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Volume 5, Issue 9

Searching for Strep A in the clinical environment during a human challenge trial: a sub-study protocol Open Access

Abstract

(also known as group A , Strep A) is an obligate human pathogen with significant global morbidity and mortality. Transmission is believed to occur primarily between individuals via respiratory droplets, but knowledge about other potential sources of transmission via aerosols or the environment is limited. Such knowledge is required to design optimal interventions to control transmission, particularly in endemic settings. We aim to detail an experimental methodology to assess the transmission potential of Strep A in a clinical environment. We will examine potential sources of transmission in up to 20 participants recruited to the ontrolled uman nfection for enicillin against (CHIPS) Trial. Three approaches to understanding transmission will be used: the use of selective agar settle plates to capture possible droplet or airborne spread of Strep A; measurement of the possible distance of Strep A droplet spread during conversation; and environmental swabbing of personal and common high-touch items to detect the presence of Strep A on hard and soft surfaces. All methods are designed to allow for an assessment of transmission potential by symptomatic, asymptomatic and non-cases. Ethical approval has been obtained through Bellberry Human Research Ethics Committee (approval 2021-03-295). Trial registration number: ACTRN12621000751875. Any results elicited from these experiments will be of benefit to the scientific literature in improving our knowledge of opportunities to prevent Strep A transmission as a direct component of the primordial prevention of rheumatic fever. Findings will be reported at local, national and international conferences and in peer-reviewed journals.

  • Received:
  • Accepted:
  • Published Online:
Keyword(s): epidemiology , infection , Streptococcus pyogenes and transmission
Funding
This study was supported by the:
  • National Health and Medical Research Council (Award GNT1187743)
    • Principle Award Recipient: NotApplicable
  • National Health and Medical Research Council (Award GNT1175509)
    • Principle Award Recipient: AshaC. Bowen
  • National Health and Medical Research Council (Award GNT1197177)
    • Principle Award Recipient: LaurensManning
  • National Health and Medical Research Council (Award GNT1173874)
    • Principle Award Recipient: JonathanR. Carapetis
  • Ian Potter Foundation
    • Principle Award Recipient: HannahM. M. Thomas
  • Western Australian Future Health & Innovation Fund
    • Principle Award Recipient: TimothyC. Barnett
  • Althestan Saw Bequest Fund
    • Principle Award Recipient: ThelK. Hla
  • University of Western Australia (Award Post Graduate Research Scholarship)
    • Principle Award Recipient: ThelK. Hla
  • Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases (Award Top Up Scholarship)
    • Principle Award Recipient: StephanieLouise Enkel
  • University of Western Australia (Award Research Program Training scholarship)
    • Principle Award Recipient: StephanieLouise Enkel
© 2023 The Authors
  • This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.
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2023-09-20
2025-07-08
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Searching for Strep A in the clinical environment during a human challenge trial: a sub-study protocol
Access Microbiology 5, 000650.v3 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1099/acmi.0.000650.v3
/content/journal/acmi/10.1099/acmi.0.000650.v3
/content/journal/acmi/10.1099/acmi.0.000650.v3
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