Ambrose Agweyu,
Author Of 1 Presentation
SUPPORTIVE CARE AND ANTIBIOTICS FOR SEVERE PNEUMONIA AMONG HOSPITALISED CHILDREN (SEARCH): A PRAGMATIC RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIAL (ID 1096)
Abstract
Background
Following introduction of vaccines against the dominant bacterial causes of pneumonia, there has been growing debate over the appropriateness of the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines for empiric antibiotic treatment in low- and middle-income countries. Evidence is also lacking on the appropriate practice for providing nutritional and fluid management to children with signs of severe respiratory illness. This study will compare amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and ceftriaxone to benzylpenicillin plus gentamicin (standard of care). We will also compare nasogastric feeding to intravenous fluids.
Methods
We are conducting a 3x2 factorial pragmatic randomised controlled trial at 12 hospitals in East Africa. We aim to recruit 4392 children aged 2-59 months admitted with severe pneumonia. The primary outcome will be mortality at day 5 post-enrolment. Secondary outcomes include time taken to be able to drink, length of hospitalisation, adverse events related to the interventions, and mortality at day 30.
Results
Recruitment commenced in August 2019 and is expected to conclude in three years.
Conclusions
This study is expected to generate much-needed evidence to inform policy on the appropriate antibiotic therapy and supportive care interventions for children with severe pneumonia in the post pneumococcal and Haemophilus influenzae conjugate vaccine era.