Neurodevelopmental follow up of neonatal bacterial infection

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Neurodevelopmental follow up of children who survived bacterial meningitis and group B streptococcal infections in the first three months of life

  • IRAS ID

    155414

  • Contact name

    Paul Heath

  • Contact email

    pheath@sgul.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    St.George's University of London, Joint Research Office

  • Research summary

    Bacterial infections are an important cause of illness, prolonged hospitalisation and death in babies, particularly in their first three months of life. These infections, especially meningitis, can affect the baby’s developing brain and lead to serious long-term problems such as cerebral palsy and deafness.
    We wish to do this because understanding the consequences of infections in babies is important when trying to develop ways of preventing or reducing the rates of infection. It is also important for planning the services needed for these children (e.g. educational or physiotherapy support) and the cost of these services. It is also important to have this knowledge about long-term outcomes when counselling parents at the time of their baby’s illness.
    Neonatal infections and their long-term after effects can also have an impact on the baby’s family. We will be assessing the health effects of the infections on the quality of life of the children and their adult family members.

  • REC name

    South Central - Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    14/SC/1152

  • Date of REC Opinion

    22 Jul 2014

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion