Respiratory Viral Infection in Nursing Home Slovenia

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study will be conducted in a 208-bed nursing home in Maribor. The investigators will observe a group of a 100 nursing-home residents and 50 health care workers- employees in the nursing home- in a six months period.Influenza vaccination status will be recorded in all participants at the beginning. At the beginning and at the end of the study the blood samples for vitamin D concentration determination and nasopharyngeal swabs for molecular detection of respiratory viruses will taken in all of the participants. The study will observe number of viral respiratory tract infection in participants and identify the viral etiology of infections during 6 months observational period.Nasopharyngeal swab and blood sample will be taken in each of the participant who will suffer an acute respiratory tract infection (upper or lower respiratory tract infection) and viral agents of respiratory tract diseases will be searched for. The investigators will try to detect different viral agents of respiratory tract infection: human rhinoviruses, enteroviruses, influenza A, B, parainfluenza 1-4, respiratory syncytial virus, human coronaviruses, human metapneumovirus, adenoviruses and human bocavirus with newer molecular methods (real-time polymerase chain reaction, real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction) in nasopharyngeal swab and in blood sample of the participants. During the study period the investigators will monitor the daily number of visitors (adults, preschool children and pupils) in each nursing home room. The epidemiological aspect of respiratory viral infection will be assessed. Our study hypothesis is that lower respiratory tract infections in elderly can be caused by viruses other than influenza. The investigators would like to know if hypovitaminosis D is a risk factor for respiratory tract infections in nursing home residents and employees. The investigators would also like to know if the number of respiratory tract infections in elderly correlates with the number of visitors in nursing home, small children in particular.

Official Title
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Etiology, Frequency and Epidemiology of Respiratory Viral Infection in Nursing Home Residents

Conditions
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Acute Viral Respiratory Tract Diseases

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: resident of the nursing home or employee ni the nursing home Exclusion Criteria: none

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| nursing home residents<br>participants in this group are nursing home residents | |
| Nursing home employees<br>Participants in this group are health care workers, employees at the nursing home | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Number of viral respiratory tract infection in participants according to etiology | Number of participants with upper and lower respiratory tract infection will be detected and etiology of viral infection will be identified | 6 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Serum vitamine D concentration in participants | Serum concentration of vitamine D will be measured retrospectively from the blood samples taken at the beginning of the study and correlation between vitamine D concentration and the frequency of respiratory tract infection in participants will be made | 6 months | 
| Daily number of visitors in nursing home in correlation with the number of respiratory tract infection in residents | Daily number of visitors in each nursing home room will be counted and correlate with the number of respiratory tract infection in participants. | 6 months |