Active clinical trials for "Communicable Diseases"

The purpose of this study is to find the most effective and safe treatment to prevent the passage of HIV from an infected mother to her baby.

Non-professional community leaders may be at a great advantage in reaching otherwise hard to reach populations for the purpose of advising on sexually transmitted disease (STD) prevention (lay health advisors), health care access, and model health behavior. Latino migrant farm workers are at increased risk for STD and might benefit from such lay health advisors. The study will examine whether this strategy is a useful one for STD prevention in Latino migrant farm workers in rural and small town areas of North Carolina.

Seniors are a population vulnerable to respiratory infections. It is hypothesized that regular use of COLD-fX following an influenza vaccination would potentially augment immune response in the elderly. Use of COLD-fX may also provide additional protection again respiratory infection and reduce the incidence and severity of respiratory infections in otherwise healthy seniors.

The purpose of this study is to see if taking medication once a month can help to decrease the risk of vaginal infections. Additionally, researchers will study whether personal habits, such as douching, bathing, and sexual practices can influence the risk of vaginal infections. Vaginal infections may influence the risk of becoming infected with HIV-1 and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Study participants will include 400 female prostitutes ages 16 and older, living in Mombasa. Study procedures will include sexual behavior questions, physical examinations including pelvic exams, testing of vaginal and cervical secretions for STDs, urine collection and blood samples. Participants will receive 2 different types of pills to treat vaginal infections (metronidazole or fluconazole) or placebo (contains no medication). Participants will be involved in study related procedures for 1 year and will return to the study clinic at one month intervals.

The purpose of this study is to show whether Veronate, a donor-selected staphylococcal human immune globulin intravenous (IGIV), can prevent an infection in the blood caused by staphylococcal bacteria in premature babies weighing between 500 and 1250 grams at birth. Babies are enrolled between Day of Life 3 and 5. Babies are randomized to either Veronate or placebo (50-50 chance of either). Babies can receive up to 4 doses of the study drug on Study Days 1, 3, 8 and 15 and are followed until Study Day 70 or discharge from the hospital.

The purpose of this study is to follow responses to treatment with vaccinia immune globulin (VIG) for safety and clinical benefit [during HIV vaccine research]. VIG is purified from human blood and used to treat serious infections of the vaccinia (smallpox vaccine) virus or similar viruses. It is the only treatment available for those viruses. The only available supply of VIG has developed a discoloration over time and therefore is considered an investigational new drug by the FDA. This study will allow it to be used for intramuscular injection in a controlled setting for people who may need it [during HIV vaccine research].

Part A: To determine the safety and pharmacokinetics of sequential single doses of cidofovir in HIV-infected children with end-organ cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease. Part B: To determine the safety (including time to progression of CMV retinitis by retinal exam), pharmacokinetics, and long-term (6 months) tolerance of multiple-dose cidofovir in HIV-infected children with CMV retinitis. Part B: To determine the effect of multiple-dose cidofovir on the virologic parameters of CMV retinitis (viral load, shedding, and resistance to antiviral agents). [AS PER AMENDMENT 1/7/98: To determine the safety, tolerance and pharmacokinetics of sequential single doses of cidofovir in HIV-infected children with CMV retinitis. To determine the safety (including time to progression of CMV retinitis by retinal exam), pharmacokinetics, and long-term (6-month) tolerance of multiple doses of cidofovir in HIV-infected children with CMV retinitis.] While the intravenous formulation of cidofovir has been approved for the treatment of CMV retinitis in HIV-infected individuals, information is limited regarding its safety and tolerance in HIV-infected children. Intravenous cidofovir requires less frequent administration for both induction and maintenance therapy of CMV retinitis than other currently available therapies. If found to be safe and well tolerated in HIV-infected children with CMV retinitis, intravenous cidofovir would add significantly to agents available to treat this debilitating opportunistic infection.

To evaluate pyrimethamine as a prophylactic agent against toxoplasmic encephalitis in individuals who are coinfected with HIV and latent Toxoplasma gondii. Toxoplasmic encephalitis is a major cause of illness and death in AIDS patients. Standard treatment for toxoplasmic encephalitis is to combine pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine. Continuous treatment is necessary to prevent recurrence of the disease, but constant use of pyrimethamine/sulfadiazine is associated with toxicity. Clindamycin has been shown to be effective in treatment of toxoplasmic encephalitis in animal studies. This study evaluates pyrimethamine as a preventive treatment against toxoplasmic encephalitis (per 3/26/91 amendment, clindamycin arm was discontinued).

It is well known that attending Day Care Centres (DCCs) can lead to an increase in the frequency of infections, due to the high incidence at this age and also the ease of transmission among children. This high incidence respiratory tract infections (RTIs) and acute gastroenteritis can also have a significant impact on the cost of health care systems, increasing the number of medical visits, hospitalizations and prescribing medications as symptomatic drugs or unnecessary antibiotics in some cases.The aim of the study was to determine whether a multifactorial hand-hygiene program (handwashing with soap and water vs hand sanitizer vs control group) reduce episodes due to RTIs and gastroenteritis in children attending DCCs. In addition, analyze the cost-effectiveness of these interventions.

The study is randomized clustered pragmatic trial whose objective is to decrease unnecessary antibiotic prescription in adult patients with lower respiratory tract infection managed at primary care level in Switzerland, using a simple algorithm based on 2 point of care test results