PR - Carriage rates and antibiotic resistance of bacteria in a community
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Analysis of bacterial carriage and antibiotic resistance rates in the upper respiratory tract. (Solent SMART pilot study).
IRAS ID
187883
Contact name
Stuart Clarke
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
Upper respiratory tract infections such as otitis media (middle ear infection), sinusitis (inflammation of the nasal sinus) and pneumonia account for considerable morbidity. Such infections can lead to meningitis (inflammation of the membranes lining the skull), sepsis (blood infection) and even death, particularly in young children and the elderly. The nasopharynx is thought to be the main source of invasive bacterial infection caused by bacteria such as S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, S. aureus and M. catarrhalis. Antibiotic resistance is a growing health crisis. Approximately 25,000 people die every year in Europe because of infections related to antibiotic resistance. The cost associated with these bacterial infections, in hospital costs and productivity losses alone, exceeded £1 billion each year in Europe.
The aim of the study is to sample bacteria from the upper respiratory tract (URT), in order to determine community carriage levels of common respiratory pathogens and the prevalence of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic disc diffusion tests will be used to analyse the antibiotic resistance of bacteria to commonly prescribed antibiotics.
Individuals of all ages, attending any participating sites working in partnership with the Solent NHS Trust, will be approached on the day of their visit by a member of the research team. Potential participants will be given an information sheet and time to read it and ask any questions before they are asked to complete a consent form and questionnaire. Participants will then have swabs taken from their nasopharynx (back of the nose) and oropharynx (back of the throat) and will be asked to have a further optional nasal swab. Swabs will be taken by a member of the research team who have undertaken relevant training.
All swabs will be analysed in the laboratory using traditional diagnostic microbiology techniques. Bacterial isolates will be stored in microbial storage and tested for antimicrobial resistance using disc diffusion methods.
REC name
South East Scotland REC 01
REC reference
16/SS/0094
Date of REC Opinion
27 Apr 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion