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InfluenzaNCT01720329

Use of Probiotics to Prevent Influenza

A study testing Probiotics in people with Influenza, run by McMaster University at 13 sites in Canada.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The goal of this study is to assess the feasibility of randomizing residents of long-term care facilities to either probiotics or placebo to assess whether probiotics can reduce influenza and other viral laboratory confirmed respiratory infection. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 65 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Influenza
What is being tested?
Probiotics
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
1,440 participants
Where
13 sitesCanada
Study dates
Jul 2013to Oct 2017
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 65 years and older
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • nursing home residents, 65 years of age or older, in the Hamilton ON area

Who cannot join

  • residents who are immunosuppressed (steroids or other immunosuppressives), have a hematologic malignancy, structural heart disease, gastroesophageal or intestinal injury and those are at increased risk of an endovascular infection will be excluded

Trial locations and contacts

13 sites in 1 country.

13 sites in 1 country

Canada13 sites
  • The Clarion

    Hamilton, Ontario, L8G 1E7

  • Pine Villa

    Hamilton, Ontario, L8G 1G6

  • Arbour Creek

    Hamilton, Ontario, L8G 1J3

  • Parkview Nursing centre

    Hamilton, Ontario, L8P 1C1

  • Dundurn Place

    Hamilton, Ontario, L8R 3L8

  • Shalom Village

    Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 3S1

  • The Wellington

    Hamilton, Ontario, L9A 5H5

  • Idlewyld Manor

    Hamilton, Ontario, L9C2A9

  • Regina Gardens

    Hamilton, Ontario, L9C5E3

  • St. Peter's Chedoke

    Hamilton, Ontario, L9C7W9

  • Wentworth Lodge

    Hamilton, Ontario, L9H 4C4

  • Blackadar Continuing Care

    Hamilton, Ontario, L9H 5G7

  • St. Joseph's Villa

    Hamilton, Ontario, L9H 5G7

Other trials in Canada

About this study

Official title: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Probiotics to Prevent Influenza and Other Respiratory Infections in Residents of Long-term Care Facilities: A Pilot Study

The goal of this study is to assess the feasibility of randomizing residents of long-term care facilities to either probiotics or placebo to assess whether probiotics can reduce influenza and other viral laboratory confirmed respiratory infection.

Read the detailed description

The goal of this study is to assess the feasibility of randomizing residents of long-term care facilities to either probiotics or placebo to assess whether probiotics can reduce influenza and other viral laboratory confirmed respiratory infection. The investigators will determine whether it is feasible to enroll residents and randomize them to a daily course of probiotics or placebo and monitor for influenza and other respiratory tract infections. In addition, the investigators will asses the feasibility of obtaining a nasal specimen for evaluation of the upper respiratory microbiome, measure antimicrobials, and deterioration in functional status. All aspects of the proposed trial will be assessed, including enrollment, randomization, respiratory infection surveillance, methods for outcome assessment, and event rates. The investigators will test the use of our data collection forms and data management strategy and will generate date to derive an appropriate sample size.

Conditions
Influenza
Being tested
Probiotics, probiotic placebo
Medical subject headings
Influenza, Human

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • ProbioticsDietary supplement

    Active comparator Arm. XXmls of XXX supplemented with XX of L. rhamnosus GG on a daily basis for six months

  • probiotic placeboOther

    Placebo comparator arm -Participants randomized to placebo will receive XXmls of XXX G on a daily basis for 6 months.

Study groups in NCT01720329
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
ProbioticsActive comparatorParticipants randomized to probiotics will receive 2 capsules supplemented with 10 billion cfu of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG on a daily basis for six months
Receives: Dietary Supplement: Probiotics
Probiotic placeboPlacebo comparatorParticipants randomized to placebo will receive 2 capsules of matching placebo on a daily basis for six months
Receives: Other: probiotic placebo

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. laboratory-confirmed influenza or other respiratory viral infection in participants in intervention arm of study

    this will be confirmed on the basis of reverse transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction(PCR)

    Measured: Participants will be assessed twice weekly for symptoms for 6 months. This will begin after they have been randomized to probiotics or placebo arms of the study

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. influenza like illness

    influenza-like illness will be defined by the presence of fever, sore throat, and cough and will measure symptom severity

    Measured: Participants will be assessed twice weekly for 6 months after they have been randomized into probiotics or placebo

  2. antimicrobial prescriptions

    courses of antimicrobials (name, does and duration) will be recorded by research nurse using information on the medication container or by contacting the prescribing physician if necessary. We will measure antibiotic associated diarrhea which we define as ≥ 3 liquid stools/d for at least two day.

    Measured: To be reviewed at the twice weekly assessments for 6 months following randomization

  3. physician visits for respiratory illness

    information will be obtained from the attending physician

    Measured: The participant's MD patient record will be reviewed for visits during the 12 months following randomization

  4. hospitalizations for lower respiratory infection or pneumonia

    cause of hospitalizations will be assessed by the research nurse through interviews with the participants and reviews of hospital medical records. Deaths will be recorded using medical records

    Measured: Patient will be asked during the twice weekly assessments about any hospitalizations, as well as consulting their MD, during the 6 months following randomization

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted2 Nov 2012 (estimated)
  2. Study startJul 2013
  3. Primary completionAug 2017
  4. Study completionOct 2017

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider
Enrolment
1,440 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT01720329
Sponsor's protocol ID
PPI-2012
Status last verified
Oct 2018
First submitted
15 Oct 2012
Last updated
26 Oct 2018
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No

Publications

  • Wang B, Hylwka T, Smieja M, Surrette M, Bowdish DME, Loeb M. Probiotics to Prevent Respiratory Infections in Nursing Homes: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2018 Jul;66(7):1346-1352. doi: 10.1111/jgs.15396. Epub 2018 May 9.

    PubMed 29741754

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Probiotics in people with Influenza, run by McMaster University at 13 sites in Canada.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 26 Oct 2018. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 13 sites in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

laboratory-confirmed influenza or other respiratory viral infection in participants in intervention arm of study (time frame: Participants will be assessed twice weekly for symptoms for 6 months. This will begin after they have been randomized to probiotics or placebo arms of the study). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01720329, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 26 Oct 2018.

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