Shortened antifungal treatment for kids with candidemia
Official title: Short Course Versus Standard Course Antifungal Therapy for Pediatric Candidemia: A Multi-Center Randomized Controlled Trial
Funded at Arkansas Children's Hospital Res Inst · NIH-11606491 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A pediatric multicenter trial will test whether stopping antifungal therapy after 7 more days, following an initial 7 days of treatment, isas safe as continuing for 14 days.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Arkansas Children's Hospital Res Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Little Rock, United States) |
| Project start | August 5, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $25,000 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AI170385-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11606491 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with invasive candidiasis who have uncomplicated candidemia and have already shown clinical improvement on initial echinocandin therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Children with complicated infections or poor response to initial therapy may not benefit from a shorter course.
What this research studies
This grant supports a randomized trial in children with candidemia to compare shorter versus longer antifungal therapy after an initial week of echinocandin treatment. Researchers will enroll patients across multiple centers, monitor clinical progress, bloodstream cultures, and safety to determine if a shorter course is enough. If successful, this could reduce exposure to medications, shorten hospital stays, and lower costs while maintaining good outcomes for kids. The study is designed to generate clear guidance for pediatric care when blood cultures improve during treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If the shorter course proves effective, children could receive the same good outcomes with less medication and fewer side effects.
How similar studies have gone: There is precedent for shorter antibiotic courses in bacterial infections, but this is a first definitive pediatric trial for fungal infections.
Where this research is happening
-
Arkansas Children's Hospital Res Inst
Little Rock, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Steinbach, William J — Arkansas Children's Hospital Res Inst
- Study coordinator: Steinbach, William J
Related research
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Shorter antifungal treatment for kids with candidemia
A multi-center pediatric trial tests whether a shorter, 7 extra days of antifungal therapy after an initial 7 days is just as good as the standard 14-day approach for kids with candidemia who are improving on echinocandin therapy.
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Short Course vs Standard Course Antifungal Therapy for Pediatric Candidemia
This study tests whether a shorter 7-day total antifungal treatment after an initial 7 days of echinocandin therapy is as effective as the usual 14-day course for children with candidemia.
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Shorter antifungal treatment for kids with candidemia
A multi-center study tests whether kids with candidemia can finish treatment earlier after an initial week of antifungal therapy than the standard two weeks total.
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Shorter antifungal treatment for kids with candidemia
This study tests whether children with candidemia can finish treatment after 7 days of an echinocandin if they are improving, instead of completing a full 14 days.
-
Shorter antifungal course for kids with candidemia
A multi-center study tests whether 7 extra days of antifungal therapy after an initial week of treatment can be shortened safely for children with candidemia.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.