Active clinical trials for "Communicable Diseases"

To collect and summarize information on the diagnosis, management, and clinical and mycological outcomes of patients with systemic fungal infections in order to better understand the effectiveness of antifungals in the treatment of Systemic Fungal Infections (SFI) in India.

Background: Community acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is an emerging pathogen of the 21st century whose incidence as a cause of local and invasive infections has significantly increased, especially in previously healthy term and near term newborns. The etiology of the increasing incidence of infection in previously healthy term and near-term newborns remains unclear. Hypothesis: The incidence of previously healthy newborns infected with CA-MRSA skin & soft tissue (SSTI) and invasive infections is higher in those born to mothers colonized with CA-MRSA. Pregnant women colonized with CA-MRSA are at higher risk for post-partum infection with this organism. Specific Aims: To determine the incidence of nasal and vaginal colonization with CA-MRSA in pregnant women and determine the genetic similarities of these strains. To study CA-MRSA transmission dynamics and evaluate the incidence of SSTI and invasive infections in newborns born to S. aureus colonized mothers. To study the efficacy of attempted decolonization in CA-MRSA colonized mothers in decreasing the incidence of transmission and development of SSTI and invasive infections in their infants during the first month of life. Potential Impact: Understanding the epidemiology of the transmission dynamics of CA-MRSA in previously healthy newborns will provide important information to support the development of strategies aimed at the interruption of transmission and prevention of infection caused by CA-MRSA in newborns, as well as in pregnant women. This will also allow for the development of infection control strategies to prevent the spread of this organism among post-partum units and nurseries.

Due to genetic polymorphism about 15%-30% of the world population have low levels of MBL (Mannose Binding Lectin) in serum (below 500ng/mL). Different studies reported correlation between polymorphism in the MBL gene with low levels of MBL in serum and higher frequency of recurrent infections, severity of sepsis, ARDS and other infections. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is one of the very common infection in women. Since MBL is part of the innate immunity and there are proofs of relation between patients with recurrent infections and lack of MBL, we decided to explore a possible relation between low levels of MBL and different genotypes of MBL in young women and the risk to develop recurrent UTI.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the drug concentrations in the conjunctiva and aqueous humor of AzaSite™ compared to Vigamox® in subjects undergoing routine cataract surgery

The main objective of this study is to assess whether a recently-developed bioassay for the protein FGL2 can be used to predict the progression and/or response to treatment of Hepatitis C Virus disease in patients with chronic HCV infection. The hypothesis is that increased levels of FGL2 and increased numbers of T regulatory cells are associated with a failure to respond to treatment.

The purpose of this study was to determine if the use of daily chlorhexidine bathing would decrease the incidence of MRSA and VRE colonization and healthcare associated Bloodstream Infections (BSI) among Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients.

In this project we will study the capacity for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in TLR4 gene to induce varying levels of inflammatory chemokine and cytokine production.

To conduct epidemiological, laboratory, and survey research on volunteer blood donors within the United States to ensure the safety and availability of the United States' blood supply.

The purpose of this study is to learn about lower respiratory tract and bloodstream diseases among infants born to HIV positive mothers in Botswana. Study factors include how commonly infants get these diseases, the causes, and outcomes. The study will also try to measure the protective effect, if any, of breast feeding on respiratory disease illness and deaths.

This study will evaluate the reliability of a new test called Real-Time Polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR) in detecting cytomegalovirus (CMV) in the blood and predicting the course of CMV disease in patients who have recently had a bone marrow transplant. The test's effectiveness will be compared with that of the "pp65 antigenemia assay" now routinely used for this purpose. CMV is a common virus that is transmitted from person to person by close personal contact. In most healthy people, CVM can remain in the body indefinitely without causing any harm. But, in people with weakened immune systems-including those who have just undergone bone marrow transplant-CMV infection can cause serious, and possibly fatal, complications. Drugs are available to treat this infection, however. Optimum treatment depends on early and accurate detection. Patients aged 10 to 80 years who are scheduled to undergo bone marrow transplant at the NIH Clinical Center as part of an NIH protocol may be eligible for this 2-phase study. In phase 1, patients will have blood drawn for both RT PCR and antigenemia testing once before the bone marrow transplantation and then weekly for the first 100 days after the transplant. During Phase 2-which begins immediately after the end of phase 1 and continues for one year after the transplant-blood samples for both tests will be drawn up to once a week. The samples for both tests will be collected at the same time and will be taken through a catheter (a thin flexible tube inserted into a vein) that has already been placed for the transplant study. RT PCR testing will require an extra 5 milliliters (1 teaspoon) above what is needed for antigenemia testing, amounting to a maximum of about one-half pint extra over the course of the 1-year study. It is hoped that the new RT PCR test will prove to be more accurate in detecting CMV infection and predicting disease development, thus enabling doctors to plan early and effective treatment.