
Study of Procalcitonin (PCT)-Guided Antibiotic Use in Severe Sepsis Patients Without Obvious Infection...
Severe SepsisA recent study has demonstrated that in low respiratory infections, a strategy using prescription of antibiotics based on the pro-calcitonin level allows decreasing recourse to antibiotics by 47% without prognostic modification. The aim is to evaluate the impact on antibiotics consumption of an algorithm using procalcitonin level in patients exhibiting severe sepsis symptomatology but without clearly identified hosted germs or infectious centre. This multicenter study is a randomized prospective open study involving 9 ICU departments in France, comparing two strategies on antibiotherapy treatment period one based on procalcitonin level(experimental group) the other on physician's appreciation(control group) 140 adult patients should be included with a severe sepsis symptomatology, whose infectious etiology has not been proven. The main non-inclusion criterium is: the presence of a pathogen agent or infectious centre clearly identified. The primary outcome is the rate of patients undergoing antibiotic treatment at D5. Secondary outcomes: duration of the antibiotic treatment, mortality rate and duration in stay in intensive care ward and evolution of the SOFA score between D0, D3 and D5. Duration of patient enrollment is 30 days.

The Effect of Forced Air Warming During Cesarean Section on Postoperative Infectious Morbidity
Cesarean SectionThe purpose of this study will be to assess whether forced air warming decreases the rate of surgical site infections following cesarean section.

HRN 004- Peginterferon a-2a Plus Ribavirin for Chronic Hepatitis C Infection in HIV Infected Persons...
Chronic Hepatitis C Infection in HIV Infected PersonsHIV InfectionsObjectives: Primary To evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of Peginterferon a-2a plus Ribavirin for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection in persons co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who have failed to achieve a sustained virologic response following previous interferon therapy. Secondary To evaluate the virological response to Peginterferon a-2a plus Ribavirin at weeks 12 and 24 as compared to baseline values. To evaluate the sustained virological response Peginterferon a-2a plus Ribavirin at post-treatment weeks 4, 12, and 24 as compared to baseline. To evaluate the histological effects of long-term Peginterferon a-2a therapy through comparison of liver biopsy results following 96 weeks of Peginterferon a-2a therapy to baseline values. To evaluate the safety and tolerability of long-term Peginterferon a-2a therapy in patients who have previously failed to achieve a sustained virologic response following interferon therapy. To investigate the effects of long-term Peginterferon a-2a therapy on clinical outcomes of HIV disease. Study Design: All qualifying patients will enter the treatment phase and be dosed as follows: Peginterferon a-2a 180mg by subcutaneous route once weekly plus Ribavirin: 800 mg (400 mg bid) if body weight < 65 kg 1000 mg (400 mg a.m. and 600 mg p.m.) if body weight > 65 kg and < 85 kg 1200 mg (600 mg bid) if body weight > 85 kg Patients with undetectable levels of HCV-RNA at Treatment Week 24 will continue on previously assigned Peginterferon a-2a plus Ribavirin combo-therapy for an additional 24 weeks. Patients with detectable levels of HCV-RNA will be randomized to Peginterferon a-2a mono-therapy or no treatment for 72 weeks. Group A: Peginterferon a-2a 90mg mono-therapy for 72 weeks. Group B: No CHC therapy for 72 weeks All patients entering the study are required to have a baseline liver biopsy (within 18 months of study entry). Patients entering the 72-week randomized arm of the trial will have a post-study liver biopsy upon completion of the trial. Study Population: 100 HIV infected adults with chronic hepatitis C infection who have failed to achieve a sustained virologic response following previous interferon therapy. Dosage and Administration: Combo-therapy: Peginterferon a-2a 180mg by subcutaneous route once weekly plus Ribavirin: 800 mg (400 mg bid) if body weight < 65 kg 1000 mg (400 mg a.m. and 600 mg p.m.) if body weight > 65 kg and < 85 kg 1200 mg (600 mg bid) if body weight > 85 kg Mono-therapy: Peginterferon a-2a 90mg in 1mL solution administered subcutaneously once weekly. Efficacy Evaluations: Laboratory analysis, liver biopsies, quality of life assessments, and changes in Peginterferona-2a and Ribavirin dosages will be obtained. Safety Evaluations: Assessment of laboratory evaluations vital signs incidence and severity of adverse experiences dose adjustments premature withdrawal for safety reasons progression of disease as measured by HCV viral load AIDS defining events

A Network Intervention for Prevention of HIV Infection in Chennai, India - 1
HIV InfectionsThe purpose of this study is to evaluate a peer-based HIV prevention intervention that targets active injection drug users and their drug and sex partners in Chennai India.

