Clinical Research Directory

Early Corticosteroids in Severe Influenza Pneumonia

This is a Phase III, multicentre, randomized, controlled, double-blind, superiority trial aiming to evaluate the efficacy of dexamethasone versus placebo in patients admitted to intensive care or intermediate care with influenza and hypoxemic acute respiratory failure. Patients will receive state-of-the-art standard therapy for severe influenza. They will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to one of the two arms. Patients, investigators and care providers will be blinded to the patient arm. Patients will receive antiviral treatment and antibiotic therapy if bacterial co-infection is suspected. All clinical interventions such as use of ventilatory strategy, laboratory tests, and hemodynamic management will be left at the discretion of the team in both arms. Special attention will be given to the prompt diagnosis and management of aspergillosis, with investigators provided with decision support tools and algorithms based on the most recent definition (i.e., FUNDICU). Patients will be followed for up to 28 days after enrolment and national registries will be used for 90-day vital status assessment. Telephone calls will be made on day 90 to assess quality of life.

Microbe-Literacy Germ-Watching Workshops for Hygiene and Vaccine Acceptance in Sargodha, Pakistan

This cluster randomized controlled trial evaluated whether a single microscope-based "germ-watching" workshop, delivered by Lady Health Workers (LHWs) to mothers and female caregivers of children under three years, improves hygiene practices, vaccination attitudes and intentions, routine immunization, and trust in LHWs. Twelve Union Councils in Sargodha District, Pakistan, were allocated 1:1 to the intervention or routine services, with outcomes measured by structured baseline and endline surveys and facility immunization records.