Clinical trials

Acute respiratory infection (ARI) is the commonest reason for consulting in community care. Furthermore, new and re-emerging pathogens are often first noticed in primary care (PC). The POS-ARI-PC study is a long-term study, with the aim of describing the nature of ARI in adults and children presenting to PC across Europe. The POS-ARI-PC study will provide critically important data on the presentation and management of ARI, and build a research-ready infrastructure for studies related to the treatment, diagnosis, and prevention of ARI in primary care settings. Additional observational studies will be embedded and use the infrastructure developed in POS-ARI-PC.

Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP) is a bacterial respiratory infection that patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) often get when they cannot breathe for themselves and require mechanical ventilation. It is linked to higher chances of death, a longer stay in the hospital, higher costs, and the use of more antibiotics. Options to help prevent or treat this disease are in development and will require evaluation in future clinical trials. The goal of POS-VAP is to build and continuously train a network of ICUs to be prepared for doing these trials, to facilitate their execution.

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are among the most common infectious diseases and the most frequent source of community, healthcare-associated and nosocomial bacteraemia. They are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Due to the high frequency of UTI, they have a major impact on antibiotic use and the antimicrobial resistance of prominent UTI pathogens is of recognised importance. Therefore, UTIs, and particularly complicated urinary tract infections cUTIs, are a target for repurposing of old and neglected drugs, new drug development and non-antibiotic therapeutic and preventive approaches.

Acute respiratory infections (ARI) are one of the most frequent reasons for hospital admission and antibiotic use, and can be caused by a broad range of pathogens, including respiratory viruses with proven epidemic potential, e.g. influenza and coronaviruses. The POS-ARI-ER study will focus on describing the different routine diagnostic and therapeutic practices in the work-up and treatment of ARI, as well as clinical outcomes across the patient population. In addition, POS-ARI-ER aims to characterise both the adult patient population with ARI presenting to acute hospital settings in Europe, and the aetiology of ARI in these patients.