Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers for Childhood Bacterial Pneumonia
PneumoniaBacterial6 moreClinical pneumonia is a leading cause of pediatric hospitalization. The etiology is generally bacterial or viral. Prompt and optimal treatment of pneumonia is critical to reduce mortality. However, adequate pneumonia management is hampered by: a) the lack of a diagnostic tool that can be used at point-of-care (POC) and promptly and accurately allow the diagnosis of bacterial disease and b) lack of a prognostic POC test to help triage children in need of intensive assistance. Antibiotic therapy is frequently overprescribed as a result of suspected bacterial infections resulting in development of antibiotic resistance. Conversely, in malaria-endemic areas, antibiotics may also be "underprescribed" and children with bacterial pneumonia sent home without antibiotic therapy, when the clinical pneumonia is mistakenly attributed to a co-existing malaria infection. The investigators previously identified combinations of protein with 96% sensitivity and 86% specificity for detecting bacterial disease in Mozambican children with clinical pneumonia. The investigators' prior work showed that it is possible to identify biosignatures for diagnosis and prognosis using few proteins. Recently, other authors also identified different accurate biosignatures (e.g., IP-10, TRAIL and CRP). In this study, the investigators propose to validate and improve upon previous biosignatures by testing prior combinations and seeking novel combinations of markers in 900 pediatric inpatients aged 2 months to 5 years with clinical pneumonia in The Gambia. The investigators will also use alternative case criteria and seek diagnostic and prognostic combination of markers. This study will be conducted in Basse, rural Gambia, in two hospitals associated with the Medical Research Council Unity The Gambia (MRCG). Approximately 900 pediatric patients with clinical pneumonia aged 2 months to 5 years of age will be enrolled. Patients will undergo standard of care test and will have blood proteins measured through Luminex®-based immunoassays. Results of this study may ultimately support future development of an accurate point-of-care test for bacterial disease to guide clinicians in choices of treatment and to assist in the prioritization of intensive care in resource-limited settings.
Host RNA Expression Profiles and Protein Biomarkers in Neonatal Herpes Simplex Virus Infection
Neonatal Herpes Simplex InfectionNeonatal HSV Infection6 moreThis study seeks to identify and test host RNA expression profiles in context to protein biomarkers in dried blood spot samples as novel diagnostic markers of neonatal herpes simplex virus infection and to improve the understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease.
CoVid-19 - Infection and Antibody Formation in the Viennese Population
Virus DiseasesCOVID-19Summary of the study Study population: A representative sample of the Viennese population stratified by age and gender (data from the Vienna Health Study LEAD) Potential output and analysis: Extent of age-specific infection and antibody formation Cumulative incidence of infection Rate of asymptomatic infection Relationship with socioeconomics, lifestyle and risk factors (comorbidities) Study design: Prospective, longitudinal, stratified by age and gender Duration of study: Initial testing as soon as possible and repeat based on monitoring of the pandemic curve (probably after 2-3 months) Information to be obtained from participants: serum samples for information on SARS-CoV2 infection and antibody formation data on clinical symptoms
Thrombomodulin-modified Thrombin Generation Assay (TGA-TM) in Patients With Critical Infections...
Disseminated Intravascular CoagulationCritical Illness5 moreInflammation and abnormalities in laboratory coagulation tests are inseparably tied. For example, coagulation abnormalities are nearly universal in septic patients. Coagulation disorders have also been reported in many patients with severe courses of Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). But it is difficult to assess these changes. Global coagulation tests have been shown to incorrectly assess in vivo coagulation in patients admitted to intensive care units. But other tests are available. Thrombin generation assay (TGA) is a laboratory test which allows the assessment of an individual's potential to generate thrombin. But also in conventional TGA the protein C system is hardly activated because of the absence of endothelial cells (containing natural thrombomodulin) in the plasma sample. Therefore the investigators add recombinant human thrombomodulin to a conventional TGA. Thereby the investigators hope to be able to depict in vivo coagulation more closely than global coagulation tests do.
Sputum Validation for the Molecular Diagnosis of Respiratory Viral Infections in Cystic Fibrosis...
Cystic FibrosisRespiratory InfectionThe aim of this pilot study is to demonstrate the feasibility of viral biomolecular diagnosis in sputum compared to nasopharyngeal swab in cystic fibrosis acute respiratory infection.
