The microbiology of pleural infection

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Understanding the microbiology of pleural infection, an approach based on DNA deep sequencing of the 16s rRNA bacterial gene

• IRAS ID

  248005

• Contact name

  Nikolaos Kanellakis

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Oxford / Clinical Trials and Research Governance

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 0 months, 0 days

• Research summary

  Research Summary

  Pleural infection (PI), is a major global disease and current evidence suggests that its’ incidence is increasing in both adult and paediatric populations. It is the UK’s third leading cause of death in women and the fifth leading cause of death in men (15,000 new cases per year). More than 30% of patients with pleural infection either die or require surgery. The understanding of the pleural infection microbiology will improve patients’ management, however the underlying pathogen cannot be cultured in almost 50% of the cases. This leads to failure of correct selection of antibiotics and subsequently to surgical management with high mortality. For the proposed study we will use samples collected from a previous study, "The Pleural Infection Longitudinal Outcome Study" (PILOT). Bacterial DNA will be extracted from these samples and will be subjected to sequencing in order to identify the pathogens that caused the infection in each case. The sequencing technique is sensitive and precise. This will help to comprehensively understand the microbiology of pleural infection. To this end the elucidation and characterisation of the complex microbial nature of pleural infection will contribute to better understanding of this disease and improve the management of the patients at the clinic.

  Summary of Results

  Pleural infection is a common clinical problem. In most of cases more than one bacteria are causing the infection. There is an association between the pathogen and survival. Patients with pathogens which were able to survive without oxygen (anaerobes) had better one-year survival.

• REC name

  London - Brighton & Sussex Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  18/LO/1308

• Date of REC Opinion

  26 Jul 2018

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion