
Modulation of Biomarkers in Patients With Flesh-eating Bacterial Infections After With Hyperbaric...
Necrotizing Soft Tissue InfectionNecrotizing Fasciitis2 moreThe purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of hyperic oxygen treatment on the immune response in patients with necrotizing soft tissue infections

Antibiotic Stewardship and Infection Control in Patients at High Risk of Developing Infection by...
Clostridium Difficile InfectionVRE Infection2 moreThroughout project, the investigators design, evaluate and disseminate infection control and antibiotic stewardship (ABS) measures aimed at reducing the incidence of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). The measures will focus on known departments with high incidence of CDI, i.e. a) hematology/oncology, b) other departments/wards demonstrating above-average infection rates, which were identified throughout previous studies. The infection control package will include staff training, hand hygiene programs and disinfection measures. Throughout the ABS package, investigators will develop and implement ABS measures specifically designed for patients at the highest risk of developing hospital-acquired infections, i.e. those treated on hematological/oncological wards. Potentially useful ABS actions even in critically ill patients are early reduction of exposure based on microbiological results, timely cessation of anti-infective treatment, thoughtful implementation of screening measures and biomarkers, defined approaches to patients known to be allergic to penicillins, and vigorous enforcement of clinical and microbiological diagnosis of infection focus. The IC and ABS measures aim at educating and assisting clinical personnel in realizing treatments according to official guidelines. There will not be a direct contact between study personnel and patient. There will be no direct recruitment of patients.

Evaluation of Cost of Nosocomial Infection
Crossing InfectionsDrug Resistance1 moreThis study will investigate the cost and impact of Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) to patients, the health service and the wider community. This is in order to develop a model to allow policy makers to compare the cost effectiveness of Infection Prevention and Control measures in NHSScotland. The model will support policy makers and clinical teams in building a patient centred, safe, effective and efficient service.

A Systems Biology Approach to Malaria Immunity
Plasmodium Falciparum InfectionThis is a phase I study that will assess the acquisition of immunity to Pf malaria over the course of 5 sequential Controlled Human Malaria Infections (CHMI) over 2-4 years, in 10 healthy adult participants. 10 subjects will initially be challenged with 5 uninfected mosquitoes (mock), followed by 5 challenges with 5 mosquitoes infected with drug sensitive, P. falciparum parasites (strain NF54) 2, 8, 14-20, 20-32, and 32-36 months later. For the final four infective CMHIs six additional immunologic malaria-naïve subjects will be enrolled and challenged as infectivity controls. If dropouts occur within the original 10 person cohort, and two or more CHMI remain, back-up replacement volunteers will be recruited to undergo successive CHMI with the core group. All volunteers (repeat CHMI subjects and infectivity controls) will be evaluated as part of an inpatient stay (or outpatient daily follow-up) to diagnose Pf malaria infection and treat with Coartem(R) (artemether/lumefantrine) or Malarone(R) (Atovaquone/proguanil). Daily observation will occur from Study Days 9-19 or until three-day directly observed therapy for P. falciparum infection is complete and two negative smears separated by a time interval >12 hours have been documented. A third negative smear >12 hours after the previous two daily smears will be documented to affirm malaria cure. Infectivity Controls enrolled as part of CHMI #5 will be treated based on concomitant us qPCR results. The repeat CHMI subjects will have additional outpatient visits days 1, 3, 5, and 7 after the challenge to obtain blood samples to monitor the development of immunity. The study is expected to last for 48 months and will include approximately 34 healthy male and female volunteers (10 active study volunteers and 18 naïve controls to confirm Pf infectivity during the 2nd -5th CHMI challenges) ages 18 to 50 years, inclusive, from the greater Baltimore community. The primary objective of this study is to determine whether protective immunity against parasite infection develops following repeat CHMI.

Adherence to Oral Antibiotics In Patients With Osteoarticular Infections
Bone and Joint InfectionAdherence1 moreBone and joint infection (BJI) are bacterial infections that can occur after surgery (nosocomial infections) or de novo. They constitute a public health problem in Western Countries . These infections are often difficult to treat, with a high rate of re-hospitalizations (19.5%) caused by relapses or recurrences. The treatment of Bone and joint infection can be surgical and / or pharmacological . Drug treatment is based on the use of parenteral and / or oral antibiotics. It is a curative therapy in most cases, with a prolonged duration ranging from 6 weeks to several months depending on the lesions . Medication adherence, is a patients' behavior defined as drug intake with optimal attendance and regularity, as prescribed and explained by the physician. It is a key factor in the success of any drug therapy, as drugs don't work in patients who don't take them.. To the knowledge of investigators, there are no published data on the adherence to antibiotic therapy in patients treated for Bone and joint infection. In addition to its prolonged duration, the antibiotic treatment of the Osteoarticular Infections may require several daily drug intakes and may be responsible for severe adverse effects, these three factors being known to adversely affect adherence. Prevalence, adherence patterns over time and determinants of adherence in this patient population are not known. Currently, drug adherence is not routinely evaluated and is not considered in the treatment of Bone and joint infection in the Regional Center for Complex Bone and joint infection of the investigators. A specific study evaluating adherence to antibiotic therapy in patients treated for Bone and joint infection appears to be justified.

Pristinamycin in the Treatment of MSSA Bone and Joint Infection
Methicillin Susceptible Staphylococcus Aureus (MSSA) InfectionBone and Joint InfectionStaphylococcus aureus represents the leading pathogen implicated in bone and joint infection (BJI), usually requiring prolonged combination antimicrobial therapy, which may be particularly challenging in the case of MDR bacteria and/or for patients with multiple drug intolerance. In the absence of new well-tolerated oral antistaphylococcal drugs, older antibiotics must be considered, such as the pristinamycin. However, pristinamycin is not currently licensed for treatment of staphylococcal BJI and lack of clinical data prevents it from being considered as a reliable alternative therapeutic option in current guidelines. The aim of this study is to evaluate pristinamycin (efficacy and tolerance) in the treatment of MSSA bone and joint infection (BJI).

Abdominal Ultrasonography in Urinary Tract Infection - When and Why?
Urinary Tract InfectionsUTIUrinary tract infection (UTI) in a child may be the first symptom of congenital anomaly of the kidneys and the urinary tract (CAKUT). Thus, imaging diagnostics are warranted in children with first episode of UTI. Abdominal ultrasonography (USG) is the first line imaging modality in evaluating children with UTI. Abnormalities suggesting CAKUT found on USG are an indication for further, more invasive tests. The timing of USG in UTI depends on the clinical situation. It always should be performed urgently when serious acute complications of UTI are suspected. However, appropriate timing of USG in children responding well to therapy, is a matter of debate. According to animal studies, E. coli produces toxin which dilates the urinary tract. This may result in misleading picture on USG in acute phase of infection. Guidelines on UTI management in children differ in respect to recommended USG timing. The purpose of the study is to investigate how UTI does affect USG results in children and when its effect subsides. Methods 150 children up to 3 years of age, with the first episode of UTI, will be included in our study. Three USG examinations will be performed by single radiologist in every child: in the first day of treatment, two weeks after treatment initiation, four weeks after treatment initiation. Age, gender, etiologic factor, C-reactive protein concentration and white blood cells count will be included in statistical analysis. The study is aimed to help clinicians interpret USG findings during UTI and make reasonable plans for further imaging diagnostics in children with UTI.

Neurologic Manifestations of the Arbovirus Infection in Colombia
EncephalitisMyelitis7 moreThis is a multi-center case-control study that aims to define the association between the exposure to an arbovirus infection and the development of a neurological syndrome in patients from Colombia. The study makes part of the Neurovirus Emerging in the Americas Study (NEAS) that is a collaborative effort that looks to combine the efforts of researchers, healthcare providers and patients in Colombia to establish a comprehensive registry of the clinical, radiological and laboratory profile of patients with new onset of neurological diseases associated mosquito-borne viruses, known as arboviruses.

Daptomycin > 6 mg/kg/Day as Salvage Therapy in Patients With Complex Bone and Joint Infection: Cohort...
Bone and Joint InfectionTreated by DaptomycinThe choice of antimicrobial therapy to treat complex bone and joint infections (BJI) is challenging, requiring consideration of: (i) the problem of bone diffusion; (ii) the necessity of using antimicrobials active against bacterial biofilms; (iii) the growing incidence of antibiotic resistance; and (iv) the high risk of severe adverse events (SAE) in response to first-line antimicrobials in these patients. Consequently, off-label use of recently developed antimicrobials, such as daptomycin, is frequently required as salvage therapy in complex BJI. Even if daptomycin does not have approval for the treatment of BJI, the Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines propose this antibiotic as alternative therapy for prosthetic joint infection. The recommended dose is 6 mg/kg/d, whereas recent data support the use of higher doses in these patients as bone penetration of daptomycin is limited. The present cohort study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of prolonged high-dose (>6 mg/kg/d) daptomycin salvage therapy in patients with complex BJI.

The Effects of Omega-3 PUFAs on the Infant Microbiome and Immunity
Microbial ColonizationInfant DevelopmentPrenatal supplementation with fish oil, rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, is widely recommended in Canada. The aim of this observational, prospective cohort study is to determine the effects of maternal fish oil supplements on the development of their infants' gut microbiota and immunity.