Viral and Host Factors in the Transmission and Pathogenesis of HIV
HIV InfectionsTo study the collection of blood from individuals known to be at high risk for HIV-infection or who have been recently infected with HIV. The data collected are used for diagnostic, prognostic and management decisions as outlined by current HIV-1 Treatment Guidelines.

Safety and Effectiveness of an HIV DNA Vaccine Followed by an HIV Adenoviral Vector Vaccine for...
HIV InfectionsThe development of a safe and effective vaccine is the best strategy for preventing the spread of HIV-1. The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and effectiveness of and immune responses to an HIV vaccine regimen in healthy adults at risk for HIV infection.

Chlorhexidine Swabs Effectiveness in Reducing Blood Stream Infections
Congenital DisordersChildren's Healthcare of Atlanta (Children's) is collaborating with Child Health Corporation of America (CHCA) in the nationwide effort to reduce catheter related blood stream infections (BSIs). "As well as the human cost, central venous catheter related bloodstream infections significantly inflate hospital costs, mainly through increased length of stay in hospital, particularly in intensive care" (Jones, 2006). The Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) is participating in this initiative by implementing the BSI "Bundles" per the CHCA guidelines. BSI "bundles" are a group of patient care practices designed to reduce BSI infection rates with implementation in patient care areas. The bundles include recommendations for central line maintenance including line insertion, dressing changes, line accesses, and monitoring for medical necessity. These bundles were implemented on January 16, 2006, when the BSI rate in the CICU had peaked at 18.2 (rate of infections per 1000 catheter days). The BSI rates historically for the past two years have been highly variable (see attached graph for data from Jan. 04 through Oct. 06). The target goal is to maintain a rate below 3.7 which has only been realized twice since the January BSI bundle implementation. Current practice for the care of central lines outlined in the BSI Bundles is based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines published in 2002. These guidelines included important changes to practice involving the use of chlorhexidine (CHG) containing products for improved infection prevention. CHG solutions are currently available as either 2% or 3.15% chlorhexidine gluconate in a 70% isopropyl alcohol solution. The Primary Aim is to determine if CHG is effective as an antiseptic wipe for accessing lines to draw blood and administer medications. Compare the effectiveness of CHG containing alcohol wipes (3.15% CHG/70% isopropyl alcohol) to plain alcohol in order to determine best practice for the CICU.

Stool Biobanking and Impact of Antimicrobials on the Gut Microbiota in Patients With Bone and Joint...
InfectionBacterialBone and joint infections (BJI) is a public health issue in industrialized countries. Implant-associated BJI, are complex hospital-acquired infections and eradication of the pathogen is challenging in such patients. A prolonged antimicrobial therapy is usually required from 6 weeks to 3 months, but some patients are eligible to several years of treatment and most of patients report gastrointestinal troubles, such as nausea and mild to severe diarrhea (but very few developed C. difficile diarrhea). Moreover, the host gut microbiota is probably largely affected in abundance, richness and diversity. Indeed, it is known, that few days of antibiotics are sufficient to induce significant alterations of the gut microbiota, also called dysbiosis. Severe dysbiosis, which is potentially irreversible and associated with a definitive shift in the gut microbiota metabolism and host homeostasis, may lead to and/or promote a large panel of severe diseases such as Clostridium difficile infection, diabetes mellitus, obesity, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), cirrhosis, neurological disorders and cancer. It may also be associated with BJI recurrence and then impact global health costs. The main objective of this study is to constitute biobanking of stools and perform DNA sequencing of the gut microbiota in patients with acute or sub-acute implant-related Bone and Joint Infection (BJI), caused by Staphylococcus aureus.

Assesment of the Efficiency and Safety Helicobacter Pylori Therapy With or Without Saccharomyces...
Helicobacter Pylori InfectionThis study assesses the effect of quadruple therapy for H. pylori, with the addition of probiotics Saccharomyces boulardii. In addition, he assesses whether this combination reduces the frequency of adverse effects of eradication therapy, and whether it affects the compliance.

Raltegravir One Thousand Two Hundred vs Darunavir-cb in Immnunosupressed Patients: ROTDIP Study...
HIV InfectionsMulticenter, randomized, open label pilot clinical trial with two parallel arms aimed to compare the efficacy of Raltegravir (RAL) 1200mg QD vs Darunavir/Cobicistat (DRV-cb) 800-150mg QD both in combination with alafenamide/emtricitabine (TAF/FTC) in patients with Human Inmunodefficiency Virus (HIV) infection and CD4<200 cells/microL