SURVEILLANCE, ASSESSMENT AND DETECTION OF INFLUENZA ASSOCIATED RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS IN HIV POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE INDIVIDUALS IN LUSAKA, ZAMBIA

Launched by CENTRE FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE RESEARCH IN ZAMBIA · Jun 12, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying respiratory infections like the flu (influenza), RSV, and COVID-19 in adults living in Lusaka, Zambia, especially focusing on people with and without HIV. The goal is to learn how common these infections are, how they affect health, and how well new breath-based tests work compared to the usual nose swabs for detecting these viruses. Since Zambia has a high number of people living with HIV, the study hopes to better understand how these infections impact this group and help improve early diagnosis and care.

Adults aged 18 and older who have flu-like symptoms such as cough, sore throat, fever, or shortness of breath for 2 to 7 days may be eligible to join if they are willing to share their HIV and COVID-19 vaccination status and provide samples for testing. Participants will be asked to give a nasal swab and also wear a special mask to collect breath samples. They will track their symptoms for a week and have follow-up visits for up to two weeks. The study will also check how people feel about the breath test method. Those who join will receive appropriate care as part of regular health services during the study.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • i. age ≥18 years old ii. presenting with flu-like symptoms or acute respiratory infection with ≥2 to 7 days history of cough and /or sore throat and fever, +/- sneezing, +/- congestion, +/- myalgia, +/- fatigue, +/- wheezing, shortness of breath)\[55-57\] iii. willing to share their HIV status or be tested iv. willing to share their COVID-19 vaccination status v. able and willing to give informed consent vi. willing to provide a nasal/ nasopharyngeal sample for testing as part of standard of care vii. willing to provide exhaled breath aerosol samples i.e. wear a mask and provide a breath sample viii. willing to fill a symptoms diary card for symptom tracking for 7 days ix. agree to be followed-up and attend study visits up to two weeks after study entry
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • i. individuals who are unwilling to provide any reference standard samples such as the nasopharyngeal swabs ii. those with symptoms for \>7 days, or iii. those unwilling or unable to provide informed consent