The transmission of pneumococcus in family units study

ISRCTN ISRCTN10720581
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN10720581
Secondary identifying numbers CPMS 35674
Submission date
04/11/2019
Registration date
25/11/2019
Last edited
15/01/2024
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Infections and Infestations
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Pneumococcus is a bacterium that frequently lives in the noses of young children without causing any illness. Occasionally, it causes disease like ear infections and pneumonia (chest infection) and very rarely meningitis (infection around the surface of the brain). Viral infections, like influenza (flu), seem to help pneumococcus to spread from one person to another and may contribute to these diseases. Flu is a common viral illness spread by coughing, sneezing and direct contact that causes sore throat, cough, fever, runny nose and muscle aches.
The nasal flu vaccine is the licensed vaccine that all 2- to 10-year-old children are routinely offered in the UK every autumn which is known to be safe and effective. The vaccine causes a very mild flu infection and so protects against real flu but the mild infection can change the numbers of other bugs in the nose too without causing any illness. We are conducting this study to find out whether those changes result in those bugs being passed around within the family differently. Nothing in the study changes anything that would be happening anyway, it just tracks what is going on. By understanding how these bugs are spread, we will be able to plan more effective strategies to prevent infections in the future.

Who can participate?
To take part, a family must live near to the study centre, have a healthy child who has turned 2 years of age between January 1st and August 31st (2017 if participating in season 1 or 2018 if participating in season 2) who is eligible to receive their first nasal flu vaccine during the study period and have 2 other household members (adults and/or children) that are willing and able to take part in the study. All those taking part in the study must be willing and able to provide nasal and saliva samples and complete a survey about their recent contacts with household members and other people on five occasions over about 2 months (about every 2 weeks).

What does the study involve?
The 2-year-old child in each family enrolled receives one dose of the flu vaccine that is routinely offered to children aged 2-10 years of age in the UK. Saliva samples and nose swabs are taken from the 2-year-old and all participating family members at each of 5 study visits between September and December to track the spread of bacteria within the family. Participants are also asked to complete a contact survey at each visit. Each family is involved in the study for about 3 months, and visits are carried out as home visits.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Children participating in the study who are eligible for the nasal flu vaccine receive it at home which may be more convenient and receiving the nasal flu vaccine is the best way to protect them against flu.
Participation will help further understanding in how viruses interact with bacteria that normally live in children’s noses and how these bacteria are transferred from one person to another. This will be useful in developing more effective ways to prevent infections.
There is a reimbursement of £15 per family for each of 5 sampling visits (£75 in total) in the form of vouchers to compensate for the time and trouble in participating in the study.
The most common mild symptoms that a minority of children may develop after nasal flu vaccination are runny nose/nasal congestion, cough, wheezing, fever, headaches and malaise, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea which may last for 1-2 days and are self-limiting. The vaccine has not been related to severe side effects but, as with all vaccines and medications, severe allergic reactions may occur very rarely. The study staff are trained to manage such a reaction in the unlikely event that it should occur.
Participants may feel mild discomfort for a few seconds while nasal swabs are taken. Saliva samples are easy to get and the process does not have any risks.

Where is the study run from?
Bristol Children’s Vaccine Centre at the University of Bristol (UK)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
August 2017 to December 2023

Who is funding the study?
Pfizer (USA) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (USA)

Who is the main contact?
1. Dr Jennifer Oliver, jennifer.oliver@bristol.ac.uk
2. Dr Jane Metz, jane.metz@bristol.ac.uk

Contact information

Dr Jennifer Oliver
Public

Population Health Sciences
Bristol Medical School
University of Bristol
Level 6, UH Bristol Education and Research Centre
Upper Maudlin Street
Bristol
BS2 8AE
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)1173420160
Email jennifer.oliver@bristol.ac.uk
Dr Jane Metz
Scientific

Population Health Sciences
Bristol Medical School
University of Bristol
Level 6, UH Bristol Education and Research Centre
Upper Maudlin Street
Bristol
BS2 8AE
United Kingdom

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0003-2064-8675
Phone +44 (0)7773883154
Email jane.metz@bristol.ac.uk
Prof Adam Finn
Scientific

UHB Education and Research Centre
Upper Maudlin Street
Bristol
BS2 8AE
United Kingdom

