz

Journal - Research Article

Bothara, R. K., Raina, A., Carne, B., Walls, T., McCombie, A., Ardagh, M. W., & Joyce, L. R. (2021). Paediatric presentations to Christchurch Hospital Emergency Department during COVID-19 lockdown. Journal of Paediatrics & Child Health, 57, 877-882. doi: 10.1111/jpc.15347

Journal - Research Article

Bothara, R. K., Tafuna'i, M., Wilkinson, T. J., Desrosiers, J., Jack, S., Pattemore, P. K., Walls, T., Sopoaga, F., Murdoch, D. R., & Miller, A. P. (2021). Global health classroom: Mixed methods evaluation of an interinstitutional model for reciprocal global health learning among Samoan and New Zealand medical students. Globalization & Health, 17, 99. doi: 10.1186/s12992-021-00755-8

Journal - Research Article

Chen, T.-Y., Hale, J. D. F., Tagg, J. R., Jain, R., Voss, A. L., Mills, N., … Stevenson, D. S., Bird, P. A., & Walls, T. (2021). In vitro inhibition of clinical isolates of otitis media pathogens by the probiotic Streptococcus salivarius BLIS K12. Probiotics & Antimicrobial Proteins, 13, 734-738. doi: 10.1007/s12602-020-09719-7

Journal - Research Article

El Guerche-Séblain, C., De Fougerolles, T. R., Sampson, K., Jennings, L., Van Buynder, P., Shu, Y., … Walls, T., … Vanhems, P. (2021). Comparison of influenza surveillance systems in Australia, China, Malaysia and expert recommendations for influenza control. BMC Public Health, 21, 1750. doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-11765-x

Journal - Research Article

Jeffs, E., Lucas, N., & Walls, T. (2021). CoVID-19: Parent and caregiver concerns about reopening New Zealand schools. Journal of Paediatrics & Child Health, 57, 403-408. doi: 10.1111/jpc.15234

Journal - Research Article

Olijve, L., Amarasena, L., Best, E., Blyth, C., Van den Boom, M., Bowen, A., … Williman, J., & Walls, T. (2021). The role of Kingella kingae in pre-school aged children with bone and joint infections. Journal of Infection, 83, 321-331. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2021.06.028

Journal - Research Article

Rix-Trott, K., Byrnes, C. A., Gilchrist, C. A., Matsas, R., Walls, T., Voss, L., … Dickson, N. P., … Best, E. J. (2021). Surveillance of pediatric parapneumonic effusion/empyema in New Zealand. Pediatric Pulmonology, 56(9), 2949-2957. doi: 10.1002/ppul.25564

Journal - Research Article

Jeffs, E., Williman, J., Brunton, C., Gullam, J., & Walls, T. (2020). Pregnant women's knowledge of, and adherence to, New Zealand Food Safety in Pregnancy guidelines. New Zealand Medical Journal, 133(1525), 41-52. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Article

Jeffs, E., Williman, J., Brunton, C., Gullam, J., & Walls, T. (2020). The epidemiology of listeriosis in pregnant women and children in New Zealand from 1997 to 2016: An observational study. BMC Public Health, 20, 116. doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-8221-z

Journal - Research Article

de Gier, C., Granland, C. M., Pickering, J. L., Walls, T., Bhuiyan, M., Mills, N., … Kirkham, L.-A. S. (2019). PCV7- and PCV10-vaccinated otitis-prone children in New Zealand have similar pneumococcal and Haemophilus influenzae densities in their nasopharynx and middle ear. Vaccines, 7(1), 14. doi: 10.3390/vaccines7010014

Journal - Research Article

Jeffs, E., Williman, J., Martin, N., Brunton, C., & Walls, T. (2019). The epidemiology of Campylobacter gastroenteritis in New Zealand children and the effect of the Campylobacter Strategy: A 20 year observational study. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 38(6), 569-576. doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000002228

Journal - Research Article

Jeffs, E., Williman, J., Martin, N., Brunton, C., & Walls, T. (2019). The epidemiology of non-viral gastroenteritis in New Zealand children from 1997 to 2015: An observational study. BMC Public Health, 19(1), 18. doi: 10.1186/s12889-018-6229-4

Journal - Research Article

Petousis-Harris, H., Jiang, Y., Yu, L., Watson, D., Walls, T., Turner, N., … Griffin, J. B. (2019). A retrospective cohort study of safety outcomes in New Zealand infants exposed to Tdap vaccine in utero. Vaccines, 7(4), 147. doi: 10.3390/vaccines7040147

Journal - Research Article

Griffin, J. B., Yu, L., Watson, D., Turner, N., Walls, T., Howe, A. S., … Petousis-Harris, H. (2018). Pertussis Immunisation in Pregnancy Safety (PIPS) Study: A retrospective cohort study of safety outcomes in pregnant women vaccinated with Tdap vaccine. Vaccine, 36(34), 5173-5179. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.07.011

