Active clinical trials for "Communicable Diseases"

PENGUIN is a pragmatic multi-center trial investigating the effects of pre-operative mouthwash and perioperative oxygen on the incidences of pneumonia and surgical site infection (SSI) following major abdominal surgery. Patients will be recruited from low and middle income countries and randomly assigned to a trial treatment arms: a) pre-operative chlorhexidine mouthwash and 80-100% FiO2; b) no pre-operative mouthwash and 80-100% fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2); c) pre-operative chlorhexidine mouthwash and 21- 30% FiO2; or d) no pre-operative mouthwash and 21-30% FiO2.

Respiratory viruses pose a permanent threat to humans and society as demonstrated by the current Covid-19 pandemic. Novel drugs and vaccines provide a means for controlling illness. Infections and symptomatic presentation of illness may be reduced, but it remains to be determined to which extent viral shedding and transmission (e.g. by silent transmitters) can be controlled. Lack of such activity may result in continuing viral spread by assumed healthy but asymptomatic spreaders. Echinacea is an established and readily-accessible product with demonstrated in vitro antiviral activity (including coronaviruses). This study aims to estimate the potential of different Echinacea formulations (head-to-head) to reduce concentration infectivity and shedding of SARS-CoV-2 under in vivo conditions.

Sepsis is the leading cause of death in intensive care units and a major public health concern in the world. Heparin, a widely used anticoagulant medicine to prevent or treat thrombotic disorders, has been demonstrated to prevent organ damage and lethality in experimental sepsis models. However, the efficacy of heparin in the treatment of clinical sepsis is not consistent. Caspase-11, a cytosolic receptor of LPS, triggers lethal immune responses in sepsis. Recently, we have revealed that heparin prevents cytosolic delivery of LPS and caspase-11 activation in sepsis through inhibiting the heparanase-mediated glycocalyx degradation and the HMGB1- LPS interaction, which is independent of its anticoagulant properties. In our study, it is found that heparin treatment could prevent lethal responses in endotoxemia or Gram-negative sepsis, while caspase-11 deficiency or heparin treatment failed to confer protection against sepsis caused by Staphylococcus aureus, a type of Gram-positive bacterium. It is probably that other pathogens such as Gram-positive bacteria might cause death through mechanisms distinct from that of Gram-negative bacteria. Peptidoglycan, a cell-wall component of Gram-positive bacteria, can cause DIC and impair survival in primates by activating both extrinsic and intrinsic coagulation pathways, which might not be targeted by heparin. We speculate that the discrepancy between the previous clinical trials of heparin might be due to the difference in infected pathogens. Thus, stratification of patients based on the type of invading pathogens might improve the therapeutic efficiency of heparin in sepsis, and this merits future investigations.

Coverage Africa is a nested study in the large Anticov platform trial that aims to generate data on new early treatment strategies for mild/moderate COVID-19 patients in resource-limited-settings to reduce the number progressing to severe forms requiring hospitalization, thereby relieving the burden on health care systems and contributing to "flattening the curve" in contexts where none pharmaceutical intervention such as quarantine are difficult to implement in large urban settings. Treating early when the virus is still present might also limit transmission. Coverage Africa will be conducted in Guinea and Burkina Faso. The main objective is to conduct an open-label, multicenter, randomized, adaptive platform trial to test the safety and efficacy of several marketed products, including antiviral therapies versus control in mild/moderate of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in resource-limited-settings. The study aims to recruit 600 patients in both countries, one site in Guinea and two sites in Burkina Faso. The current assessed treatments are now the association of Fluoxétine/Budésonide compared with a control arm: paracetamol. The adaptive design trial will allow for the removal of drugs, or the addition of new study arms when new data becomes available. Data on the primary efficacy parameters and safety will be integrated with the primary endpoint based on an oxygen saturation percentage (SpO2) ≤ 93% or death within 14 days after randomization to treatment, including death for any reason. Study will run until August 2022. However, with the proposed adaptive design, the study could also be interrupted for success earlier than planned with the identification of a treatment that significantly reduces hospitalization rate as evidence by results from the primary endpoint.

