Reducing antibiotic use in children with pneumonia

PICNIC Study - PatIent Centered aNtIbiotic Courses in Children With Medical Complexity

NA · Boston Children's Hospital · NCT06364514

This study is testing if doctors can safely give shorter courses of antibiotics to children with pneumonia by checking how they are doing to see if it helps them recover without using too many antibiotics.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment50 (estimated)
Ages2 Years to 25 Years
SexAll
SponsorBoston Children's Hospital (other)
Locations1 site (Boston, Massachusetts)
Trial IDNCT06364514 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to evaluate whether clinicians can safely minimize antibiotic exposure in children with medical complexity diagnosed with pneumonia by tailoring the duration of antibiotic treatment based on individual clinical stability assessments. The intervention focuses on monitoring the patient's condition to determine the appropriate length of antibiotic therapy, potentially leading to better outcomes and reduced antibiotic resistance. The study will involve children aged 2 to 25 years who are admitted to the Complex Care Service at Boston Children's Hospital and have been prescribed antibiotics.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are children aged 2-25 years with medical complexity who are diagnosed with pneumonia and have started antibiotic treatment.

Not a fit: Patients who are admitted to the intermediate care unit or ICU due to increased respiratory support needs may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to safer antibiotic use and improved health outcomes for children with pneumonia.

How similar studies have performed: While this approach is innovative, similar studies focusing on tailored antibiotic therapy have shown promise in other populations, suggesting potential for success.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Admitted to the Complex Care Service at Boston Children's Hospital with a provider diagnosis of pneumonia
* Started on antibiotics by the provider team
* Ages 2-25 years old

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients initially admitted to the intermediate care unit or ICU due to increased respiratory support needs

Where this trial is running

Boston, Massachusetts

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: Pneumonia

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.