{"title": "Objectives", "author_url": "http://www.tibdn.ca/author/admin", "html": "<h2>\r\n\tOverall objectives</h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\tTo determine the incidence and epidemiologic characteristics of invasive disease due to <em>Neisseria meningitidis</em>, group A streptococcus, group B streptococcus, <em>Streptococcus pneumoniae</em> and influenza requiring hospitalization in a defined population</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\tTo provide an infrastructure for further research, such as special studies aimed at identifying risk factors for disease, and post-licensure evaluation of vaccines and treatments</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2>\r\n\tPathogen-specific objectives</h2>\r\n<h3>\r\n\tGroup A streptococcus (GAS)</h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\tTo determine the distribution of <em>emm</em> types and the association between specific <em>emm</em> types and disease severity</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\tTo track antimicrobial resistance among invasive group A streptococcal isolates</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\tTo identify potentially modifiable risk factors for community-acquired group A streptococcal&nbsp;infections</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\tTo assess the effect of early administration of IVIG on mortality associated with invasive group A streptococcal disease</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h3>\r\n\tGroup B streptococcus (GBS)</h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\tTo characterize epidemiology and trends in neonatal and adult invasive group B streptococcal disease</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\tTo evaluate effectiveness of screening and antibiotic prophylaxis on neonatal group B streptococcal&nbsp;disease</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h3>\r\n\tInfluenza</h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\tTo determine the incidence, clinical features and outcomes of episodes of laboratory-confirmed influenza associated with hospitalization in a defined population and to assess variability in diagnosis and management</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\tTo assess the effect of treatment with antiviral medication on length of stay, and mortality</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\tTo assess efficacy of influenza vaccine in preventing hospitalization due to influenza in older adults</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h3>\r\n\t<em>Neisseria meningitidis</em></h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\tTo characterize epidemiology and trends in invasive menigococcal disease</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\tTo evaluate effectiveness of meningococcal conjugate vaccines and impact on disease burden</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\tTo compare components of care for patients with suspected meningitis to current care guidelines</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h3>\r\n\t<em>Streptococcus pneumoniae</em></h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\tTo track emerging antimicrobial resistance in pneumococcal isolates</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\tTo evaluate the impact of new pneumococcal conjugate vaccines for infants on burden of disease and&nbsp; antimicrobial resistance</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\tTo evaluate prevention of pneumococcal disease among the elderly through pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine use</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\tTo detect changes in serotype and epidemiology of illness due to <em>Streptococcus pneumoniae</em> which may be associated with the introduction of the pediatric conjugate vaccines</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\tTo determine patient characteristics of adults with community acquired <em>Streptococcus</em><em> pneumoniae</em> meningitis, and attempt to identify risk factors for the disease as well as prognostic indicators for poor outcome</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\tTo determine the effect of antimicrobial exposure on risk of isolation of penicillin-resistant <em>Streptococcus pneumoniae</em> from community-dwelling seniors</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\tTo compare microbiologic characteristics of strains of <em>Streptococcus</em><em> pneumoniae</em> causing meningitis over time</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\tTo determine the microbiologic and molecular characteristics and the association between specific serotypes and disease severity</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n", "version": "1.0", "type": "rich", "provider_name": "TIBDN: Toronto Invasive Bacterial Diseases Network", "provider_url": "http://www.tibdn.ca", "author_name": ""}