National Surveillance of the Incidence of Fungal Keratitis in the UK
Research type
Research Study
Full title
British Ophthalmic Surveillance Unit: National Surveillance of the Incidence of Fungal Keratitis in the United Kingdom
IRAS ID
242230
Contact name
Matthew Burton
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
BURM1002, NHS Moorfields Hospital R&D
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 29 days
Research summary
This study is a prospective, one-year survey of fungal keratitis (fungal infection of the cornea) to ascertain the incidence in the United Kingdom. Fungal keratitis is a rare but sight threatening condition.
We will use the prospective case ascertainment system of the British Ophthalmological Surveillance Unit (BOSU) of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists.
BOSU is an active surveillance system involving all UK consultant ophthalmologists. Each year it conducts several surveys in parallel. Consultant ophthalmologists are sent a reporting card each month to notify BOSU of any cases on the reporting list that they may have managed.
BOSU collects no patient identifying information but will notify the study co-invstigator (Dr Mohsan Malik) of all new cases reported, who will then contact the reporting ophthalmologist directly with the case record form.
The reporting ophthalmologist then completes an initial form, based on information available in the clinical notes. A second six-month follow-up form will subsequently be sent to the reporting ophthalmolgist for completion. These forms will include no individually identifying data other then the hospital record number. There will be no need to carry out any procedures mentioned in the Standard Operating Procedures for ethics committees in the United Kingdom which require a principal investigator to be appointed at each site.
This is an observational study and will not impact upon routine patient care. This study will be coordinated from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London.
REC name
London - City & East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/2100
Date of REC Opinion
14 Jan 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion