Community-acquired sepsis-like syndrome and paediatric acute respiratory tract infection in childhood study
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN66872125 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN66872125 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | Protocol version 1.0 (18/09/2015) |
- Submission date
- 10/08/2016
- Registration date
- 30/08/2016
- Last edited
- 30/08/2016
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Infections and Infestations
Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Sepsis-like syndrome (SLS, or blood infection) and acute respiratory infection (ARI, or chest infection) are two of the main types of severe viral infection in children. Often these children are so unwell they have to go to hospital. Rarely, long-term problems and even death can result from the infection. In the past bacteria were the main causes for many severe infections. However, due to successful vaccine programmes, viruses are now mostly to blame. This is worrying as viruses have the potential to cause large-scale outbreaks affecting the health of many people, as was the case in the recent worldwide swine flu outbreak. The focus of this study will be the specific viruses that are known to play a role in a proportion of severe cases of SLS and ARI. A better understanding of the role of viruses will help us to diagnose and manage affected children and work out how to better respond to outbreaks. The aim of this study is to look at the causes, symptoms, clinical management, impact and outcomes for children with SLS and ARI. In addition, many viruses traditionally thought to be important causes of SLS and ARI are being detected in children without symptoms. This will be considered by also inviting children without symptoms of SLS or ARI to participate in the study.
Who can participate?
1. Hospitalised infants (under 6 months old) with signs of blood infections
2. Hospitalised children (under 6 years old) with signs of chest infections
3. Children with no signs of severe infection, attending hospital for surgery, x-ray, blood test etc
What does the study involve?
Samples are collected from all participants on their day of admission to hospital, including nose swabs, urine, blood and stool samples, as well as cerebrospinal fluid (a body fluid found in the brain and spine), if taken as part of routine treatment, along with other information from the child’s medical notes. For the children with signs of blood/chest infections, clinical observations, medications and clinical management are recorded on admission and weekly until discharge or day 30 of hospitalisation (whichever comes first). A few of the children with blood infections are also followed up one year later.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There are no direct benefits to either the child or the legal guardians/carers of the child, for participating in this study. However, many people find it a real benefit to help in a study which may change how we care for children in the future. There are very few risks associated with this study, as we do not intend to collect any additional samples from the child. On the rare occasion that additional blood samples are needed, the skilled teams will do everything they can to reduce any discomfort to the child, such as using a cream which helps to numb the skin.
Where is the study run from?
1. St George’s University of London (UK)
2. University of Tartu (Estonia)
3. C.H. Regionaire Universitaire de Lille (France)
4. H. U. Robert Debrè. Paris (France)
5. National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Greece)
6. Aristotle University Thessaloniki (Greece)
7. Universittasklinikum Freiburg (Germany)
8. Azienda Ospedaliera di Padova (Italy)
9. Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù (Italy)
10. Vilnius University Children's Hospital (Lithuania)
11. Victor Babes Clinical Hospital (Romania)
12. Hospital 12 de Octubre (Spain)
13. Hospital Clinico de Santiago de Compostela (Spain)
14. Kinderspital Zurich (Switzerland)
15. Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust (UK)
16. Great Ormond Street Hospital (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
August 2015 to December 2018
Who is funding the study?
Seventh Framework Programme (Belgium)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Jessica Jarvis
Contact information
Scientific
Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group
Department of Infection and Immunology
St George's University of London
Jenner Wing, Level 2, Room 2.216F, Mail Point J2C
London
SW17 ORE
United Kingdom
Study information
| Study design | Observational prospective case-control study |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Observational |
| Secondary study design | Case-control study |
| Study setting(s) | Hospital |
| Study type | Other |
| Participant information sheet | Not available in web format, please use contact details to request a participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Multi-centre EuRopean study of MAjor Infectious Disease Syndromes (MERMAIDS): community-acquired sepsis-like syndrome and paediatric acute respiratory tract infection in childhood |
| Study acronym | PED-MERMAIDS |
| Study hypothesis | Sepsis-like syndrome (SLS) and acute respiratory tract infection (ARI) are frequent causes of hospitalisation in infants and young children, and pose a risk of severe outcomes and potentially also of long-term complications. Both can be caused by pathogens with epidemic potential, importantly enterovirus (EV) and human parechovirus (HPeV) for SLS, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), FLU, human rhinovirus (HRV), S. pneumoniae for ARI. A better understanding of the role of these pathogens can inform diagnostics, surveillance and management in this vulnerable age group as well as prevention and outbreak response management. The overall aim of this observational, case-control study is to prospectively study the aetiology, diagnostics, clinical management, impact and outcomes across Europe of: 1. Community-acquired sepsis-like syndrome in hospitalised infants (<6 months old) 2. Community-acquired acute respiratory tract infection in hospitalised children (<6 years old) The study will focus on specific pathogens known to be aetiological agents of the two syndromes of interest (SLS and ARI). The study will also contribute to capacity building within the paediatric PREPARE network aimed at establishing early and robust European responses to (re-)emerging infections including rapid identification, control and research responses. |
| Ethics approval(s) | London - City & East Research Ethics Committee, 02/03/2016, REC ref: 16/LO/0163 |
| Condition | Sepsis-like syndrome (SLS) and acute respiratory infections (ARI) in children |
| Intervention | ELIGIBILITY Participants will be assessed against pre-determined eligibility criteria (inclusion and exclusion criteria). Cases will be assessed at the time of presentation or within 24 hours of admission. This study will recruit children into three groups: 1. Infants (<6 months old) admitted to a participating hospital with a new episode of community-acquired sepsis-like syndrome 2. Children (< 6 years old) admitted to a participating hospital with a new episode of community-acquired acute respiratory infection 3. Age-matched afebrile controls (< 6 years old) STUDY PROCEDURES FOR PARTICIPANTS WITH SLS OR ARI Informed consent (Day 0) with the option of deferred consent will be sought. All participants for whom legal guardians/carers have provided informed consent will have a baseline assessment that will be recorded on a designated CRF. This will include: 1. Demographics, medical history, physical examination findings and vital signs 2. Basic information on clinical management 3. Results of routine investigations Sampling (Day 0-1) For SLS and ARI cases, research-specific samples (blood, urine, nasopharyngeal, stool, and if available CSF) will be obtained with the first set of routine samples within 24 hours of admission (day 0) and processed once eligibility has been confirmed and written informed consent has been obtained. Clinical data Clinical observations, medications and clinical management will be recorded in the CRF on admission/baseline assessment (Day 0), and weekly (every 7 days) for cases until discharge, death or day 30 of hospitalisation (whichever comes first) Weekly clinical data will include: 1. Documentation of survival status, total days of supplemental oxygen, total days of invasive or non-invasive ventilator support and total days of pharmacological inotropic support 2. Admission to Paediatric Intensive Care Unit or Paediatric High Dependency Unit, and total length of stay, receipt of immunomodulators and duration of antibiotic and/or antiviral exposure during hospitalisation 3. Neurological complications (SLS cases) 4. Developmental assessment at 12 months of age (subgroup SLS cases) Follow up visits Follow-up visits are not planned for most cases or controls, except for a subgroup of approximately 40 SLS cases. They will be invited for developmental assessments at 12 months of age. STUDY PROCEDURES FOR CONTROLS Informed consent (Day 0) For controls, deferred consent will not apply as their admission will be planned and not an emergency. Research- specific samples will be obtained only after parental informed consent has been given. Baseline assessment (Day 0) All participants for whom legal guardians/carers have provided informed consent will have a baseline assessment that will be recorded on a designated CRF. This will include: 1. Demographics 