A UK study has shown that a vaccine can protect people against paratyphoid fever. Paratyphoid fever affects over two million people globally each year. Yet no licensed vaccine is currently available. The clinical trial involved six UK sites, including University Hospital Southampton. Volunteers took part locally at the NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility (CRF). The new oral vaccine was shown to provide significant protection. There weren’t any safety concerns. ‘Major global health...

A human challenge trial has shown a new vaccine could offer better protection against whooping cough.   This follows a new report that highlights that 2024 whooping cough numbers were at their worst in 30 years.   Whooping cough is a serious and sometimes deadly disease. It affects millions of people worldwide each year.   Vaccines for whooping cough are already part of routine childhood immunisations in the UK. However they don’t provide lifelong protection. They also don’t stop people from...

A new trial will see if giving steroids to babies with suspected bacterial meningitis improves survival and long-term outcomes. The trial is known as Better Outcomes in Babies with Bacterial meningitis (BOBBi). It will investigate whether this treatment helps more babies survive without long-term difficulties. Patients will take part across the country, including at University Hospital Southampton (UHS). Preventing long-term problems Bacterial meningitis affects about 350 babies every year in...