RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Practice-Based Research Network Partnership with CDC to Acquire Clinical Specimens to Study the Etiology of Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (STARI)
JF The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine
JO J Am Board Fam Med
FD American Board of Family Medicine
SP 720
OP 727
DO 10.3122/jabfm.2010.06.100098
VO 23
IS 6
A1 Meagan F. Vaughn
A1 Philip D. Sloane
A1 Kyle Knierim
A1 Dax Varkey
A1 Mark A. Pilgard
A1 Barbara J. B. Johnson
YR 2010
UL http://www.jabfm.org/content/23/6/720.abstract
AB Introduction: Erythema migrans (EM) is an annular, erythematous, expanding rash that is characteristic of early Lyme disease. In the southern United States, however, many cases of EM seem to have an etiology different from that of Lyme disease. This little-understood condition is called Southern tick-associated rash illness.Methods: With the goal of obtaining biological specimens and clinical histories from 12 to 20 STARI patients for use in etiologic research, microbiologists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention contacted the North Carolina Network Consortium, a statewide consortium of practice-based research networks. This article describes the methods by which the North Carolina Network Consortium successfully identified and enrolled Southern tick-associated rash illness patients into a primary care-based research protocol.Results: A total of 23 patients were enrolled, with 100% attainment of the desired specimens. After an initial lack of success, the revised protocol identified and trained physicians practicing in endemic areas for the illness, used a coordinator with 24-hour availability, recruited participants using newspaper notices and medical providers, and provided regular reminders and progress updates.Conclusions: A practice-based research network can help basic scientists identify patients and collect specimens for clinically relevant research.