Aetiology of encephalitis in England: a multi-centre prospective study

In 2005 the HPA, alongside colleagues in the NHS, is embarking on a Department of Health-funded study investigating the cause of encephalitis.

The aims of this study are to learn more about the many causes of encephalitis and improve our ability to diagnose them, to learn more about how patients are affected by this condition, and to store patient samples for future use when new diagnostic procedures become available or new causative agents are discovered.

Patients will be recruited for the study over a two year period from several participating hospitals located in the North West and South West of England and London. Samples, collected as part of good clinical practice, will be tested for an array of different organisms, beyond those included routinely. In parallel, a research nurse employed in each area will collect extensive clinical information about the patients enrolled in the study.

The Encephalitis Study

• Study protocol (PDF, 107 KB)
• Laboratory investigative algorithm (PDF, 189 KB)
• Pathogen discovery (PDF, 17 KB)
• Initial notification form (PDF, 35 KB)*
• Detailed questionnaire (PDF, 73 KB)*
• Letter to patient's GP (Rich text format, 405 KB) *

Patient information sheets:

• Children (Rich text format, 35 KB)*
• Adults (Rich text format, 35 KB)* 

Consent forms:

• Adult patients (PDF, 14 KB)*
• Children (PDF, 14 KB)*
• Adults without capacity (PDF, 14 KB)*
• Consent cover letter (Word Document, 50 KB)

* For the use of healthcare professionals involved in the study
 

Last reviewed: 27 May 2008