Journal - Research Article

Hill, L., Burrell, B., & Walls, T. (2018). Factors influencing women's decisions about having the pertussis-containing vaccine during pregnancy. Journal of Primary Health Care, 10(1), 62-67. doi: 10.1071/HC17040

Journal - Research Article

Moeeni, V., Walls, T., & Day, A. S. (2018). A retrospective comparison between the PNST and other paediatric nutritional screening tools. International Journal of Child Health & Nutrition, 7(3), 97-101. doi: 10.6000/1929-4247.2018.07.03.1

Journal - Research Article

Olijve, L., Jennings, L., & Walls, T. (2018). Human parechovirus: An increasingly recognized cause of sepsis-like illness in young infants. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 31(1), e00047-17. doi: 10.1128/cmr.00047-17

Journal - Research Article

Walls, T., Cho, V., Martin, N., Williman, J., & Brunton, C. (2018). Vaccine impact on long-term trends in invasive bacterial disease in New Zealand children. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 37(10), 1041-1047. doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000002071

Journal - Research Article

Walls, T., McSweeney, A., Anderson, T., & Jennings, L. C. (2017). Multiplex-PCR for the detection of viruses in the CSF of infants and young children. Journal of Medical Virology, 89, 559-561. doi: 10.1002/jmv.24461

Journal - Research Article

Walls, T., Stark, E., Pattemore, P., & Jennings, L. (2017). Missed opportunities for antimicrobial stewardship in pre-school children admitted to hospital with lower respiratory tract infection. Journal of Paediatrics & Child Health, 53(6), 569-571. doi: 10.1111/jpc.13506

Journal - Research Article

Best, E. J., Walls, T., Souter, M., Neeff, M., Anderson, T., Salkeld, L., … Murdoch, D., & Mills, N. (2016). Pneumococcal vaccine impact on otitis media microbiology: A New Zealand cohort study before and after the introduction of PHiD-CV10 vaccine. Vaccine, 34(33), 3840-3847. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.05.041

Journal - Research Article

Olijve, L., Podmore, R., Anderson, T., & Walls, T. (2016). High rate of oropharyngeal Kingella kingae carriage in New Zealand children. Journal of Paediatrics & Child Health, 52(12), 1081-1085. doi: 10.1111/jpc.13287

Journal - Research Article

Petousis-Harris, H., Walls, T., Watson, D., Paynter, J., Graham, P., & Turner, N. (2016). Safety of Tdap vaccine in pregnant women: An observational study. BMJ Open, 6(4), e010911. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010911

Journal - Research Article

Walls, T., Graham, P., Petousis-Harris, H., Hill, L., & Austin, N. (2016). Infant outcomes after exposure to Tdap vaccine in pregnancy: An observational study. BMJ Open, 6(1), e009536. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009536

Journal - Research Article

Blyth, C. C., Walls, T., Cheng, A. C., Murray, R. J., Fisher, D. A., Ingram, P. R., … on behalf of the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Network, and the Australian New Zealand Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Network. (2015). A comparison of paediatric and adult infectious diseases consultations in Australia and New Zealand. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, 34(8), 1589-1592. doi: 10.1007/s10096-015-2391-0

Journal - Research Article

Burton, C., Walls, T., Price, N., Glasgow, T., Walker, C., Beasley, S., & Best, E. (2015). Paediatric empyema in New Zealand: A tale of two cities. New Zealand Medical Journal, 128(1415). Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Article

Mills, N., Best, E. J., Murdoch, D., Souter, M., Neeff, M., Anderson, T. P., … Walls, T. (2015). What is behind the ear drum? The microbiology of otitis media and the nasopharyngeal flora in children in the era of pneumococcal vaccination. Journal of Paediatrics & Child Health, 51(3), 300-306. doi: 10.1111/jpc.12710

Journal - Research Article

Moeeni, V., Shojaee, P., Kianifar, H., Walls, T., Pattemore, P., & Day, A. S. (2015). The prospective assessment of nutrition in children with cystic fibrosis. International Journal of Child Health & Nutrition, 4(3), 129-134.

