Active clinical trials for "Communicable Diseases"

The investigators will determine the efficacy of an innovative short regimen of methenamine hippurate on prevention of post-operative UTI in patients requiring short-term catheterization after pelvic reconstructive surgery through a single-blind, randomized controlled trial. Primary outcome will be the rate of symptomatic UTI within 3 weeks of catheter removal. The investigators will study cost-effectiveness, antibiotic resistance profiles, and adverse drug effects. Findings may reduce antibiotic use and nosocomial UTIs.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether increased water intake is effective in preventing episodes of uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTI) in pre-menopausal women suffering from UTI recurrences.

This study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the plastic ring wound retractor to reduce the rate of surgical site infection in patients who undergo open abdomen surgery for gastrointestinal tract.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), is a type of pneumonia that develops more than 48 hours after endotracheal intubation, is common in intensive care units (ICUs). It is estimated to be responsible for 27% to 47% of ICU-acquired infections. The pathogenesis of VAP is complex but typically involves colonization of the aerodigestive tract with pathogenic bacteria, the formation of biofilms, and microaspiration of contaminated secretions. Preventing carriage of potentially pathogenic micro-organisms from the aerodigestive tract is an infection control strategy used to reduce the occurrence of VAP. One novel intervention is the administration of prophylactic probiotics which restore non-pathogenic flora that compete with pathogens, modulate local and systemic immunity, and decrease intestinal permeability and thus can be beneficial in preventing nosocomial infections in critically ill patients. The role of the probiotics in preventing VAP in mechanically ventilated patients is inconclusive. Some evidence indicates that probiotics may reduce the incidence of VAP by inhibiting pathogen adhesion, improving gut mucosal barrier function, reducing bacterial translocation and up-regulating the immune system. Furthermore, guidelines remain inconclusive regarding the role of commensal oropharyngeal flora (COF) as a causative agent in VAP, mainly due to a scarcity of studies in this research field. However, there is evidence that COF may cause pulmonary infection, mostly in immunocompromised patients.

Cotrimoxazole preventive therapy (CPT) is recommended for prevention of morbidity and mortality due to Pneumocystis pneumonia and other infections in HIV positive patients with low immunity. Common clinical practice is to start CPT in any patient with CD4 counts below 200/µL, and, conversely, to stop CPT when immunity has been restored by antiretroviral treatment to CD4 counts above 200/µL or when viral suppression has been documented for 3 months. However, the latest WHO guidelines widely expands the indication for CPT by advocating for settings with high prevalence of malaria and bacterial infections, that all patients with HIV start CPT regardless of CD4 counts and clinical stage. Furthermore, WHO recommends these patients to continue CPT indefinitely regardless of evidence of immune restoration (The recommendation is for settings with high prevalence of malaria and bacterial infections, not for high-income countries). There is limited scientific evidence to recommend prolonged CPT, as studies have shown it is associated with modestly reduced morbidity due to pneumonia, meningitis and malaria, but no corresponding reduction in mortality. The impact of such a large increase in antibiotic use on the emergence of antimicrobial resistance has not been thoroughly considered. Our previous studies in Tanzania showed that multidrug-resistant bacteria frequently cause bloodstream infections with resultant very high case-fatality rates. As genes encoding for multiple antibiotic resistance traits are transferred by plasmids together with resistance towards cotrimoxazole, prolonged CPT will likely favor the selection of carriage of multidrug-resistant gut bacteria. The proposed randomized clinical trial is designed to assess whether prolonged CPT in HIV-positive patients results in increased fecal carriage of multi-drug resistant gut microbes or increased nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Secondary endpoints are morbidity (clinical events, hospitalizations) and mortality. Stool specimens, nasal swabs and clinical data will be collected from persons attending voluntary counseling and testing facilities and HIV-clinics in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The study results may have important impact on public health in terms of assisting development of rational recommendations for CPT use, and may help prevent emerging antibiotic resistance.

This study evaluates the clinical efficacy and cost effectiveness of Prevena Incision Management System versus Dermabond in preventing groin wound infections in patients who undergo vascular surgery requiring a groin wound. Half of the patients will receive Dermabond and the other half will receive the Prevena Incision Management System for their groin wounds.

IGHN2 is an international, multicenter, double blind, randomized controlled trial aimed at assessing the efficacy on organ dysfunctions of Intravenous Immunoglobulins (IVIG) treatment in the acute phase of streptococcal or staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome in children.

A randomized controlled trial measuring surgical site infection rate as a function of timing of wound dressing removal.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate efficacy of prophylactic Ingavirin intake by people having contact with sick people infected with influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections

This study evaluates the efficacy of prophylaxis with oral vancomycin for preventing recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI) in patients who have experienced at least one CDI episode in the last 180 days and are receiving antibiotics for a non CDI condition. Participants will be randomized to receive either placebo or oral vancomycin in addition to their prescribed antibiotic therapy.