UNIVR and General Practioners join forces in researching respiratory infections in Europe

March 6th saw the formal launch of the research study to monitor the incidence of respiratory infections in Europe with the participation of 28 General Practioners (GPs) from the Verona municipality, representatives from the Local Health Authority ULSS9 under the coordination of Roberta Joppi and researchers from the ID-CARE Team, led by Evelina Tacconelli.

"The role of general practitioners is fundamental for scientific research and for improving patient care" - Dr. Joppi.

The study, being conducted in the UK, France, Spain and Italy, is sponsored by the European Clinical Research Alliance on Infectious Diseases (Ecraid) Foundation in the Netherlands, in collaboration with the University of Oxford.

The study focusses in particular on people over 50, especially those with chronic respiratory diseases, and investigates the incidence and impact of viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human parainfluenza virus (HPIV), human metapneumovirus (HMPV) and rhinovirus (RV). Over the next 12 months, patients who present to their GPs with symptoms of acute respiratory infection will be invited to participate in the study. Participation consists of a simple nasal swab to identify the virus present, and a short questionnaire to monitor symptoms over the following 14 days. After about a month, the GP will contact the patient to assess their health status and collect information on any hospital visits.

"Respiratory infections are very common, and the results of this study will allow us to better understand how to manage them, to the benefit of citizens' health" - Prof. Tacconelli.

The ECRAID-Base Project (GA: 965313) aims to establish an independent pan-European clinical research network which will generate scientific evidence focused on improving the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. The project will involve six perpetual observational studies (POS) across Europe; some of them conducted in intensive care, emergency care and primary care settings and related to different infectious diseases, all of them with the opportunity of integrating clinical research trials and developing into an adaptive platform trial. The common aim is the promptly respond to future public health threats.

Find out more here: https://www.id-care.net/projects/ecraid-base