Aspergillus spread among adults in a hematology ward
A Prospective Study on the Incidence of Invasive Aspergillus Infections in Hematology Patients: the Utility of Nasal Swab Screening and Environmental Sampling (AspHem)
The team will see if Aspergillus in the ward environment and in patients' noses is linked to later infections or worse symptoms in adults admitted to the hematology ward.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 193 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di Pavia Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Pavia, Pavia) |
| Trial ID | NCT07440485 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Researchers at Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo will enroll adults admitted to the hospital's hematology ward and collect environmental air samples and patient nasal swabs over time. This observational cohort will track Aspergillus presence in ward air and in patient carriage and compare those findings with clinical signs, imaging, and laboratory data. The study will record timing and seasonal factors and relate environmental and carriage findings to symptom severity and any invasive disease. No experimental treatments are given; results aim to inform infection control practices.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults (18+) who are admitted to the San Matteo Hematology ward and can give informed consent are the intended participants.
Not a fit: Outpatients, people treated at other hospitals, and healthy community members will not directly benefit from this single-center observational study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help target infection-control measures to reduce Aspergillus exposure and lower rates of invasive disease in vulnerable hematology patients.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked nasal carriage to invasive disease for organisms like Staphylococcus and Candida, but ward-to-patient transmission of Aspergillus is less well studied, making this approach relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * ≥ 18 years old * Signature of informed consent * Admission to San Matteo's Hematology ward
Where this trial is running
Pavia, Pavia
- Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di Pavia — Pavia, Pavia, Italy (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Alba Muzzi
- Email: a.muzzi@smatteo.pv.it
- Phone: 0382/502268
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.