Respiratory Infections

Respiratory infections are very common, especially during winter, and are often caused by viruses such as influenza, SARS-CoV-2 or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). These illnesses are generally mild, but their symptoms do not always allow a clear distinction to be made between a viral infection and a bacterial infection. In the absence of a precise diagnosis, antibiotics may be prescribed when they are not necessary in many cases. However, the excessive use of antibiotics contributes to the development of bacterial resistance, which is a major public health issue. The aim of this study is to better understand whether the use of a rapid test (called TROD), which can quickly identify certain respiratory viruses, can help doctors reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions for these infections. The test will be performed using a swab gently inserted into the nose.

A research team member will brush the inferior surface of the subjects' middle turbinate (nasal cavity) using a cytology brush to obtain the cells needed to perform our functional respiratory assays. An individual trained in phlebotomy will draw one 3 ml lavender top tube of blood to test c-reactive protein, calprotectin, and lactoferrin. They will also draw a 5 ml gold top serum separator tube of blood to test fibroblast growth factor-19. The participant will answer questions from the baseline survey and report their current medications interview-style with the research team member.

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether fish oil containing free fatty acids affects people's susceptibility to viral infections such as colds, influenza, and COVID-19, as well as the course of these illnesses. Omega Cold is purified fish oil with 2% added free fatty acids, making it similar in that respect to less-purified fish oils. Participants aged 18-80 in generally good health will be recruited through Matís' consumer mailing list and social media advertisements. A total of 400 participants are planned: 100 in the winter of 2025-2026 and 300 in the winter of 2026-2027. Participants will be randomly assigned to two equal groups. One group will take Omega Cold orally twice a day for four months, while the other receives a placebo (vegetable oil) taken in the same way. They will not be asked to change any other habits. All participants will report weekly on their health and any cold or flu symptoms during the time they take the oil, using short questionnaires. The study is scheduled to begin in December 2025, when the oil will be sent to participants.

The objective of this clinical trial is to assess whether hydration with gelled water (GEL-AID) can improve fluid intake and reduce cases of dehydration, as well as the incidence of urinary and respiratory infections in institutionalized elderly individuals in nursing homes. The main question this trial aims to answer is: • Do institutionalized elderly individuals hydrated with GEL-AID increase their daily fluid intake and reduce the incidence of dehydration, urinary infections, and respiratory infections? Participants: The control group will follow the center's usual hydration plan. Individuals with swallowing difficulties will receive thickened liquids and/or gelatin, while those without swallowing difficulties will be hydrated with unmodified liquids or gelatin. The intervention group will receive hydration with GEL-AID. For participants with swallowing difficulties, thickened liquids and gelatin will be replaced by GEL-AID, with texture adapted to their needs. Those without swallowing difficulties will receive unmodified liquids and GEL-AID instead of gelatin.

Emerging respiratory diseases represent a global threat. Viruses such as influenza and coronaviruses have been the main drivers of pandemics over the past century. More broadly, the impact of these respiratory infections is not limited to pandemic risks. Indeed, some of them also trigger seasonal epidemics with a significant medical and economic burden. Consequently, it is essential to strengthen global surveillance, and diagnostic capacities for the pathogens responsible for respiratory infections. The diagnosis of respiratory infections is even more important in cases of severe infection, as it helps guide and adapt patient management according to the responsible pathogen. A promising and well-recognized approach is the analysis of exhaled breath, which contains a complex mixture of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), also known as the "volatilome." The volatilome is influenced by the patient's metabolism, immune system, and microbiome, and can be disrupted by the presence of a pathogen. A parallel clinical study, VORTEX-1, aims to establish the performance of breath analysis for the diagnosis of respiratory infections in the context of the general population, or patient triage in emergency wards. This study targets patients with non-severe respiratory infections, mostly caused by viral pathogens. Thanks to a specific technique, the VORTEX-1 study will make it possible to test a direct on-site sampling and analysis process, painless and with real-time chemical detection. This methodology, highly suited to triage situations, remains difficult to apply in the case of respiratory infections requiring hospitalization. Indeed, hospitalized patients are usually admitted to different units depending on their clinical status, risk factors, or bed availability. This diversity of settings makes it impossible to implement a process that depends on an instrument which cannot be available or moved in real time across all units. To address this challenge, the investigators will use an alternative method. In the VORTEX-2 trial, samples of exhaled gases will be collected directly at the patient's bedside using a single-use device for breath collection. The samples will then be transferred to a laboratory for analysis. This approach is more suitable for severe respiratory infections. To be as comprehensive as possible in the study of the volatilome in the context of respiratory infections, it is important to include hospitalized patients and to develop a system that can also be implemented in routine clinical practice. The link between the two studies (VORTEX-1 and VORTEX-2) will be established through a "control" group, consisting of healthy subjects (without respiratory infections or severe/chronic diseases), whose breath will be collected using both approaches.

Acute viral respiratory infections are a major public health problem, as they cause mortality especially in pediatric patients, over 65 and those with co-morbidities. The most frequently responsible viruses are: Influenza A and B, Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Adenovirus, Parainfluenza Virus, Metapneumovirus, Rhinovirus and SARS-CoV-2. By comparing clinical data and laboratory diagnosis among all categories of patients at greatest risk, it is possible to define the symptoms associated with the pathogen and establish which etiological agents could be able to cause clinical pictures characteristics of a given type of patient. The study will also provide information on the potential role that simultaneously detected pathogens may play in determining the severity of the clinical picture. In addition, the results will allow to deepen the changes in seasonality and spread of different respiratory viruses associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.