Acute Viral Respiratory Tract Diseases Clinical Trial
Official title:
Etiology, Frequency and Epidemiology of Respiratory Viral Infection in Nursing Home Residents
This 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.
n/a
Observational Model: Case-Only, Time Perspective: Prospective