Active clinical trials for "Communicable Diseases"

This study is a multi-site trial assessing the sensitivity of Chagas Detect™ Plus rapid test versus standard reference tests (e.g. IFA, IHA, RIPA) for Chagas diagnosis. The Chagas Detect™ Plus rapid test serves as an aid in the clinical laboratory diagnosis of Chagas infection in patients. This test is intended to be used on human whole blood or serum samples. Chagas Detect™ Plus results (positive or negative) must be confirmed by testing with a reference standard test. Subjects will be patients at clinical sites located in Chagas-endemic areas. After informed consent is obtained and the subject is screened for eligibility, 2 diagnostic samples will be collected. One is blood from finger prick, and the other is blood from venous puncture (drawn from vein in arm). Rapid tests and reference tests will be performed by different operators who are laboratory staff members. These staff members, blinded to each other's results, will evaluate the samples from each method independently.

The purpose of this study is to identify bacterial and/or clinical features involved in the pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus implant-associated infections (IAI). Materials & methods: In total, 57 IAI S. aureus and 31 nasal carriage (NC) S. aureus isolates were studied. Staphylococcus aureus genetic background was obtained by microarray analysis. Multilocus sequence typing was performed to determine clonal complexes (CC). Biofilm production was investigated by resazurin and crystal violet methods

Estimate the rate of occurrence of Invasive Fungal Infections (IFIs) in patients with acute leukemia for the first 6 months of chemotherapy (that usually correspond to four courses of chemotherapy), and hematopoietic stem cells transplantation.

The proposed study is a substudy of ATN 106 and a cross sectional study intended to be conducted at each of the AMTUs newly participating in ATN III. The intent is to enroll all youth with behaviorally-acquired HIV who have enrolled in ATN 106. The study involves a review of the subjects' medical chart and a collection of an oral rinse sample.

Purpose: identification of factors predisposing for Post-Infectious Irritable Bowel Syndrome (PI-IBS) development after an episode of traveler's diarrhea identification of systemic (serum) and local (biopsy) changes in infectious and immunological activity during infection and correlation with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) symptoms, persisting after traveler's diarrhea Design: 4 study visits: before traveling, 2 weeks after traveling, 6 months after traveling, 12 months after traveling at each study visit following investigations: blood collection, stool collection, questionnaires, rectal biopsy

The main purpose of this study is to review the resource utilization of severe adult H1N1 pneumonia undergoing antiviral and oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation and support with pulmonary rescue therapies ( nitric oxide, ECMO, HFO) in critically ill patients in Winnipeg. Secondary objectives include, comparison of resource utilization to other similar disorders (viral pneumonia, bacterial pneumonia, septic shock, ARDS). The investigators will also look at the percentage of patients that required ICU care as compared to those who could be cared for on medical wards. The investigators will determine the resources used by both groups and compare. Finally the investigators will record the frequency of chronic comorbidities in hospitalized adult H1N1 patients.

Up to date methods for diagnosis of Catheter Related Bloodstream Infections (CRBSI) are performed only when CRBSI is clinically suspected. Thus, patients may actually suffer from CRBSI and are at risk to concurrently suffer from or develop complications like endocarditis or septic embolism when diagnostic procedures for the detection of CRBSI are introduced. The aim of the project is to investigate a more sensitive and specific test for anticipative diagnosis of CRBSI using biphasic PNA FISH test compared to Gram stain/AOLC test.

The aim of this study is to define the etiology of intra-abdominal infections, to study the role of Enterococcus spp and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in these infections and to clarify the need for specific enterococcal antimicrobial coverage.

USPIO contrast enhancement results from intracellular trapping of the iron particles in reactive cells, especially macrophages. 17FDG-PET studies have demonstrated that macrophages are present in spine infectious diseases but are absent in spine degenerative diseases. The aim of this work is to compare the enhancement induced by CLIAVIST in both diseases. The absence of macrophages in degenerative lesions should help to differentiate them from infectious lesions, who should present contrast enhancement in relation to the presence of macrophages.

The purpose of this study is to determine the changing patterns of infection caused by Candida species in urban medical centers and its influence on patient outcomes. A retrospective cohort study design will be employed with the main outcome measure being hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes including microbiologic clearance of the infection, duration of hospitalization, and the intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay will also be assessed.