Clinical trial Recruiting at 32 sites Interventional Ages 3 to 18

Treatment options for pulmonary exacerbations in children with cystic fibrosis

Official title: Streamlined Treatment of Pulmonary Exacerbations in Pediatrics Randomized Controlled Trial (STOP PEDS RCT)

Run by University of Washington, the Collaborative Health Studies Coordinating Center · NCT06654752 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing two different ways to treat lung flare-ups in kids with cystic fibrosis to see which method works better and helps avoid giving antibiotics when they’re not needed.

More Cystic Fibrosis trials

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages3 Years to 18 Years
SexAll
Enrollment430 (estimated)
SponsorUniversity of Washington, the Collaborative Health Studies Coordinating Center
Academic / other
Locations33 sites (Birmingham, Alabama and 32 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedDecember 1, 2024
Main results expectedDecember 30, 2027
Study endsFebruary 28, 2029
Registry record updatedNovember 9, 2026
Trial IDNCT06654752 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates include children aged 3 to 18 years diagnosed with cystic fibrosis who are on highly effective modulator therapy.

Probably not a fit

Patients who are not eligible for highly effective modulator therapy or those who do not meet the specific inclusion criteria may not benefit from this study.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

The STOP PEDS RCT is a multicenter, open-label randomized controlled trial that evaluates the safety and efficacy of two antibiotic treatment strategies for managing outpatient pulmonary exacerbations in pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis. Participants aged 3 to 18 will be assigned to either an immediate antibiotics group or a tailored therapy group, where antibiotics are only administered if specific worsening symptoms occur. The study aims to determine the long-term and short-term outcomes of these treatment approaches over a 12-month period, focusing on reducing unnecessary antibiotic exposure while effectively managing exacerbations.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to more effective and personalized treatment strategies for managing pulmonary exacerbations in children with cystic fibrosis.

How similar studies have gone: Other studies have shown promise in similar approaches, but this specific trial is designed to evaluate a novel treatment strategy in the pediatric cystic fibrosis population.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age

   1. For main cohort and non-HEMT cohort: age 6 to \<19 years
   2. For preschool cohort: age 3 to \<6 years
2. Documentation of a CF diagnosis as evidenced by one or more clinical features consistent with the CF phenotype and one or more of the following criteria:

   1. sweat chloride ≥ 60 mEq/liter
   2. two disease-causing variants in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductive regulator (CFTR) gene
3. Written informed consent (and assent when applicable) obtained from participant or participant's legal representative and ability of participant to comply with the requirements of the study
4. Highly Effective Modulator Therapy

   1. For main cohort and preschool cohort: Taking HEMT for at least 3 months at enrollment
   2. For non-HEMT cohort: not eligible for HEMT based on CFTR genotype or eligible but not taking for at least 3 months and no plans to start HEMT in the next year, and also not taking tezacaftor-ivacaftor or lumacaftor-ivacaftor for at least 3 months
5. For main cohort and non-HEMT cohort: able to perform acceptable and reproducible spirometry
6. For main cohort and non-HEMT cohort: ppFEV1 ≥ 50% predicted at enrollment based on the Global lung Initiative (GLI) reference equations
7. Ability to receive text messages and access the internet

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Presence of a condition or abnormality that in the opinion of the Investigator would compromise the safety of the individual or the quality of the data
2. Receiving an acute course of oral or IV antibiotics at the time of enrollment or within the 14 days prior to enrollment. Individuals may be re-screened ≥21 days after completion of antibiotics if they are at their baseline state of health, per self-report
3. Treatment with systemic corticosteroids at enrollment or within the 14 days prior to enrollment. Individuals may be re- screened ≥21 days after completion of systemic corticosteroids if they are at their clinical baseline, per self-report
4. History of solid organ transplant
5. History of positive culture for Mycobacterium abscessus in the 12 months prior to enrollment
6. Treatment with antibiotics for any non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) at enrollment
7. Three or more IV antibiotic-treated PEx in the 12 months prior to enrollment
8. Treatment with chronic oral antibiotics other than azithromycin at enrollment
9. Treatment with systemic corticosteroids for allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) in the 12 months prior to enrollment

Where it's running

  • The Children's Hospital Alabama & University of Alabama at Birmingham
    Birmingham, Alabama, United States
    Recruiting
  • Tucson Cystic Fibrosis Center
    Tucson, Arizona, United States
    Recruiting
  • Children's Hospital of Los Angeles & Anton Yelchin Cystic Fibrosis Clinic
    Los Angeles, California, United States
    Recruiting
  • Stanford University
    Palo Alto, California, United States
    Recruiting
  • Children's Hospital of Colorado
    Aurora, Colorado, United States
    Recruiting
  • Children's Healthcare of Atlanta & Emory University
    Atlanta, Georgia, United States
    Recruiting
Show 27 more locations
  • Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago & Northwestern University
    Chicago, Illinois, United States
    Recruiting
  • Riley Hospital for Children & Indiana University
    Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
    Recruiting
  • University of Iowa
    Iowa City, Iowa, United States
    Recruiting
  • Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins University
    Baltimore, Maryland, United States
    Recruiting
  • Boston Children's Hospital & Harvard University
    Boston, Massachusetts, United States
    Recruiting
  • University of Michigan Health System
    Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
    Recruiting
  • Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota
    Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
    Recruiting
  • The Minnesota Cystic Fibrosis Center & University of Minnesota
    Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
    Recruiting
  • Children's Mercy Hospital
    Kansas City, Missouri, United States
    Recruiting
  • St. Louis Children's Hospital & Washington University School of Medicine
    St Louis, Missouri, United States
    Recruiting
  • University of Rochester Medical Center Strong Memorial
    Rochester, New York, United States
    Recruiting
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
    Recruiting
  • Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
    Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
    Recruiting
  • Oregon Health & Science University
    Portland, Oregon, United States
    Recruiting
  • Children's Hospital of Philadelphia & University of Pennsylvania
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
    Recruiting
  • Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC & University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
    Recruiting
  • Medical University of South Carolina
    Charleston, South Carolina, United States
    Recruiting
  • University of Texas Southwestern & Children's Health
    Dallas, Texas, United States
    Recruiting
  • Texas Children's Hospital & Baylor College of Medicine
    Houston, Texas, United States
    Recruiting
  • Vermont Children's Hospital & University of Vermont Medical Center
    Burlington, Vermont, United States
    Recruiting
  • Virginia Commonwealth University
    Richmond, Virginia, United States
    Recruiting
  • Seattle Children's Hospital
    Seattle, Washington, United States
    Recruiting
  • University of Wisconsin
    Madison, Wisconsin, United States
    Recruiting
  • Children's Wisconsin & Medical College of Wisconsin
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
    Recruiting
  • British Columbia Children's Hospital
    Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Recruiting
  • The Hospital for Sick Children & Toronto Canada CF Centre Pediatrics
    Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    Recruiting
  • Rady Children's Hospital at University of California San Diego
    San Diego, California, United States
    Not yet recruiting

Study contacts

  • Principal investigator: D. B. Sanders, MD, MS — Indiana University
  • Study coordinator: Erika Enright
  • Email: eenright@uw.edu
  • Phone: 206-897-1922

Similar studies

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How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
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Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.