Clinical Research Directory

Febrile Infants Swedish Study

Approximately one million febrile infants aged ≤60 days present annually to pediatric emergency departments (PEDs) in Europe and the United States. Although fewer than 5% are diagnosed with meningitis or bacteremia (invasive bacterial infections - IBIs), and 10-15% with urinary tract infections (UTIs), current guidelines recommend extensive diagnostic evaluations, hospitalization, and empirical treatment with broad-spectrum parenteral antibiotics. This approach may contribute to medical overuse, with implications for patient care, healthcare resource utilization, and environmental sustainability. The Febrile Infants Swedish Study (FISS) is a prospective observational study conducted across 11 PEDs in Sweden. All febrile infants aged ≤60 days presenting to participating sites will be eligible. A new clinical guideline for the management of infants with fever without source (FWS) will be implemented in 7 PEDs, while 4 PEDs will continue with current standard practice and serve as a comparison group. The study is expected to run for approximately two years and aims to recruit a minimum of 2,500 febrile infants

Clinical Aspects, Management and Surveillance of Febrile Illnesses in DRC

The epidemiology and outcome of febrile illnesses in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is poorly documented. The FIKI² study, a prospective observational study of community-acquired febrile illnesses coordinated by ITM and INRB and conducted at 2 clinical sites from 2021 to 2023, has deepened the knowledge of clinical presentation, etiology, outcome and profile of inflammatory/infectious biomarkers (white blood cells and C-reactive protein, or CRP). The management of febrile illnesses remains fraught with clinical challenges. Overuse of antibiotics in primary care remains a reality in the field, and has been observed in several studies, including FIKI². A number of initiatives are underway to address this problem, such as the use of biomarkers, the development of treatment guidelines and electronic decision support systems. The FIKI² study highlighted the potential role of CRP in rationalizing antibiotic use. In parallel, the 'AWARE antibiotic book' was published at the end of 2022 by the WHO, providing recommendations on the choice (or otherwise) of antibiotic therapy for over 30 common clinical infections, in both primary care and hospital settings. Based on the results of the FIKI² study, the main aim of the FI-CARE study is to investigate the impact of these new tools (CRP biomarker, AWARE antibiotic book, and electronic decision support systems) on first-line antibiotic use. Secondly, the study will consolidate previous results from FIKI² sites in terms of monitoring the etiologies of community-acquired febrile illnesses (particularly arboviruses); and reinforce this monitoring at new sites (depending on opportunities). This complementary study will also pursue FIKI²'s strategic objectives of strengthening clinical research capacity and consolidating biobanks in the DRC. FI-CARE is a prospective, observational, multicenter cohort study of adults and children presenting to the emergency department or outpatient clinic with community-acquired febrile illness. A laboratory component with sample storage in a biobank is added in a modular fashion according to laboratory and research capacities, epidemiological interest and available funds.