Customized antibiotic treatment duration for hospitalized pneumonia patients

Customized Antibiotic Treatment Duration Among Hospitalized Patients With Moderately Severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia

PHASE3 · Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris · NCT05903352

This study tests if giving hospitalized pneumonia patients antibiotics for a shorter, personalized time based on their recovery is just as effective as the usual longer treatment.

Quick facts

PhasePHASE3
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment328 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorAssistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (other)
Locations1 site (Garches)
Trial IDNCT05903352 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This phase III trial evaluates whether an individualized approach to antibiotic treatment duration for hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is as effective as the standard treatment duration. The study aims to determine if stopping antibiotics based on patient stability after at least 48 hours is non-inferior to the standard duration in terms of cure persistence and mortality rates. Participants will be monitored for their pneumonia symptoms and quality of life at various intervals during treatment. This pragmatic, multicenter trial will involve patients admitted to the hospital with suspected CAP who require antibiotics.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older, hospitalized with suspected CAP and showing early clinical improvement after at least 48 hours of antibiotic treatment.

Not a fit: Patients who do not show early clinical improvement or have contraindications to the study's criteria may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to more personalized antibiotic treatments, reducing unnecessary exposure and combating antibiotic resistance.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have indicated that shorter antibiotic courses can be safe for hospitalized CAP patients, suggesting potential success for this individualized approach.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Adult patient (≥18 years old)
* Admitted to hospital for suspected CAP defined by the presence of at least 2 of the following diagnostic clinical criteria:

  * Fever (temperature \> 38°C) or hypothermia (\< 36°C)
  * Dyspnea
  * Cough
  * Production of purulent sputum
  * Crackles
* Radiological evidence of a new infiltrate (chest X-ray or CT scan)
* Negative viral respiratory testing
* Treated for a minimum of 48 hours with antibiotics (excluding azithromycin due to its prolonged half-life)Presenting with an early clinical response within the last 24 hours (up to 7 days after the start of antibiotic treatment, if planned treatment duration \> 7 days), defined by the presence of all the following criteria:apyrexia (T°C ≤ 37.8)heart rate \< 100/minrespiratory rate \< 24/min, according to the patient's usual mode of oxygenation,arterial oxygen saturation ≥ 92%, according to the patient's usual mode of oxygenation,Patient currently under antibiotic treatment for his suspected CAP (i.e. the last dose of ATB has been administered to the patient less than 24 hours ago)
* Patient presenting a clinical response within the last 24 hours defined by the presence of all the following criteria:

  * apyrexia (T°C ≤ 37.8)
  * heart rate \< 100/min
  * respiratory rate \< 24/min, according to the patient's usual mode of oxygenation,
  * arterial oxygen saturation ≥ 92%, according to the patient's usual mode of oxygenation,
  * systolic blood pressure ≥ 90mmHg, The last occurring of these criteria must have appeared within the last 24 hours.
* The antibiotic treatment for suspected CAP has started at least 48 hours ago and at most 6 days ago
* No other site of infection besides respiratory
* Affiliated to Health insurance
* Has given informed consent
* Patient understanding oral and written French, or presence of a relative who can explain and help him complete the study documents

Exclusion Criteria:

* Signs of severe CAP (abscess, massive pleural effusion, serious chronic respiratory insufficiency)
* Known immunosuppression (asplenia, neutropenia, agammaglobulinemia, transplant, myeloma, lymphoma, known HIV and CD4\<200/mm3)
* Suspected or confirmed legionellosis
* Any other infection necessitating concomitant antibiotic treatment
* Confirmed or suspected aspiration pneumonia or healthcare-associated pneumonia
* Treatment of suspected CAP with azithromycin (due to its prolonged half-life)
* Concomitant steroid treatment (only for patients treated with fluoroquinolones antibiotics)
* Pre-existing aortic aneurysm or dissection, family history of aortic aneurysm or dissection, Marfan syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Takayasu arthritis, uncontrolled arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis (only for patients treated with fluoroquinolones antibiotics)
* Pregnant or breastfeeding woman
* Life expectancy \< 1 month
* Patient under legal guardianship (French "tutelle" or "curatelle")
* Patient without fixed address
* Patient enrolled in another interventional clinical trial on CAP treatment

Where this trial is running

Garches

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Community-Acquired Pneumonia, Antibiotic treatment duration, Antibiotic resistance, Infectious diseases

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.