Extract

Background and study aims As healthcare around the world improves and more people are given access to treatment, two new problems emerge: the problem of nosocomial infections and the problem of antimicrobial resistance. Nosocomial infections, also known as hospital-acquired infections, are diseases that are more likely to happen in a hospital environment. They can be diseases that are circulating among doctors, nurses and hospital staff that then get passed on to patients, or diseases that are just more likely to strike people who are already sick. Antimicrobial resistance is the phenomenon of bacteria becoming resistant to the drugs used against them. When an antibiotic drug is used, the bacteria who are resistant will survive and go on to reproduce, while the bacteria who are not resistant perish, so in the end only the bacteria who are resistant remain circulating among people. These two problems are predicted to become increasingly important in Vietnam in the coming years. Advances in hospital care mean patients will come to hospitals more frequently and stay at hospitals longer each time, meaning they will be more exposed to environments in which nosocomial infections occur. Improved access to treatment means more patients will be given antibiotic drugs, increasing the likelihood of bacteria becoming resistant. This study aims to look at how often nosocomial infections occur, as well as how much of the bacteria circulating currently are drug-resistant. Who can participate? Patients were recruited to the study from the intensive care unit (ICU) of the National Institute of Infectious and Tropical Diseases (NIITD). Recruited patients had to be adults over 16 years old and had to provide informed consent. What does the study involve? This was an observational study, so patients were not given new or extra treatments, they were simply observed and analyzed. Study doctors would take swabs from a patient on admission to the ICU and once per week until discharge. The samples would be stored and analyzed for development of nosocomial infections or antimicrobial resistance. What are the possible benefits and risks of participating? The patient may benefit from the study because more intensive investigations are being done which may allow to detect and treat an infection earlier than otherwise. This research involves several tests that are done routinely in these hospitals. There are no major risks. The swabs may cause some slights discomfort but otherwise will cause the patient no harm. Some people may find the weekly visits until discharge inconvenient. There will be no additional costs to the patient if they participate in this study. The study investigators will cover all the costs of any tests undertaken as part of the study. Where is the study run from? This study was planned by researchers at the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in Vietnam, in partnership with the National Institute of Infectious and Tropical Diseases. When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for? Unfortunately this study could not be conducted and no patients were enrolled. Who is funding the study? The Wellcome Trust (UK). Who is the main contact? Clinical Trials Unit at the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in Vietnam Tel: +84 839 241 983

Inclusion criteria

• Nosocomial Infections

Links

• ictrp
• isrctn