THE IDID STUDY
Improving diagnostics of infectious diseases in Ethiopia (IDID)
Principal Investigator: Guro Kristine Bårnes1
Co-investigators: Esayas Kebede Gudina2, Alemseged Abdissa2, Melkamu Berhane2, Hannah J. Jørgensen1, Siri Feruglio1, Dominique A. Caugant1, Øystein Haarklau Johansen3, Jeanette H. Mag-nus4
Collaborating Institutions: 1) Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 2) Jimma University, 3) Univer-sity of Bergen, 4) University of Oslo
Background, objectives and methods: Infectious diseases are the most frequent causes of morbi-dity and mortality in developing countries. Correct diagnosis, microbiological analysis and data on the prevalence of infectious diseases are essential for appropriate treatment of patients, fundamental to disease monitoring and for planning of preventive measures. The availability of adequate laboratory services is essential and building laboratory capacity can ensure correct treatment strategies and help to avoid unnecessary use of antibiotics. In Ethiopia, the lack of adequate laboratory services impedes the quality of health. There is limited knowledge of the disease causing agents, and more often than not, decisions to treat infectious diseases are based on clinical findings alone. This study aims to improve clinical and laboratory diagnostics of infectious diseases, primarily meningitis and septicemia. Causative agents of the infectious diseases will be determined using FilmArray, a reliable, rapid and user-friendly molecular method. The results will be used to support establishment of alternative and sustainable diag-nostic methods for the most important infectious agents. The generated knowledge will be the basis for evidence-based practice and to guide clinicians in their clinical management.
Funding source: The Research Council of Norway GLOBVAC Fund