Journal - Research Article

Wen, S. C.-H., Best, E., Walls, T., Dickson, N., McCay, H., & Wilson, E. (2015). Prospective surveillance of hospitalisations associated with varicella in New Zealand children. Journal of Paediatrics & Child Health, 51(11), 1078-1083. doi: 10.1111/jpc.12937

Journal - Research Article

Binfield, A., Aird, C., Murdoch, D. R., Elder, P., & Walls, T. (2014). Are vitamin D levels affected by acute bacterial infections in children? Journal of Paediatrics & Child Health, 50(8), 643-646. doi: 10.1111/jpc.12620

Journal - Research Article

Foster, M. A., & Walls, T. (2014). High rates of complications following Kingella kingae infective endocarditis in children: A case series and review of the literature. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 33(7), 785-786. doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000000303

Journal - Research Article

Ingram, P. R., Cheng, A. C., Murray, R. J., Blyth, C. C., Walls, T., Fisher, D. A., … on behalf of the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Network. (2014). What do infectious diseases physicians do? A 2-week snapshot of inpatient consultative activities across Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. Clinical Microbiology & Infection, 20(10), O737-O744. doi: 10.1111/1469-0691.12581

Journal - Research Article

Khandaker, G., Zurynski, Y., Ridley, G., Buttery, J., Marshall, H., Richmond, P. C., … Walls, T., … Elliott, E. J. (2014). Clinical epidemiology and predictors of outcome in children hospitalised with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 in 2009: A prospective national study. Influenza & Other Respiratory Viruses, 8(6), 636-645. doi: 10.1111/irv.12286

Journal - Research Article

Moeeni, V., Walls, T., & Day, A. S. (2014). The STRONGkids nutritional risk screening tool can be used by paediatric nurses to identify hospitalised children at risk. Acta Paediatrica, 103, e528-e531. doi: 10.1111/apa.12768

Journal - Research Article

Lambert, S. B., Chuk, L.-M. R., Nissen, M. D., Nolan, T. M., McVernon, J., Booy, R., … Walls, T., … Lai, M. H. (2013). Safety and tolerability of a 2009 trivalent inactivated split-virion influenza vaccine in infants, children and adolescents. Influenza & Other Respiratory Viruses, 7(5), 676-685. doi: 10.1111/irv.12107

Journal - Research Article

Moeeni, V., Walls, T., & Day, A. S. (2013). Nutritional status and nutrition risk screening in hospitalized children in New Zealand. Acta Paediatrica, 102(9), e419-e423. doi: 10.1111/apa.12299

Journal - Research Article

Paterson, D. L., on behalf of the Steering Group of the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Network, including Murdoch, D. R., & Walls, T. M. (2013). Determining research priorities for clinician-initiated trials in infectious diseases. Medical Journal of Australia, 198, 270-272. doi: 10.5694/mja12.11703

Journal - Research Article

Elliott, E. J., Zurynski, Y. A., Walls, T., Whitehead, B., Gilmour, R., Booy, R., and members of SWINet. (2012). Novel inpatient surveillance in tertiary paediatric hospitals in New South Wales illustrates impact of first-wave pandemic influenza A H1N1 (2009) and informs future health service planning. Journal of Paediatrics & Child Health, 48(3), 235-241. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2011.02240.x

Journal - Research Article

Khandaker, G., Rashid, H., Zurynski, Y., Richmond, P. C., Buttery, J., Marshall, H., … Walls, T., … Booy, R. (2012). Nosocomial vs community-acquired pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009: A nested case—control study. Journal of Hospital Infection, 82, 94-100. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2012.07.006

Journal - Research Article

Moeeni, V., Walls, T., & Day, A. S. (2012). Assessment of nutritional status and nutritional risk in hospitalised Iranian children. Acta Paediatrica, 101(10), e446-e451. doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2012.02789.x

Journal - Research Article

Sklavos, A. V., Walls, T., Webber, M. T., & Watson, A. B. (2010). Cutaneous leishmaniasis in a child treated with oral fluconazole. Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 51(3), 195-197. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-0960.2010.00642.x

Journal - Research Article

Walls, T., Palasanthiran, P., Studdert, J., Moran, K., & Ziegler, J. B. (2010). Breastfeeding in mothers with HIV. Journal of Paediatrics & Child Health, 46(6), 349-352. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2010.01791.x

Journal - Research Article

Yeong, M. M.-K., Palasanthiran, P., Ziegler, J. B., & Walls, T. (2010). Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone associated with lopinavir therapy [Brief Report]. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 29(7), 678-679. doi: 10.1097/INF.0b013e3181d95b37

Journal - Research Article

Priyadarshi, A., Jaffe, A., Walls, T., & Oei, J. L. (2009). Strategies for reducing the burden of respiratory syncytial virus in high-risk infants. Pediatric Health, 3(4), 391-406. doi: 10.2217/phe.09.31

Journal - Research Article

Walls, T., & Shingadia, D. (2007). The epidemiology of tuberculosis in Europe [Review]. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 92(8), 726-729. doi: 10.1136/adc.2006.102889

Journal - Research Article

Kampmann, B., Cubitt, D., Walls, T., Naik, P., Depala, M., Samarasinghe, S., … Veys, P. (2005). Improved outcome for children with disseminated adenoviral infection following allogeneic stem cell transplantation. British Journal of Haematology, 130(4), 595-603. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2005.05649.x

Journal - Research Article

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