Trial Outcomes & Findings for Impact of a Procalcitonin Testing and Treatment Algorithm on Antibiotic Use and Outcomes in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (NCT NCT03440918)

NCT ID: NCT03440918

Last Updated: 2020-04-22

Results Overview

Days of antibiotic therapy a participant receives following randomization will be measured

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

271 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

14 days

Results posted on

2020-04-22

Participant Flow

528 patients in the pediatric ICU were on antibiotics \< 1 calandar day and were assessed for eligibility during the study period, February 15, 2018 to April 11, 2019. 257 were excluded and did not undergo randomization.

No patients enrolled in the study were excluded before assignment to groups.

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Usual Care Antimicrobial Stewardship
Participants received usual care audit of antimicrobial orders with feedback to providers by the antimicrobial stewardship team.
Procalcitonin-Guided Antimicrobial Stewardship
In addition to usual care audit and feedback of antimicrobial orders, the stewardship team additionally recommended procalcitonin (PCT) testing and treatment per algorithm. PCT was used in conjunction with clinical status and exam, and results of radiographic and laboratory studies, to make medical decisions about antibiotic therapy.
Overall Study
STARTED
133
138
Overall Study
COMPLETED
133
122
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
0
16

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Usual Care Antimicrobial Stewardship
Participants received usual care audit of antimicrobial orders with feedback to providers by the antimicrobial stewardship team.
Procalcitonin-Guided Antimicrobial Stewardship
In addition to usual care audit and feedback of antimicrobial orders, the stewardship team additionally recommended procalcitonin (PCT) testing and treatment per algorithm. PCT was used in conjunction with clinical status and exam, and results of radiographic and laboratory studies, to make medical decisions about antibiotic therapy.
Overall Study
Protocol Violation
0
16

Baseline Characteristics

Impact of a Procalcitonin Testing and Treatment Algorithm on Antibiotic Use and Outcomes in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Usual Care
n=133 Participants
Usual Care audit of antimicrobial orders with feedback to providers by the antimicrobial stewardship team.
Procalcitonin-Guided Antimicrobial Stewardship
n=137 Participants
In addition to usual care audit and feedback of antimicrobial orders, the stewardship team additionally recommended procalcitonin (PCT) testing and treatment per algorithm. PCT was be used in conjunction with clinical status and exam, and results of radiographic and laboratory studies, to make medical decisions about antibiotic therapy.
Total
n=270 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
126 Participants
n=5 Participants
132 Participants
n=7 Participants
258 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
7 Participants
n=5 Participants
5 Participants
n=7 Participants
12 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Continuous
2.3 years
n=5 Participants
1.6 years
n=7 Participants
1.89 years
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
73 Participants
n=5 Participants
57 Participants
n=7 Participants
130 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
60 Participants
n=5 Participants
80 Participants
n=7 Participants
140 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
10 Participants
n=5 Participants
20 Participants
n=7 Participants
30 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
114 Participants
n=5 Participants
112 Participants
n=7 Participants
226 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
9 Participants
n=5 Participants
5 Participants
n=7 Participants
14 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
1 Participants
n=7 Participants
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
2 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
2 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
18 Participants
n=5 Participants
18 Participants
n=7 Participants
36 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
103 Participants
n=5 Participants
106 Participants
n=7 Participants
209 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
10 Participants
n=5 Participants
12 Participants
n=7 Participants
22 Participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
133 participants
n=5 Participants
137 participants
n=7 Participants
270 participants
n=5 Participants
Location at Enrollment
Medical / Surgical ICU
111 Participants
n=5 Participants
112 Participants
n=7 Participants
223 Participants
n=5 Participants
Location at Enrollment
Cardiac ICU
22 Participants
n=5 Participants
25 Participants
n=7 Participants
47 Participants
n=5 Participants
Vasopressor Support
33 Participants
n=5 Participants
27 Participants
n=7 Participants
60 Participants
n=5 Participants
Mechanical Ventilation
61 Participants
n=5 Participants
45 Participants
n=7 Participants
106 Participants
n=5 Participants
Fever at enrollment
79 Participants
n=5 Participants
61 Participants
n=7 Participants
140 Participants
n=5 Participants
Recent surgery
37 Participants
n=5 Participants
24 Participants
n=7 Participants
61 Participants
n=5 Participants
Antibiotic Indication
Sepsis
51 Participants
n=5 Participants
64 Participants
n=7 Participants
115 Participants
n=5 Participants
Antibiotic Indication
Pneumonia
59 Participants
n=5 Participants
48 Participants
n=7 Participants
107 Participants
n=5 Participants
Antibiotic Indication
Other
23 Participants
n=5 Participants
25 Participants
n=7 Participants
48 Participants
n=5 Participants
Final Diagnosis
Pneumonia
44 Participants
n=5 Participants
41 Participants
n=7 Participants
85 Participants
n=5 Participants
Final Diagnosis
Aspiration pneumonia
10 Participants
n=5 Participants
10 Participants
n=7 Participants
20 Participants
n=5 Participants
Final Diagnosis
Tracheitis
6 Participants
n=5 Participants
12 Participants
n=7 Participants
18 Participants
n=5 Participants
Final Diagnosis
Viral illness
16 Participants
n=5 Participants
12 Participants
n=7 Participants
28 Participants
n=5 Participants
Final Diagnosis
Non-infectious etiology
23 Participants
n=5 Participants
35 Participants
n=7 Participants
58 Participants
n=5 Participants
Final Diagnosis
Other
34 Participants
n=5 Participants
27 Participants
n=7 Participants
61 Participants
n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 14 days

Population: Intention to treat

Days of antibiotic therapy a participant receives following randomization will be measured

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Baseline Antimicrobial Stewardship
n=133 Participants
Baseline audit of antimicrobial orders with feedback to providers by the antimicrobial stewardship team.
Procalcitonin-Guided Antimicrobial Stewardship
n=137 Participants
In addition to baseline audit of antimicrobial orders, the stewardship team will additionally recommend procalcitonin (PCT) testing and treatment per algorithm. PCT will be used in conjunction with clinical status and exam, and results of radiographic and laboratory studies, to make medical decisions about antibiotic therapy.
Days of Antibiotic Therapy in the First 14 Days Following Randomization
7.6 days
Interval 3.0 to 11.8
6.6 days
Interval 3.1 to 10.9

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: up to14 days

Population: intention to treat

Defined as vancomycin, daptomycin, amikacin, ceftazidime, cefepime, piperacillin/tazobactam, aztreonam, carbapenems

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Baseline Antimicrobial Stewardship
n=133 Participants
Baseline audit of antimicrobial orders with feedback to providers by the antimicrobial stewardship team.
Procalcitonin-Guided Antimicrobial Stewardship
n=137 Participants
In addition to baseline audit of antimicrobial orders, the stewardship team will additionally recommend procalcitonin (PCT) testing and treatment per algorithm. PCT will be used in conjunction with clinical status and exam, and results of radiographic and laboratory studies, to make medical decisions about antibiotic therapy.
Duration of Broad-spectrum Antibiotic Therapy
0 days
Interval 0.0 to 1.8
0.086 days
Interval 0.0 to 2.6

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: up to 14 days

Population: intention to treat (all participants assigned to baseline antimicrobial stewardship or procalcitonin-guided antimicrobial stewardship)

Number of patients with an appropriate antibiotic escalation or de-escalation based on patient's clinical status and available supporting laboratory evidence, or lack thereof, of specific type of infection

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Baseline Antimicrobial Stewardship
n=133 Participants
Baseline audit of antimicrobial orders with feedback to providers by the antimicrobial stewardship team.
Procalcitonin-Guided Antimicrobial Stewardship
n=137 Participants
In addition to baseline audit of antimicrobial orders, the stewardship team will additionally recommend procalcitonin (PCT) testing and treatment per algorithm. PCT will be used in conjunction with clinical status and exam, and results of radiographic and laboratory studies, to make medical decisions about antibiotic therapy.
Number of Patients With an Antibiotic Change
111 Participants
108 Participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: up to 30 days

