NCT01964495

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate two different treatment strategies in patients admitted to hospital with Community Acquired Pneumonia. The investigators hypothesize treatment according to both procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) will be effective in reducing the length of antibiotic treatment.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
468

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Dec 2013

Typical duration for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

3 active sites

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

September 30, 2013

Completed
17 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

October 17, 2013

Completed
2 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

December 5, 2013

Completed
3.1 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

January 20, 2017

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

January 20, 2017

Completed
Last Updated

April 5, 2022

Status Verified

March 1, 2022

Enrollment Period

3.1 years

First QC Date

September 30, 2013

Last Update Submit

March 24, 2022

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Length of antibiotic treatment

    End of the study

Secondary Outcomes (5)

  • Length of stay

    End of the study

  • Clinical response

    End of the study

  • 30-day mortality

    End of the study, periodically by the DSMB

  • Time to clinical stability

    End of the study

  • Relapse rate

    End of the study

Study Arms (3)

Common clinical practice

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Treatment according to current guidelines. Often a 7 day course of antibiotics. Initial treatment should be broad spectrum antibiotics and can be narrowed down if a specific pathogen is identified.

Drug: Treatment according to current guidelines

CRP-guided treatment

EXPERIMENTAL

Treatment according to CRP levels. Patients will be started on broad spectrum antibiotics for at least 3 days, treatment can be switched to small-spectrum antibiotics if a specific pathogen is identified. From day 4 to 7 daily blood tests will be performed in order to evaluate whether or not treatment can be discontinued. If treatment is discontinued, no more blood tests will be performed.

Drug: Discontinuation of treatment according to CRP levels

PCT guided treatment

EXPERIMENTAL

Treatment according to PCT levels. Patients will be started on broad spectrum antibiotics for at least 3 days, treatment can be switched to small-spectrum antibiotics if a specific pathogen is identified. From day 4 to 7 daily blood tests will be performed in order to evaluate whether or not treatment can be discontinued. If treatment is discontinued, no more blood tests will be performed.

Drug: Discontinuation of treatment according to PCT levels

Interventions

The cutoff point is a CRP below 100 mg/L and a reduction to 50% of the initial value.

Also known as: Broad spectrum antibiotics, Small spectrum antibiotics
CRP-guided treatment

The cutoff point is a PCT below 0.25 mcg/L or a reduction to 10% of the initial value.

Also known as: Broad spectrum antibiotics, Small spectrum antibiotics
PCT guided treatment

Often a 7 days course of antibiotics, treatment may be extended if the attending physician deems it necessary.

Also known as: Broad spectrum antibiotics, Small spectrum antibiotics
Common clinical practice

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Male and female patients with a diagnosis of CAP and all criteria listed below:
  • Age 18 or above, no upper age limit will be employed.
  • Patients must require hospitalisation.
  • Clinical presentation of an acute illness with one or more of the following symptoms:
  • Temperature ≥ 38.0 ⁰C (100.4°F)
  • Dyspnoea
  • Cough (with or without expectoration of sputum)
  • Chest pain
  • Malaise or fatigue
  • Myalgia
  • Gastro-intestinal symptoms
  • Rales, rhonchi or wheezing
  • Egophony or bronchial breath sounds
  • New consolidation(s) on the chest radiograph.
  • Written informed consent obtained.
  • +1 more criteria

You may not qualify if:

  • Subjects presenting with any of the following will not be included in the study:
  • (Severe) immunosuppression (e.g. HIV infection, chemotherapy, use of immunosuppressants).
  • Active neoplastic disease.
  • Obstruction pneumonia (e.g. from lung cancer).
  • Aspiration pneumonia.
  • Pneumonia that developed within 8 days after hospital discharge.
  • Unable and/or unlikely to comprehend and/or follow the protocol.
  • Pregnant and/or lactating women.
  • Other infection that requires treatment with antibiotics

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (3)

Medical Centre Alkmaar

Alkmaar, North Holland, 1815JD, Netherlands

Location

Slotervaart Hospital

Amsterdam, North Holland, 1006BK, Netherlands

Location

ISALA clinics

Zwolle, Overijssel, 8025 AB, Netherlands

Location

Related Publications (2)

  • Hessels L, Duijkers R, Schoorl M, Terpstra L, Thijs W, Boersma W. The Value of Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor (suPAR) as Predictive Tool in Hospitalised Patients With Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP). Clin Respir J. 2025 Jun;19(6):e70089. doi: 10.1111/crj.70089.

  • Duijkers R, Prins HJ, Kross M, Snijders D, van den Berg JWK, Werkman GM, van der Veen N, Schoorl M, Bonten MJM, van Werkhoven CH, Boersma WG. Biomarker guided antibiotic stewardship in community acquired pneumonia: A randomized controlled trial. PLoS One. 2024 Aug 20;19(8):e0307193. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0307193. eCollection 2024.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Community-Acquired Pneumonia

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Community-Acquired InfectionsInfectionsPneumoniaRespiratory Tract InfectionsRespiratory Tract Diseases

Study Officials

  • Ruud Duijkers, MSc, MD

    Medisch Centrum Alkmaar

    STUDY DIRECTOR
  • Wim G Boersma, MD, PhD, MSc

    Medisch Centrum Alkmaar

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
  • Dominic Snijders, MSc, PhD, MD

    Slotervaart ziekenhuis

    STUDY CHAIR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
MSc, MD, PhD

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

September 30, 2013

First Posted

October 17, 2013

Study Start

December 5, 2013

Primary Completion

January 20, 2017

Study Completion

January 20, 2017

Last Updated

April 5, 2022

Record last verified: 2022-03

Locations