Project title: “Severe Acute Respiratory Infection and Community Acquired Pneumonia Surveillance Study in Georgia”, University of Florida; Project duration:  01.10.2013 – 30.09.2014.

 Project summary

 a). Project objectives: study the main etiologic agents causing Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) and Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) among hospitalized and ambulatory patients;

b). project implementation: at least 400-500 patients diagnosed with SARI and CAP (children as well as adults) will be enrolled annually. Four sentinel sites will be selected, where project participants will be responsible for identifying cases, taking samples and collecting epidemiologic data;

c). expected results: laboratory capacity, regarding improvement of detection of SARI and CAP associated pathogens, will be strengthened; main etiologic agents causing SARI and CAP will be identified; prevalence of pathogens causing SARI/CAP will be determined and analyzed by age-groups. Statistical analysis of data will be performed and a publication will be made.