Active clinical trials for "Communicable Diseases"

The purpose of this study is to implement strategies for improved efficiency and waste reduction ("Toyota Lean") and positive deviance, a social behavioral change process, utilizing frontline healthcare personnel to reduce infection bloodstream infection and MRSA infection in outpatient dialysis care. In two outpatient dialysis units, dialysis unit healthcare staff will be educated in Toyota lean techniques and conduct periodic "discovery and action" dialogues to identify and implement care process changes to reduce infection. Outcomes to be monitored will include incidence of bloodstream infections and MRSA infections of all types. Data will be assessed at quarterly intervals using interrupted time series analysis.

The investigators intend to investigate whether the rise in childhood obesity is caused by the loss of recurrent and chronic infections in modern, industrialized society, beginning in utero and extending through early childhood. The investigators will also examine whether the antimicrobial triclosan, present in numerous cleaning and hygiene products, decreases the incidence of infection within a household.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the Cepheid GeneXpert system accurately detects Methicillin-Resistant and -Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus in blood cultures and wound swabs.

The xTAG Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel (xTAG GPP) is a PCR-based assay to detect the presence or absence of gastrointestinal (GI) pathogens from human stool specimens. The objective of this study is to establish diagnostic accuracy of the xTAG GPP.

Major interest in our investigation is to find out whether distinct fixation techniques influence catheter dislocation and/ or incidence of local inflammation. A systematic comparison of two different fixation techniques with regard to catheter location, analgetic potential and signs of local inflammation will be conducted. To ensure identical patients groups allocation will be strictly randomized. Furthermore, both patient groups will receive identical pain medication via the peridural catheter in situ. All catheter tips will be screened microbiologically after removal.

The purpose of this study is to assess whether triclosan-coated sutures reduces wound infections compared to regular non-coated sutures, after saphenous vein harvesting in CABG patients.

The prevalence of extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing bacteria found in urine sample cultures has been increasing over the past decades. The study hypothesis is to assess the clinical and microbiological outcome of pivmecillinam treatment of ESBL producing E. coli and K. Pneumoni, as well as to observe the clinical and microbiological outcome of the same group of bacteria treated with other antiinfectious agents. Samples are gathered in primary care setting.

During the last years, the investigators were the witness to the increase of a old emerging pest due to bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) in the world. Insecticides resistances apparitions and internationals transports increases seem to be the reasons of the pest. Cimex lectularius as vector of parasites, bacteria or virus was often suggested although not much observation are recently investigated in France. This study intends to examine the vectorial ability and the direct pathogenicity of Cimex lectularius.

The purpose of this study is to determine rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among African American women who have sex with women (AAWSW). In addition, the study is interested in better understanding the types of risk behaviors that place AAWSW at risk for STIs. The investigators hypothesis is that AAWSW experience high rates of STIs, similar to heterosexual African American women. Knowledge gained from this study will guide development of interventions to reduce women's risk for these types of infections and will improve how AAWSW are screened for STIs.

The purposes of this study are: To determine whether procalcitonin level at admission of pediatric patients with bacterial infections can be used as a marker for prediction of defervescence and hospitalization length To examine the kinetics of procalcitonin in pediatric patients with bacterial infections and persistent fever