Using higher doses of beta-lactam antibiotics for critically ill patients with sepsis

Beta-Lactam Antibiotics InitiaL ExpoSure OptimisEd in CriticallY Ill Patients with SEpsis

Phase 4 Interventional Erasmus Medical Center · NCT06766461

This study is testing if giving critically ill patients with sepsis a higher dose of beta-lactam antibiotics can help them recover better and live longer compared to the standard dose.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 4
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment980 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorErasmus Medical Center Academic / other
Locations1 site (Rotterdam)
Trial IDNCT06766461 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to determine if administering a double dose of beta-lactam antibiotics in the initial phase of treatment can improve outcomes for critically ill patients suffering from sepsis. It is an open-label, randomized controlled trial that will compare the effects of this higher dosage against the standard dose in a population of adult ICU patients meeting specific sepsis criteria. The primary endpoint is all-cause mortality within 28 days, while secondary endpoints include hospital and ICU length of stay, microbiological eradication, and various clinical measures over time.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older who are admitted to the ICU with sepsis and require vasopressors to maintain blood pressure.

Not a fit: Patients who are pregnant, have burn wounds, or are already receiving double doses of antibiotics may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly reduce mortality rates in critically ill patients with sepsis.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have explored antibiotic dosing strategies in sepsis, but this specific approach is novel and has not been extensively tested.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* ≥18 years of age
* Receiving intravenous antibiotic therapy of the target drugs (including continuous infusion of beta-lactam antibiotics)
* Primary infection
* Admitted to the ICU
* Meeting the Sepsis-3 criteria for septic shock: sepsis in addition to shock requiring the start of vasopressors to maintain a mean arterial pressure 65 mmHg or greater, and a serum lac tate level greater than 2.0 mmol/L following "adequate fluid resuscitation".

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patient or legal representative not available to give informed consent within 72 hours after admittance
* Pregnancy
* Admittance for burn wounds
* Patients receiving target antibiotics only as prophylaxis within the context of Selective Diges tive tract Decontamination (SDD)
* Enrolment in another interventional trial
* Patient received the study antibiotic for more than 24 hours before inclusion
* Patient receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
* Patient is already treated with a double dose of antibiotics based on suspected infection

Where this trial is running

Rotterdam

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.
Conditions Sepsis - to Reduce Mortality in the Intensive Care UnitSepsisSeptic Shocksepsisintensive carecritically illantibioticseptic shock
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.