2. Medical history 3. Physical examination findings 4. Vital signs Sampling (Day 0-1) Samples will include nasopharyngeal swab, blood, urine and stool samples Follow-up visits are not planned for controls |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure | SLS 1. The proportions of infants with SLS in whom EV or HPeV is detected in blood (day 0) and the strength of association between EV or HPeV detection in blood in SLS cases compared to controls (odds ratio and 95% CI) 2. The proportions of infants with SLS in whom EV or HPeV is detected in nasopharyngeal and/or stool samples (day 0) and the strength of association between EV or HPeV detection in nasopharyngeal and/or stool samples in SLS cases compared to controls (odds ratio and 95% CI) ARI The proportions of infants with ARI in whom RSV, FLU, HRV or S. pneumoniae is detected in nasopharyngeal samples (day 0) and the strength of association between their detection in nasopharyngeal samples in ARI cases compared to controls (odds ratio and 95% CI) |
| Secondary outcome measures | SLS 1. Association between viral load in blood on day 0 and disease severity 2. Association between pathogen co-detection on day 0 and disease severity 3. Subtypes of EV or HPeV identified in blood collected on day 0 4. Characterisation of key parameters describing clinical management of SLS including: 4.1. Proportion admitted to intensive care (and duration) during hospitalisation 4.2. Proportion treated with antimicrobials, antivirals and/or immunomodulators during admission (and average duration of treatment) 4.3. Proportion of cases requiring during admission: supplemental oxygen, non-invasive or invasive mechanical ventilation, extra-corporeal life support 4.4. Duration of invasive mechanical ventilation and extra-corporeal life support, if applicable 4.5. Average length of hospitalisation (in days) 4.6. In-hospital mortality 5. Bayley scales of infant development and Denver II developmental screening test at discharge and at 12 months of age in a subset of 40 SLS cases Severe disease will be defined as cases with requirement for supplementary oxygen, ventilatory and/or inotropic support (pharmacological or mechanical) and/or cases who die in hospital (all-cause mortality) ARI 1. Association between viral load in nasopharyngeal swabs on day 0 and disease severity 2. Association between bacterial load in nasopharyngeal swabs on day 0 and disease severity 3. Association between pathogen co-detection in nasopharyngeal swabs on day 0 and disease severity 4. Characterisation of key parameters describing clinical management of ARI including: 4.1. Proportion admitted to intensive care during hospitalisation and average length of stay 4.2. Proportion treated with antimicrobials, antivirals and/or immunomodulators during admission (and average duration of treatment) 4.3. Proportion of cases requiring during admission: supplemental oxygen, non-invasive or invasive mechanical ventilation, extra-corporeal life support 4.4. Duration of invasive mechanical ventilation and extra-corporeal life support, if applicable 4.5. Average length of hospitalisation (in days) 4.6. In-hospital mortality 5. Comparison of gene expression profiles (microarray) associated with SARI in adult patients to gene expression profiles in children with severe disease ARI Severe disease will be defined as cases with requirement for supplemental oxygen and/or ventilatory and/or inotropic support (pharmacological or mechanical) and/or cases who die in hospital (all-cause mortality) |
| Overall study start date | 01/08/2015 |
| Overall study end date | 31/12/2018 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Mixed |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | SLS group: 400 children ≤ 6 months old (at least 300 cases + 52 asymptomatic controls); ARI group: 600 children 0 to 5 years old (at least 320 cases + 268 asymptomatic controls) |
| Participant inclusion criteria | The study will recruit into three groups (SLS, ARI and controls), each with different inclusion criteria. SLS Group Cases: 1. Age <6 months old on the day of admission (day 0) into the study 2. Onset of symptoms within 7 days 3. The attending physician has decided that the infant requires hospitalisation 4. Temperature ≥38°C or <36°C measured by any method 5. Informed consent collected on admission or within 48 hours available from guardian/carer AND at least TWO of the below (with at least ONE of either 1 or 2): 1. Signs of cardiovascular dysfunction: age-related tachycardia or bradychardia or hypotension or need for ≥40 ml/kg fluid resuscitation in first hour after presentation to hospital on day of recruitment 2. Signs of respiratory dysfunction: age-related tachypnoea or brady/apnoea or decreased oxygen saturation (<92% in room air) 3. Skin signs: mottled skin appearance or non-blanching rash or central CRT >2 seconds 4. Neurological signs: irritability, hypotonia, lethargy or an AVPU score V or below ARI Group Cases: 1. Age <6 years old on the day of admission (day 0) into the study 2. Clinical suspicion of a new episode of acute respiratory tract illness within the last 7 days 3. The attending physician has decided that the child requires hospitalisation 4. Primary reason for hospital admission is clinical suspicion of a new episode of ARI 5. Temperature ≥38°C measured by any method 6. Informed consent