Studies
This page includes both current and completed BPSU studies. You can browse studies by speciality, year or status using the filters below, and access study summaries, protocols, publications and patient information materials where available. Together, these studies provide an important evidence base for clinical practice, service development, public health policy and future research.
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Severe complications of varicella (chickenpox) in hospitalised children
When this study started surveillance, there was little data on complicated varicella cases in the UK. Analysis of routine hospital discharge records, but did not provide data with sufficient detail or accuracy. There was no routine childhood immunisation programme against varicella in the UK or Ireland. Data from the study on severe complications of varicella would have made a valuable contribution to the epidemiological and economic data available. It would also assist in determining the advisability of a universal or selective immunisation. The data would additionally provide a baseline for a vaccination programme for its evaluation.
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Congenital Toxoplasmosis 2
The primary aim of the study was to determine the birth prevalence of symptomatic congenital toxoplasmosis to inform decisions about neonatal screening for congenital toxoplasmosis. Additionally, it aimed to determine the severity of clinical manifestations and age at first diagnosis in children with symptomatic toxoplasmosis according to whether infection was likely to be congenital or acquired postnatally. It also aimed to describe the management of children with suspected symptomatic congenital toxoplasmosis in the British Isles and determine the feasibility of testing for specific IgM/IgA antibodies using stored Guthrie card blood samples in children with suspected congenital toxoplasmosis.
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Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) 1
This study investigated clinically recognised, confirmed and suspected congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection. It aimed to ascertain the population prevalence of cCMV disease, management strategies, and clinical disease outcome. A further objective was the feasibility of using routinely collected neonatal dried blood spots to confirm or exclude a diagnosis of cCMV infection in infants who present after 3 weeks of age.
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Group B streptococcal disease 1
At the time of surveillance, Group B Streptococcal disease was the most common cause of severe, early-onset neonatal disease (EOGBSD) and an important cause of late-onset neonatal disease. Administering antibiotics could prevent EOGBSD. There was concern that there were no national policies for use in the UK/ROI. These policies needed to be evidence-based, and there was no data on the incidence and risk factors for disease in UK/ROI infants. The aim of this project is to describe the burden of invasive GBS disease in infants <90 days of age in the UK and ROI.
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Congenital syphilis 1
The BPSU survey of congenital syphilis began in July 1993. It aimed to undertake surveillance for congenital syphilis in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. At the time of the survey, the only surveillance of congenital syphilis was through the genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics, and it was unclear whether all affected children might be attending such facilities.
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Invasive haemophilus influenzae infection following HIB Immunisation
In September 1992, the BPSU included invasive H influenzae infection occurring after Hib immunisation in its reporting scheme. In 1995, surveillance also included cases occurring in unvaccinated children. The data collected allowed the estimation of vaccine effectiveness, in relation to both the pre-vaccine era and incidence of cases in the unvaccinated population. In the later years of the study, there was confidence that estimates of efficacy truly represented the effect of the primary infant series.
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Measles, mumps, rubella-meningoencephalitis (MMR)
Active surveillance of mumps vaccine-associated meningoencephalitis was initiated in 1990 through the BPSU. BPSU reporters in the British Isles were asked to report cases of meningoencephalitis in children under 16 years of age occurring within six weeks of receiving the MMR vaccine.
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Congenital toxoplasmosis 1
At the time of the study, there was a debate about whether there should be a prenatal screening programme for toxoplasmosis in the UK. This study aimed to determine the number of cases in the British Isles.
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AIDs / HIV (HIV infection and vertical HIV exposure)
National surveillance of HIV infection and vertical HIV exposure was carried out by the NSHPC and covered all infants born to HIV positive women in the UK and Ireland, as well as all children diagnosed with HIV (regardless of country of birth) before the age of 16. The BPSU provided case notifications to the NSHPC, facilitating data collection for national HIV paediatric surveillance. Data collected contributed to a wide range of epidemiological and clinical analyses and publications, including assessments of the impact of antenatal screening and the uptake of interventions in pregnancy and the monitoring of developments in the management of infected and exposed children.
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