Population: intention to treat (all participants assigned to baseline antimicrobial stewardship or procalcitonin-guided antimicrobial stewardship)

All-cause mortality

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Baseline Antimicrobial Stewardship
n=133 Participants
Baseline audit of antimicrobial orders with feedback to providers by the antimicrobial stewardship team.
Procalcitonin-Guided Antimicrobial Stewardship
n=137 Participants
In addition to baseline audit of antimicrobial orders, the stewardship team will additionally recommend procalcitonin (PCT) testing and treatment per algorithm. PCT will be used in conjunction with clinical status and exam, and results of radiographic and laboratory studies, to make medical decisions about antibiotic therapy.
30-day Mortality
4 Participants
3 Participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: up to 30 days

Population: intention to treat (all participants assigned to baseline antimicrobial stewardship or procalcitonin-guided antimicrobial stewardship)

Re-initiation of any antibiotic for a proven or suspected bacterial infection

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Baseline Antimicrobial Stewardship
n=133 Participants
Baseline audit of antimicrobial orders with feedback to providers by the antimicrobial stewardship team.
Procalcitonin-Guided Antimicrobial Stewardship
n=137 Participants
In addition to baseline audit of antimicrobial orders, the stewardship team will additionally recommend procalcitonin (PCT) testing and treatment per algorithm. PCT will be used in conjunction with clinical status and exam, and results of radiographic and laboratory studies, to make medical decisions about antibiotic therapy.
Re-initiation of Antibiotics for a Bacterial Infection
NA Participants
Insufficient number of participants with events
NA Participants
Insufficient number of participants with events

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: up to 14 days

Population: intention to treat (all participants assigned to baseline antimicrobial stewardship or procalcitonin-guided antimicrobial stewardship)

Hospital days spent in the intensive care unit

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Baseline Antimicrobial Stewardship
n=133 Participants
Baseline audit of antimicrobial orders with feedback to providers by the antimicrobial stewardship team.
Procalcitonin-Guided Antimicrobial Stewardship
n=137 Participants
In addition to baseline audit of antimicrobial orders, the stewardship team will additionally recommend procalcitonin (PCT) testing and treatment per algorithm. PCT will be used in conjunction with clinical status and exam, and results of radiographic and laboratory studies, to make medical decisions about antibiotic therapy.
Length of Intensive Care Unit Stay
2 days
Interval 1.0 to 5.0
2 days
Interval 1.0 to 6.0

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Until hospital discharge, an average of 7 days

Population: intention to treat (all participants assigned to baseline antimicrobial stewardship or procalcitonin-guided antimicrobial stewardship)

Hospital days admitted to the hospital

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Baseline Antimicrobial Stewardship
n=133 Participants
Baseline audit of antimicrobial orders with feedback to providers by the antimicrobial stewardship team.
Procalcitonin-Guided Antimicrobial Stewardship
n=137 Participants
In addition to baseline audit of antimicrobial orders, the stewardship team will additionally recommend procalcitonin (PCT) testing and treatment per algorithm. PCT will be used in conjunction with clinical status and exam, and results of radiographic and laboratory studies, to make medical decisions about antibiotic therapy.
Length of Overall Hospital Stay
7 days
Interval 3.0 to 12.0
6 days
Interval 4.0 to 14.0

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: up to 14 days

Population: intention to treat (all participants assigned to baseline antimicrobial stewardship or procalcitonin-guided antimicrobial stewardship)

Days spent using invasive ventilation methods (not including supplementary oxygen via nasal cannula or Vapotherm support)

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Baseline Antimicrobial Stewardship
n=133 Participants
Baseline audit of antimicrobial orders with feedback to providers by the antimicrobial stewardship team.
Procalcitonin-Guided Antimicrobial Stewardship
n=137 Participants
In addition to baseline audit of antimicrobial orders, the stewardship team will additionally recommend procalcitonin (PCT) testing and treatment per algorithm. PCT will be used in conjunction with clinical status and exam, and results of radiographic and laboratory studies, to make medical decisions about antibiotic therapy.
Ventilator Days
3.9 days
Interval 2.4 to 6.1
4.4 days
Interval 2.5 to 11.1

