Clinical Research Directory

Serum Vitamin D Status in Critically Ill Children With Acute Respiratory Infections

Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are among the leading causes of hospitalization, morbidity, and mortality in children worldwide, particularly among critically ill patients admitted to pediatric intensive care units (PICUs). Vitamin D has an important role not only in bone metabolism but also in regulation of innate and adaptive immune responses, especially within the respiratory tract. Recent evidence suggests that vitamin D deficiency may be associated with increased susceptibility to respiratory infections, greater disease severity, prolonged hospitalization, and higher mortality rates in critically ill children. This observational cross-sectional study aims to assess serum vitamin D status among critically ill children admitted to the PICU with acute respiratory infections and to evaluate the relationship between vitamin D levels, severity of respiratory illness, and risk of mortality. The study will include pediatric patients aged 1 month to 16 years admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Assiut University Children's Hospital. Clinical evaluation and laboratory investigations, including serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, serum calcium, and alkaline phosphatase, will be performed within the first 24 hours of admission. Severity of respiratory distress will be assessed using the Pediatric Respiratory Severity Score (PRESS), while mortality risk will be evaluated using the Pediatric Risk of Mortality Score (PRISM III). The findings of this study may contribute to better understanding of the role of vitamin D in critically ill children with respiratory infections and may support future strategies for early risk assessment and improved clinical management in pediatric intensive care settings.

The Fever Clinic Acute Respiratory Cohort

This prospective cohort study aims to characterize the natural progression and outcomes of acute respiratory infections among patients presenting to fever clinics. At enrollment, patients' clinical symptoms, laboratory findings, and chest imaging data will be collected. Longitudinal follow-up will be conducted to evaluate disease progression, complications, and long-term outcomes. As an observational study, no interventions are involved; all patients receive routine clinical management as directed by their attending physicians. This real-world study design enables the assessment of the natural course of acute respiratory infections and the identification of factors associated with clinical outcomes.

Efficacy of Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation Devices to Reduce Respiratory Infections in Nursing Homes: Cluster Randomized Crossover Trial

RESPROTECT is a trial aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of upper room ultraviolet devices in reducing the frequency of severe respiratory infections in elderly nursing homes. The study takes place in 12 nursing homes in the center of France. It started in October 2024, and its final results will be availble by mid-2026.