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0003-1756-5668
Phone +44 (0)1173420172
Email adam.finn@bristol.ac.uk

Study information

Study designMulti-centre prospective randomized stepped-wedge trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Community
Study typeOther
Participant information sheet As we are enrolling families, there are information sheets for the index child, children and adults.
Scientific titleEvaluation of the relationship between pneumococcal colonisation density in 2-year-old children and rates of transmission to family contacts using live attenuated intranasal influenza vaccine as a probe. A randomised prospective step-wedge multicentre study
Study acronymTOP
Study objectivesIncreased carriage density of Streptococcus pneumoniae (Sp) in the upper respiratory tract of young children following the live attenuated influenzae vaccine (LAIV) will lead to increased rates of Sp transmission to close household contacts.
Ethics approval(s)Approved 06/09/2017, West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee (Level 3, Block B, Whitefriars, Lewins Mead, Bristol BS1 2NT; +44 (0)207 104 8059; nrescommittee.southwest-cornwall-plymouth@nhs.net), ref: 17/SW/0190
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedStreptococcus pneumoniae (Sp), Haemophilus influenzae (Hi) and Moraxella catarrhalis (Mc)
InterventionThis is a step-wedge design so that both index children of group 1 and group 2 (randomly allocated at a 1:1 ratio) receive the standard dose of LAIV but at different times. The group number determines whether the two-year-old (index) child receives LAIV at the first study visit (Group 1) or at the third study visit, 4 weeks later (Group 2). Serial saliva and nasopharyngeal swabs taken every 2 weeks over an 8-week period will be analysed for Streptococcus pneumoniae using real-time PCR. Standard statistical methods including generalised linear mixed models and individual-based mathematical modelling of transmission dynamics will be used for analysis.
Intervention typeBiological/Vaccine
Pharmaceutical study type(s)
PhaseNot Applicable
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)-
Primary outcome measureStreptococcus pneumoniae carriage and transmission events in family units measured using real-time PCR on serial nasopharyngeal and saliva samples taken every 2 weeks over an 8-week period
Secondary outcome measures1. Haemophilus influenzae carriage and transmission events in family units measured using real-time PCR on serial nasopharyngeal and saliva samples taken every 2 weeks over an 8-week period.
2. Moraxella catarrhalis carriage and transmission events in family units measured using real-time PCR on serial nasopharyngeal and saliva samples taken every 2 weeks over an 8-week period
Overall study start date22/08/2017
Completion date31/12/2023

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Healthy volunteer
Age groupMixed
SexBoth
Target number of participants500 families
Key inclusion criteria1. Healthy male or female child
2. Who will be 2 years of age between 1st January and 31st August of the year of recruitment
3. Who is resident near the recruiting centres
4. Who have at least two other people, either adults or children, resident in the house where they live that are willing and able to take part
Key exclusion criteriaExclusion criteria include all contra-indications in the vaccine licence, in addition:
1. Children currently enrolled in another clinical trial or study which, in the opinion of the investigator might interfere with their likelihood of completing either or both studies or which might confound outcomes of either study. Families participating in the first year of the study who have another child of the right age and are otherwise eligible and who wish to participate again in the second year will be permitted to do so
2. Confirmed or suspected primary or secondary immunodeficiency OR known to be severely immunosuppressed due to any condition or recent (in the last 6 months) therapy (eg leukaemia, HIV infection, organ or bone marrow transplant)
3. Severely immunocompromised household member or close contact (because of potential for transmission of live attenuated virus)
4. Receipt of immunosuppressants or immune modifying drugs including oral or parenteral steroids (at a dose equivalent of prednisolone >0.5mg/kg/day for more than 1 week within the 3 months prior to enrolment). Inhaled steroids are not a contraindication (although see below re asthma and wheezing)
5. Current hospital-based management of asthma
6. Previous receipt of, or intended immunisation with any other influenza vaccine(s)
7. Children who are in risk groups for severe influenza (e.g. chronic respiratory (but for severe asthma see above), cardiac, renal, hepatic or neurological diseases and diabetes) can be enrolled and immunized in the study provided they are eligible to receive LAIV following the guidance published in the Green Book (ref: www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/456568/2904394_Green_Book_Chapter_19_v10_0.pdf)
8. Children with other chronic, stable medical illnesses that do not result in immunosuppression and are not risk groups indicating receipt of seasonal flu vaccine (e.g. epilepsy, metabolic disorders) may participate in the study, unless their condition or circumstances will in some way interfere with the completion of study procedures
9. Children receiving salicylate therapy (Aspirin)
10. Previous anaphylactic reaction to any component of the nasal flu vaccine (including gelatine or gentamicin), or to eggs or egg proteins (eg ovalbumin)
11. Any other condition or circumstances which, in the opinion of the investigator, might put the index subject or family members or research team members at risk or which might interfere with the likelihood of successful of study procedures and sampling per protocol or which might prevent the results obtained from contributing in any way with successful achievement of the study objectives
Date of first enrolment04/10/2017
Date of final enrolment31/12/2018

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centres

Bristol Children's Vaccine Centre
University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Level 6, UH Bristol Education and Research Centre
Upper Maudlin Street
Bristol
BS2 8AE
United Kingdom
St Georges Hospital, University of London
Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group
Jenner Wing, Level 2, Room 2.216F, Mail Point J2C
London
SW17 0RE
United Kingdom
University of Oxford
Oxford Vaccine Group
Department of Paediatrics
Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine (CCVTM)
Churchill Hospital
Oxford
OX3 7LE
United Kingdom
Southampton General Hospital
Southampton National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Facility
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
Mailpoint 218
Tremona Road
Southampton
SO16 6YD
United Kingdom
Royal Manchester Children's Hospital
Paediatric Research Team
Clinical Trial Management Office (ICON Building)
Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
North Road
Manchester
M13 9WL
United Kingdom
Royal United Hospital
Paediatric Clinical Research Team
Children’s Centre Outpatient’s Department B11
Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Foundation Trust
Combe Park
Bath
BA1 3NG
United Kingdom
Musgrove Park Hospital
Department of Clinical Research
Starling Clinic
Musgrove Park Hospital
Taunton
TA1 5DA
United Kingdom
NIHR Clinical Research Network: South West Peninsula
Room F7 Child Health Building
Barrack Road
Exeter
EX2 5DW
United Kingdom
Sheffield Children's Hospital
Children's Clinical Research Facility
D Floor, Stephenson Wing
Sheffield Children's Hospital
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TH
United Kingdom
Gloucester Royal Hospital
Gloucestershire Research Office
Leadon House
Great Western Road
Gloucester
GL1 3NN
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

University of Bristol
University/education

Senate House
Tyndall Avenue
Bristol
BS8 1TH
England
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)117 342 0160
Email jennifer.oliver@bristol.ac.uk
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/0524sp257

Funders

Funder type

Industry

Pfizer
Government organisation / For-profit companies (industry)
Alternative name(s)
Pfizer Inc., Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, Davis, Charles Pfizer & Company, Warner-Lambert, King Pharmaceuticals, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Seagen
Location
United States of America
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Government organisation / Trusts, charities, foundations (both public and private)
Alternative name(s)
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Gates Foundation, BMGF, B&MGF, GF
Location
United States of America

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date01/06/2024
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryData sharing statement to be made available at a later date
Publication and dissemination planThe researchers intend to present data at conferences over the next few years including at the International Symposium on Pneumococci and Pneumococcal Diseases (ISPPD) and the European Society of Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID).
Written publications are intended when all results are available.
IPD sharing planThe data sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be made available at a later date.

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
HRA research summary 28/06/2023 No No

Editorial Notes

15/01/2024: The following changes were made to the study record:
1. The overall study end date was changed from 31/12/2021 to 31/12/2023.
2. The intention to publish date was changed from 01/06/2023 to 01/06/2024.
04/01/2023: The intention to publish date was changed from 01/06/2022 to 01/06/2023.
21/12/2021: The intention to publish date was changed from 01/03/2022 to 01/06/2022.
19/04/2021: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The overall end date was changed from 31/03/2021 to 31/12/2021.
2. The intention to publish date was changed from 01/06/2021 to 01/03/2022.
3. The plain English summary was updated to reflect these changes.
05/11/2019: Trial's existence confirmed by the NIHR.