collected on admission or within 48 hours available from guardian/carer AND at least TWO of the below (with at least ONE of 1 or 2): 1. Signs of lower respiratory tract infection: cough, abnormal sounds on chest auscultation (crackles, reduced breath sounds, bronchial breathing, wheezing), dyspnoea (chest indrawing, nasal flaring, grunting) 2. Signs of upper respiratory tract infection: coryza, nasal congestion, sore throat, pharyngitis, myringitis, acute otitis media 3. Signs of respiratory dysfunction: age-related tachypnoea or brady/apnoea or decreased oxygen saturation (<92% in room air) 4. Signs of reduced general state: poor feeding, vomiting, lethargy/drowsiness CONTROLS: 1. Age < 6 years old on the day of enrolment into the study 2. Afebrile on the day of enrolment 3. No evidence of severe infection as judged by attending physician 4. Informed consent available from guardian/carer Controls aged < 6 months old will be shared between both groups. Controls should be matched to cases stratified by five age groups (0-3 months, 4-6 months, 7-11 months, 12 months-2 years and 3-5 years) and season (three-monthly intervals starting with January-March). They may be selected from the following patient groups: 1. Attending for an elective or semi-elective procedure requiring general anaesthesia or moderate-deep sedation (including e.g. surgery, radiological examinations etc) 2. Well and otherwise healthy children attending outpatient clinic for a non-emergency clinical assessment for which a blood test is indicated as part of routine clinical care |
| Participant exclusion criteria | The study will recruit into three groups (SLS, ARI and case-controls), each with different exclusion criteria. SLS Group Cases: 1. In-patient care for 24 hours or more for any condition within the previous 30 days, except for routine postnatal care 2. Aetiology other than infection (such as trauma, autoimmune disorder, malignancy) is suspected to be the primary cause of the current illness episode 3. Any signs and symptoms suggesting a clear primary focus of infection, such as pneumonia, urinary/kidney infection, open wounds, indwelling catheters, re-activation of previously diagnosed infectious or inflammatory condition 4. Dehydration due to previous illness episode such as diarrhoea and vomiting 5. Immunocompromised infant (stem cell transplant, solid organ transplant, HIV, AIDS, immunosuppressive therapy, inherited or congenital immunodeficiency, haemodialysis) 6. Presence of complex chronic comorbidities 7. Body weight <3kg on day of assessment and/or corrected gestational age <37 weeks ARI Group Cases: 1. In-patient care for 24 hours or more for any condition within the previous 30 days, except for routine postnatal care 2. Aetiology other than infection (such as trauma, autoimmune disorder, malignancy) is suspected to be the primary cause of the current illness episode 3. Any signs and symptoms suggesting a clear primary focus of infection, such as urinary/kidney infection, open wounds, indwelling catheters, re-activation of previously diagnosed infectious or inflammatory condition 4. Dehydration due to previous illness episode such as diarrhoea and vomiting 5. Immunocompromised infant (stem cell transplant, solid organ transplant, HIV, AIDS, immunosuppressive therapy, inherited or congenital immunodeficiency, haemodialysis) 6. Presence of complex chronic comorbidities 7. Body weight <3 kg on day of assessment and/or corrected gestational age <37 weeks Controls: 1. In-patient care for 24 hours or more for any condition within the previous 30 days except for routine postnatal care or current planned hospitalisation/procedure 2. Temperature ≥38.5°C or <36°C 3. Immunocompromised infant (stem cell transplant, solid organ transplant, HIV, AIDS, immunosuppressive therapy, inherited or congenital immunodeficiency, haemodialysis) 4. Presence of complex chronic comorbidities 5. Body weight <3kg on day of assessment and/or corrected gestational age <37 weeks |
| Recruitment start date | 15/08/2016 |
| Recruitment end date | 30/06/2018 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- England
- Estonia
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Italy
- Lithuania
- Romania
- Spain
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
Study participating centres
SW17 ORE
United Kingdom
50090
Estonia
59037
France
75019
France
106 79
Greece
541 24
Greece
79106
Germany
2 - 35128
Italy
4 - 00165
Italy
01513
Lithuania
Romania
28041
Spain
15706
Spain
8032
Switzerland
L12 2AP
United Kingdom
WC1N 3JH
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Charity
Corso Stati Uniti 4
c/o Torre di Ricerca Pediatrica
Padova
35127
Italy
| Website | http://penta-id.org/ |
|---|---|
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/00d7mpc92 |
Funders
Funder type
Government
Government organisation / National government
- Alternative name(s)
- EC Seventh Framework Programme, European Commission Seventh Framework Programme, EU Seventh Framework Programme, European Union Seventh Framework Programme, FP7
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | 31/12/2019 |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not expected to be made available |
| Publication and dissemination plan | To be confirmed at a later date |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HRA research summary | 28/06/2023 | No | No |
