Pneumococcal Carriage Duration

Purpose

Streptococcus pneumoniae (SPN) remains a leading cause of respiratory disease in young children despite widespread vaccination. Understanding the duration of pneumococcal carriage, patterns of co-colonization, and the influence of viral infections and the respiratory microbiome is essential to evaluate next-generation pneumococcal vaccines and inform public health strategies. Current data on Streptococcus pneumoniae carriage dynamics are limited in U.S. pediatric populations. This study aims to generate updated estimates of Streptococcus pneumoniae colonization and explore microbial interactions using high-resolution longitudinal sampling and genomic methods.

Condition

  • Pneumococcal Carriage

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 28 Days and 48 Months
Eligible Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Inclusion Criteria

  • Are older than 28 days and under 4 years of age at the time of enrollment. - Have a parent or legal guardian who: 1. Provides written informed consent. 2. Is able to read and speak English or Spanish. 3. Agrees to comply with all study procedures, including completion of questionnaires and biweekly oropharyngeal (OP) swab collections from the child for a period of 12 months.

Exclusion Criteria

  • History of chronic medical conditions or immunocompromising conditions that may influence pneumococcal carriage or study participation, such as: - cystic fibrosis - cerebral palsy - neuromuscular disorders - congenital heart disease - known congenital or acquired immunodeficiencies - sickle cell disease - undergoing immunosuppressive therapy (e.g., systemic corticosteroids ≥2 mg/kg/day for ≥14 days, chemotherapy, biologics)

Study Design

Phase
Study Type
Observational
Observational Model
Cohort
Time Perspective
Prospective

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Main Cohort 60 healthy children under 4 years of age (30 children aged 0-1 years, 30 children aged 2-4 years) residing in Orlando, Florida.
  • Other: Oropharyngeal (OP) swab
    At each study visit, a double-tipped OP swab will be collected by trained clinical research staff. All swabs will be collected using a standard protocol. There will be 26 total study visits over the course of one year.

Recruiting Locations

University of Central Florida
Orlando, Florida 32827
Contact:
Dr. Amoy Fraser, PhD
407-266-8742
Amoy.Fraser@UCF.edu

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
University of Central Florida

Study Contact

Dr. Amoy Fraser, PhD
407-266-8742
Amoy.Fraser@UCF.edu