DNA and RNA Viruses of the Blood Virome of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients...
Hematopietic Stem Cell TransplantationBlood Virome2 moreThe Geneva Blood Virome Project is a longitudinal observational study. The main objective is to describe the kinetics of the plasmatic viral load of a selection of at least 21 DNA and RNA viruses of the blood virome in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients, over a one-year period after transplantation. Secondary objectives are: 1) to assess the prevalence of DNA and RNA viruses plasmatic detections and co-detections, 2) to assess the cumulative incidence of DNA and RNA viruses plasmatic detection. The population of the study consists in adult patients receiving allogeneic stem cell transplantation at the University Hospitals of Geneva, enrolled in an already existing monocentric cohort, and for which clinical specimens are collected and stored at the time and after transplantation. The investigators plan to include 120 patients whose plasma samples are collected from March 2017 and to systematically use plasma samples collected on the day of transplantation and several time points after transplantation to screen DNA and RNA viruses by qualitative and quantitative real-time PCR and RT-PCR.
Impact of Wolbachia Deployment on Arboviral Disease Incidence in Medellin and Bello, Colombia
DengueChikungunya Virus Infection1 moreStudy setting: Medellin and Bello municipalities, Colombia Health condition(s) studied: Dengue, Zika and chikungunya virus infection Intervention: Deployment of Wolbachia-infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in Medellin and Bello. Study design: An interrupted time-series analysis utilising routine disease surveillance data collected by the Medellín and Bello Health Secretariats, which aims to compare incidence of dengue, chikungunya and Zika pre- and post-Wolbachia release. A test-negative study using an incident case-control design, which aims to quantify the reduction in disease incidence among people living within a Wolbachia-treated zone compared with an untreated zone that has a similar dengue risk profile at baseline.
The Pilot Study of Chikungunya Virus Infections in Southern Taiwan
Chikungunya FeverThis test is to be collected during the dengue outbreak samples, including samples back in the past and forward to close the case, investigating the prevalence of serum Chikungunya virus infection, and against those suspected dengue fever, Chikungunya disease-related tests conducted to clarify dengue and Chikungunya disease of clinical judgment, rapid method to detect Chikungunya virus and then develop.
Do Low High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) Levels Predict Treatment Outcome in Patients With Chronic...
Chronic Hepatitis C Viral InfectionThe working hypothesis is that the low HDL serum level predict favorable response to anti viral treatment in chronic HCV (genotype 1) viral infection. This might be used to improve the rate of sustained virologic response.
Respiratory Viral Infection in Nursing Home Slovenia
Acute Viral Respiratory Tract DiseasesThis study will be conducted in a 208-bed nursing home in Maribor. The investigators will observe a group of a 100 nursing-home residents and 50 health care workers- employees in the nursing home- in a six months period.Influenza vaccination status will be recorded in all participants at the beginning. At the beginning and at the end of the study the blood samples for vitamin D concentration determination and nasopharyngeal swabs for molecular detection of respiratory viruses will taken in all of the participants. The study will observe number of viral respiratory tract infection in participants and identify the viral etiology of infections during 6 months observational period.Nasopharyngeal swab and blood sample will be taken in each of the participant who will suffer an acute respiratory tract infection (upper or lower respiratory tract infection) and viral agents of respiratory tract diseases will be searched for. The investigators will try to detect different viral agents of respiratory tract infection: human rhinoviruses, enteroviruses, influenza A, B, parainfluenza 1-4, respiratory syncytial virus, human coronaviruses, human metapneumovirus, adenoviruses and human bocavirus with newer molecular methods (real-time polymerase chain reaction, real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction) in nasopharyngeal swab and in blood sample of the participants. During the study period the investigators will monitor the daily number of visitors (adults, preschool children and pupils) in each nursing home room. The epidemiological aspect of respiratory viral infection will be assessed. Our study hypothesis is that lower respiratory tract infections in elderly can be caused by viruses other than influenza. The investigators would like to know if hypovitaminosis D is a risk factor for respiratory tract infections in nursing home residents and employees. The investigators would also like to know if the number of respiratory tract infections in elderly correlates with the number of visitors in nursing home, small children in particular.