Hand to nose Version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Hand to nose transmission of streptococcus pneumoniae in healthy participants – pilot study
IRAS ID
221034
Contact name
Jamie Rylance
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Why? Pneumococcus bacteria can cause severe infection such as pneumonia, sepsis and meningitis particularly in those with lower immunity, the very young and elderly.
How? This bacteria is commonly present in the nose of healthy adults without any sign of illness (10%) and more often carried by children (50%) this carriage may develop a natural immunity to the infection, but also is needed for invasive infection to develop. There is evidence to suggest that exposure of the hands to pathogens can lead to respiratory illnesses, however, there is no published data investigating specifically how Streptococcus pneumoniae is spread. Therefore, our study aims to look at the potential methods of transmission by testing hands to nose transmission.
Who? To make sure participants are safe we will recruit healthy adults who are at less risk of infection.
Where? The study will be conducted at the clinical research facility in Royal Liverpool University Hospital. Healthy volunteers will be recruited from the local advertising at Universities and in public places.
How? The study will take 3 weeks. A few drops of weakened live bacteria are put onto the hand or finger of participants and we ask them to facilitate transmission into the nose by following planned maneuvers, then we collect secretions from the nose. We will try this with both bacteria while it is still wet and with bacteria following drying on the hand.
The research team are available any time of day or night and will provide access to health care if needed.REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/NW/0054
Date of REC Opinion
1 Feb 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion