Shigella illness in kids: treatment and rapid diagnosis in young children
Official title: The impact of shigellosis and recommended treatment in children
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11604327 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests whether giving antibiotics to children with non-dysenteric Shigella diarrhea improves health and growth, using rapid tests to guide treatment in Bangladesh and Zambia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 2, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $203,327 |
| NIH project number | 3U01AI179562-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11604327 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children aged 0–11 years with suspected Shigella-associated watery diarrhea in Bangladesh or Zambia, with active follow-up and no contraindications to antibiotic therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Children without Shigella infection or with conditions that require different management may not benefit from antibiotic treatment in this trial.
What this research studies
Shigella causes diarrhea in young children, and current guidelines may miss opportunities to treat those without obvious blood in stool. This project will conduct a randomized placebo-controlled trial to see if antibiotic therapy benefits children with non-dysenteric Shigella infection in resource-limited settings, with careful follow-up to assess outcomes. Researchers will also evaluate a rapid diagnostic test to help identify cases quickly so treatment decisions can be made sooner. The study takes place in Bangladesh and Zambia, led by Johns Hopkins University, to inform policies that could improve child survival and long-term health where shigellosis is common.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the trial could lead to evidence-based treatment guidelines for non-dysenteric Shigella diarrhea and promote rapid diagnostics that improve outcomes for young children.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research supports rapid diagnostics and antibiotic use in Shigella management, but this specific NDSD treatment question is being tested in this setting.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chakraborty, Subhra — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Chakraborty, Subhra
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.