The Study
The Quebec study on the incidence of CMV infection among early childhood educators and development of strategies to prevent infection aims to better understand the frequency with which educators catch CMV for the first time or become reinfected.
Objectives
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To describe how educators acquire CMV, whether for the first time or through reinfection.
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To measure how long the virus remains in saliva and blood after infection or reinfection.
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To understand what educators know about CMV and how they think they can avoid getting it.
Study procedures for educators and support staff
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If participant is CMV positive - sample every 7 days until the participant tests negative
Study procedure for plasma donors
Laboratory analyses
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Measure the amount of virus in saliva and plasma (qPCR)
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Anti-CMV antibody screening (serology)
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Additional tests to identify the virus responsible for CMV infection
Participants are recruited in the Montreal/Laval, Quebec City and Sherbrooke regions.
Our study group will consist of:
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553 educators recruited in CPEs, family daycares and private daycares
- 1659 controls:
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649 hospital support workers
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1010 plasma donors from Héma-Québec
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Recruitment objectives
In the short term, by providing a better understanding of the risk of CMV infection among daycare workers in Quebec and its risk factors, this project could contribute to the implementation of specific prevention measures.
We believe it will also contribute to:
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Raise awareness among educators and the general public about congenital CMV infection.
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Improve the sharing of methods for preventing CMV infection.
In the long term, by increasing awareness, this could lead to a reduction in the number of congenital CMV infections in Quebec.
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Finally, this research project could lead to other collaborations focusing on the dynamics of CMV infection in daycare settings.
What are the future benefits of this project?
EDUQ-CMV is funded by Moderna Therapeutics, Inc.