Shorter 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-11606539 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
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 | 3R01AI170385-05S6 |
| Project ID | NIH-11606539 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with invasive candidemia who show clinical improvement and blood culture clearance after an initial 7 days of echinocandin therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Children who do not respond to initial therapy or who have complicated, non-uncomplicated candidemia may not benefit from a shorter duration strategy.
What this research studies
This study focuses on children with invasive candidiasis who have uncomplicated candidemia and are responding to initial echinocandin treatment. Participants will be randomized to receive either the shorter 7-day extension or the standard 14-day total therapy after the first week of treatment. The trial will compare outcomes such as safety, recovery, and relapse to determine if less exposure to antifungals is sufficient. Because it involves pediatric patients across multiple centers, doctors and families can discuss participation and potential benefits with the study team. The goal is to inform guidelines and reduce unnecessary antifungal exposure in children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the shorter treatment could reduce medication exposure, side effects, and healthcare costs while maintaining safety for pediatric patients with candidemia.
How similar studies have gone: Prior adult and pediatric observations support short durations for some infections, but this trial is the first to rigorously compare shorter versus standard duration specifically for pediatric candidemia.
Where this research is happening
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.