Determining the best duration for antibiotic treatment of pneumonia in adults
The Optimal Antibiotic Treatment Duration for Community-acquired Pneumonia in Adults Diagnosed in General Practice in Denmark: an Open-Label, Pragmatic, Randomised Controlled Trial
PHASE4 · Research Unit for General Practice in Aalborg · NCT06295120
This study tests how long adults with pneumonia should take antibiotics to feel better while avoiding taking them longer than necessary.
Quick facts
| Phase | PHASE4 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 600 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Research Unit for General Practice in Aalborg (other) |
| Drugs / interventions | chemotherapy |
| Locations | 1 site (Gistrup) |
| Trial ID | NCT06295120 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This randomized controlled trial aims to identify the optimal duration of treatment with phenoxymethylpenicillin for adults diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia in general practice settings in Denmark. Participants aged 18 and older who present with symptoms of an acute lower respiratory tract infection will be randomly assigned to receive antibiotics for three, four, five, six, or seven days. The study seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of different treatment durations to improve patient outcomes while minimizing unnecessary antibiotic use.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older presenting with symptoms of an acute lower respiratory tract infection in a general practice setting.
Not a fit: Patients requiring immediate hospitalization, those with known allergies to beta-lactam antibiotics, or those with pre-existing lung diseases will not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to more effective and tailored antibiotic treatment durations for patients with community-acquired pneumonia.
How similar studies have performed: Other studies have explored antibiotic treatment durations for pneumonia, but this specific approach focusing on phenoxymethylpenicillin in a general practice setting is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Eligible participants are adults (≥18 years) presenting in general practice with symptoms of an acute LRTI (i.e., acute illness (≤ 21 days) usually with cough and minimum one other symptom such as dyspnoea, sputum production, wheezing, chest discomfort or fever) in whom the GP finds it relevant to treat with antibiotics. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Need for immediate hospitalisation at the time of diagnosis. 2. Known allergy to beta-lactam antibiotics. 3. Any coinfection necessitating antibiotic treatment. 4. Use of systemic antibiotics or antivirals within the last month. 5. Pre-existing lung disease (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis, asthma, lung cancer). 6. Known immunosuppression (i.e., long term treatment with corticosteroid, chemotherapy, or immune disorder). 7. Pregnant or lactating. 8. Patients not capable of consenting and/or patients deemed non-suitable for participation by the healthcare professional.
Where this trial is running
Gistrup
- The Research Unit for General Practice Aalborg — Gistrup, Denmark (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Eskild Johansen, MD, Ph.d.-student
- Email: ejoha@dcm.aau.dk
- Phone: +45 31 58 29 13
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Community-acquired Pneumonia, Community-acquired pneumonia, Treatment duration, Phenoxymethylpenicillin, General Practice