View clinical trials related to Communicable Diseases.
Filter by:A 48-week study to investigate the safety and effectiveness of a new compact formulation of two already FDA-approved anti-HIV drugs in subjects who have already been receiving treatment for their HIV infection.
The purpose of this research study is to test the safety and effectiveness of inhaled Interferon gamma-1b (IFN-g 1b), when administered for 48 weeks and in combination with oral antibiotics which may be administered for up to 72 weeks for the treatment of a lung infection caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium avium complex . FDA has not approved Interferon gamma-1b for use in patients with MAC infection of the lungs, which is the purpose of this study.Interferon gamma-1b and similar proteins play important roles in establishing and maintaining protective immune responses against a variety of microorganisms.
This study will treat patients who have a short term central catheter that is thought to be infected with a specific bacteria (gram positive bacteria)
This study will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of posaconazole for treating invasive fungal infections. New therapies for these infections are needed for patients who do not respond, to or cannot tolerate, standard treatment. These patients include those with immune defects who have significant side effects from treatment with amphotericin or other antifungals. Patients 13 years of age or older who are on other primary NIH protocols with an invasive fungal infection 1) that does not respond to standard antifungal therapies; 2) for which there is no effective therapy; 3) who develop serious side effects from their current treatment; or 4) who have organ dysfunction that does not permit use of standard antifungal treatments may be eligible for this study. Candidates will be screened with a medical history, including a review of current and previous antifungal treatments, pregnancy test for women of childbearing potential, electrocardiogram (EKG), and detailed neurologic examination. Participants will take either 200 mg (1 teaspoonful) of liquid posaconazole by mouth four times a day or 400 mg (two teaspoonfuls) twice a day for a period of 28 days to 24 months. (The physician will determine the duration of treatment.) Patients will have monthly follow-up visits during the treatment period and 1 month after treatment is completed for the following procedures: - Detailed neurologic exam every 3 months - Blood tests every month - EKG every month - Imaging studies, including chest x-ray, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radionuclide scanning or ultrasound, every month until the infection has been stable for three determinations. Thereafter, imaging studies will be done every 3 months as long as the infection remains stable or improves. On the last day of the study treatment period, participants will have a detailed neurologic exam and review of medications and medical complaints since their last visit.
To conduct a prospective study of pediatric transfusion recipients to determine the risk of transmitting various infectious agents by blood transfusion.
This study will follow blood transfusion recipients for 6 to 9 months following transfusion to monitor the quality and safety of blood transfusion. Improved viral testing and careful donor screening in the last several years has dramatically reduced the rates of transfusion-related HIV and hepatitis. Nevertheless, ongoing surveillance of transfusion-related infections is essential to maintain a high safety standard and to determine the transfusion risk of other infectious agents, such as cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, parvovirus B-19, HHV-8 (Kaposi s sarcoma virus) and other possible hepatitis viruses that might be blood-transmitted. Transfused patients blood will be tested for various infectious agents. Their blood samples and blood samples from their donors will be frozen and stored in a repository so that any new infectious agent can be rapidly evaluated for its danger to the safety of the blood supply. Adult patients at the National Institutes of Health and children at the Children s National Medical Center who are scheduled to receive a blood transfusion or to undergo surgery for which a blood transfusion may be needed are eligible for this study. All participants will have a 20- to 25-milliliter (about 2 tablespoonfuls) blood sample drawn before their transfusion and again at 1, 2, 4, 12 and 24 weeks after the transfusion. Patients who are transfused on more than one occasion over the course of the study will provide three additional monthly samples. Patients who develop a transfusion-transmitted infection during the study will provide up to four more samples to study the infection and its effects. Participants will complete a brief questionnaire at the end of the study regarding prior blood transfusions and the development of any illnesses, such as hepatitis, that might have been caused by the transfusion.
This study will test the safety and effectiveness of inhaled interferon gamma-1b and oral antibiotics for treating mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection of the lungs. Patients 18 years of age or older with MAC infection of the lungs who 1) have been previously treated for MAC, or 2) have moderate or severe lung disease due to MAC that has not been previously treated may be eligible for this study. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. Group 1 will receive 500 micrograms of interferon gamma-1b 3 times a week for 48 weeks by inhalation. Group 2 will inhale a placebo (inactive substance) according to the same regimen. In addition, all patients will receive standard MAC treatment with three antibiotics-clarithromycin or azithromycin, ethambutol and rifampin or rifabutin-taken by mouth times a week. Patients will come to the clinic for a screening visit, baseline visit, 1 month after beginning treatment, and at 3-month intervals thereafter until the end of the study. During these various visits, they will undergo the following tests and procedures: - Medical history and physical examination, including height and weight measurements, heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure and temperature - Possibly computed tomography (CT) and X-ray of the lungs - Sputum sample - Pulmonary function studies - Blood and urine tests Patients' eyes will be examined monthly to check for side effects of ethambutol, and hearing and balance will be tested to check for side effects of clarithromycin or azithromycin. At the baseline visit, the patient or caretaker will be trained to use a nebulizer (a special breathing device) to take the study medication.
Current projects study veteran patients with chronic ulcers and MRSA colonization and infection, patients with imipenem-resistant P. aeruginosa colonization and infection, the relationships between staffing pattern, severity of illness and nosocomial infections in intensive care units and infection control practices for veteran patients with suspected tuberculosis.
This study will examine the symptoms, course of disease and treatment of non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections, as well as the genetics involved in these infections. Patients with NTM have recurrent lung infections and sometimes infections of the skin and other organs as well. They may also have curvature of the spine, barrel chest, and heart valve weakness. The study will compare the features of NTM with those of Job syndrome and cystic fibrosis, other diseases involving recurrent infections of the lungs and possibly other organs. Patients with diagnosed or suspected non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection, cystic fibrosis or Job syndrome may be eligible for this study. All participants will have a medical and family history, blood and urine tests, imaging studies that may include X-rays, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and DNA and other genetic studies. In addition, all patients with Job syndrome and cystic fibrosis, and patients with NTM who have lung disease undergo the following procedures: - Scoliosis survey X-rays of the spine to look for curvature or other abnormalities of the spinal column - Echocardiography imaging test that uses sound waves to examine the heart chambers and valves - Electrocardiogram measurement of the electrical activity of the heart - Pulmonary function tests breathing tests to measure how much air the patient can move into and out of the lungs - Body measurements measurements of height, weight, arm span, finger length, etc. - Joint function assessment of joint mobility using different maneuvers to test flexibility of joints and ligaments - Examination of physical features that might be associated with NTM, such as high arched palate of the mouth, flat feet, or certain skin features - Dermatology (skin) examination for reactive skin conditions or other skin problems and possibly a skin biopsy (surgical removal of a small skin tissue sample for microscopic examination) - Interview with genetics specialist These tests may require several days to complete. Patients with NTM will also be examined by a cystic fibrosis specialist and may have a sweat test. In addition, NTM patients will be asked to return to NIH every year for 5 years for follow-up tests, if medically indicated, including CT of the chest, scoliosis survey and examination by other specialists. ...
The best anti-HIV treatment regimen for pregnant women is not known. Protease inhibitors (PIs) are often used, but they have side effects that may be harmful for pregnant women. It is not known if treatment regimens that do not include PIs are as effective in pregnant women as those that include PIs. This trial will compare two anti-HIV treatment plans, one with and one without PIs, in women who start HIV treatment during pregnancy. The study will evaluate the effects of the anti-HIV drugs on the developing infant and prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission during pregnancy.