A study to evaluate ALVR106; an allogeneic, off-the-shelf multi-virus specific T cell therapy that targets four community acquired respiratory viruses: respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza, human metapneumovirus (hMPV), and/or parainfluenza virus (PIV) following hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT)

CMV infection in transplantation remains the most frequent infectious complication causing increased morbidity and mortality. International recommendations advocate prevention of this infection by instituting direct antiviral treatment or monitoring viral replication by PCR with the start of curative antiviral treatment when the DNAemia is positive. The risk of CMV infection varies according to the serostatus of the donor (D) and recipient (R) at the time of transplantation. In the absence of prophylaxis, CMV infection occurs in 60-80% of D+R-, 50-60% of D+R+ and 25-50% of D-R+. The humoral anti-CMV response is represented by the production of antibodies to envelope proteins (gB and gH) and to molecules involved in viral attachment and entry into target cells. However, the majority of CMV-specific antibodies do not have antiviral neutralising activity. The investigators have identified a new player in the specific anti-CMV response expressing the Fc RIIIa receptor (CD16), that interacts with anti-CMV immunoglobulins (Ig): the Tgamma-delta V delta 2-negative lymphocyte (LTgdVd2neg). This lymphocyte subpopulation shows persistent expansion in the peripheral blood of kidney transplant patients with CMV infection. These cells express an effector-memory phenotype (CD45RA+/CD27-). This expansion is associated with resolution of infection in patients. The investigators have shown that CD16 is specifically and constitutively expressed on the surface of CMV-induced LTgdVd2neg in healthy volunteers and kidney transplant patients. The investigators have observed that one of the antiviral activities of anti-CMV IgG lies in its binding to the Fc RIIIa receptor (CD16) on the surface of LTgdVd2neg. The anti-CMV IgGs capturing virions thus activate CD16+ LTgdVd2neg with production of IFN interferon which in turn is responsible for inhibition of CMV viral multiplication. Anti-CMV IgG is a recommended therapeutic option, with a marketing authorisation for the prevention of CMV infection in kidney transplantation in Europe and a Temporary Authorisation for Use in France. Thus, R+ patients expressing a significant level of LTgdVd2neg CD16+ at D0 of transplantation could be protected against CMV, in the absence of direct antiviral treatment by the addition of anti-CMV Ig.

The safety and tolerability of MK-8591A, a novel 2-drug fixed dose combination (FDC) of doravirine (DOR) and islatravir (ISL) will be evaluated in adult and pediatric participants with Human Immunodeficiency Virus -1 (HIV-1) who were treated with DOR and ISL in earlier clinical studies.

Patients diagnosed to have mild-moderate CDI will be randomized to receive IM-01 egg-derived anti-C. difficile polyclonal antibodies in increasing dosages, twice daily, for a total of 10 - 14 days. Resolution of diarrhea and other symptoms and fecal test parameters will be used to assess clinical effectiveness of Immunotherapy with IM-01 antibodies. Patients will be followed for recurrence of CDI. Subjects who are assessed as non-respondents to IM-01 will be reassessed and treated with standard of care CDI antibiotics for 10 -14 days.

Patients who are admitted to hospital with serious infections, such as those in bone, joints or spine, require a long course of intravenous (IV) antibiotics. After an initial treatment course in hospital or through a dedicated outpatient antibiotic program many patients can complete their treatment course at home. Such infections are often caused by bacteria called Staphylococci, and currently there are three antibiotic options used routinely. A fourth antibiotic, ceftriaxone, is a promising alternative; it is also effective against Staphylococci, and is more convenient, less costly and easier to give at home, however, it has not been studied thoroughly in a prospective manner. This study will compare ceftriaxone to routinely used antibiotics (cloxacillin, cefazolin or daptomycin) to see if ceftriaxone is equally as safe and efficacious in curing deep-seated Staphylococcal infections in patients receiving home IV antibiotics. Patients with deep-seated infections caused by methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) or coagulase-negative Staphylococcal species will be randomly assigned home IV treatment with ceftriaxone OR one of the three other antibiotics before leaving the hospital. Patients will then receive usual care from an Infectious Disease physician and Home IV team. The study team will assess whether cure has been achieved by the end of the IV treatment, follow-up at 6 months to see if patients remain infection-free, and record any side-effects of treatment. The overall goal is to determine whether ceftriaxone can be considered non-inferior to usual antibiotic treatment in treating Staphylococcal infections in a home IV setting.

This is a protocol designed to randomize subjects with acute HIV infection to receive standard HAART or mega-HAART for subject who are enrolled in SEARCH 010 study (protocol title: Establish and characterize an acute HIV infection cohort in a Thai high risk population. To describe the impact of standard HAART versus mega-HAART initiated during the acute HIV infection period on immunological and virological outcomes.