Rapid influenza testing and Antiviral Feasibility studies in Season 3

JHU will conduct a pilot study to demonstrate feasibility of implementing an inpatient and outpatient influenza therapeutic study with subjects initially screened in the emergency department using the lessons learned from the previous two years of the JHU cooperative agreement. During the 2015-16 influenza season, the study will continue to assess benefits with rapid testing in the ED for patients at high risk for influenza complications, within the developed infrastructure (e.g., triage with clinical decision guide, electronic prompts for influenza testing, coordinating information flow within the facility and with local/state public health agencies).

JHU is the only eligible applicant that could implement the described project in time for the 2015-16 influenza season; it is the only organization with an existing cooperative agreement that has an on-going clinical study infrastructure in place to identify influenza positive patients presenting to an Emergency Department with high risk for influenza complications and a likelihood of hospital admission that can expeditiously meet requirements to enroll at least 50 subjects with high risk of influenza complications due to underlying medical conditions. JHU has an existing cooperative agreement funded by ASPR/BARDA to integrate rapid influenza molecular testing into Emergency Department clinical practice with assessment of clinical course following antiviral treatment and adoption of electronic communications that can assist clinicians and public health practice with local management of influenza infections.

Brenda Cox Grants Management Officer Phone 2022450976