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: up to 14 days

Population: intention to treat (all participants assigned to Baseline Antimicrobial Stewardship or Procalcitonin-Guided Antimicrobial Stewardship)

Antibiotic-associated complications including rash, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, acute kidney injury \[defined as increase in serum creatinine \> 0.3 mg per dL or \> 1.5-fold from baseline, or urine output \< 0.5 mL per kg per hour for more than six hours\], hepatotoxicity \[defined as \> 2-fold increase in alanine aminotransferase, ALT, or conjugated bilirubin\], or C. difficile infection will be recorded

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Baseline Antimicrobial Stewardship
n=133 Participants
Baseline audit of antimicrobial orders with feedback to providers by the antimicrobial stewardship team.
Procalcitonin-Guided Antimicrobial Stewardship
n=137 Participants
In addition to baseline audit of antimicrobial orders, the stewardship team will additionally recommend procalcitonin (PCT) testing and treatment per algorithm. PCT will be used in conjunction with clinical status and exam, and results of radiographic and laboratory studies, to make medical decisions about antibiotic therapy.
Number of Participants With Antibiotic-associated Complications
2 Participants
3 Participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: up to 30 days

Population: intention to treat (all participants assigned to Baseline Antimicrobial Stewardship or Procalcitonin-Guided Antimicrobial Stewardship)

Identification/growth of a multi-drug resistant organism from a sterile culture site. Multi-drug resistant organisms will be defined as methicillin-resistant S. aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, 3rd generation cephalosporin non-susceptible Enterobacteriaceae, multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa \[resistant to aminoglycosides, cephalosporins, floroquinolones and carbepenems\], carbepenem-resistant Acinetobacter, and Candida spp obtained from otherwise sterile sites \[i.e. blood or urine cultures\]

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Baseline Antimicrobial Stewardship
n=133 Participants
Baseline audit of antimicrobial orders with feedback to providers by the antimicrobial stewardship team.
Procalcitonin-Guided Antimicrobial Stewardship
n=137 Participants
In addition to baseline audit of antimicrobial orders, the stewardship team will additionally recommend procalcitonin (PCT) testing and treatment per algorithm. PCT will be used in conjunction with clinical status and exam, and results of radiographic and laboratory studies, to make medical decisions about antibiotic therapy.
Infection With a Multi-drug Resistant Organism
1 Participants
2 Participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: up to 14 days

Population: intention to treat (all participants assigned to Baseline Antimicrobial Stewardship or Procalcitonin-Guided Antimicrobial Stewardship)

Cost of antibiotic course will be obtained from hospital billing data

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Baseline Antimicrobial Stewardship
n=133 Participants
Baseline audit of antimicrobial orders with feedback to providers by the antimicrobial stewardship team.
Procalcitonin-Guided Antimicrobial Stewardship
n=137 Participants
In addition to baseline audit of antimicrobial orders, the stewardship team will additionally recommend procalcitonin (PCT) testing and treatment per algorithm. PCT will be used in conjunction with clinical status and exam, and results of radiographic and laboratory studies, to make medical decisions about antibiotic therapy.
Antibiotic Cost
NA dollars
data not collected
NA dollars
data not collected

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: up to 5 days

Population: intention to treat (all participants assigned to Baseline Antimicrobial Stewardship or Procalcitonin-Guided Antimicrobial Stewardship)

Rate of clinical provider compliance with adherence to suggested antibiotic escalation or de-escalation made by the antimicrobial stewardship team based on procalcitonin levels will be tracked

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Baseline Antimicrobial Stewardship
n=133 Participants
Baseline audit of antimicrobial orders with feedback to providers by the antimicrobial stewardship team.
Procalcitonin-Guided Antimicrobial Stewardship
n=137 Participants
In addition to baseline audit of antimicrobial orders, the stewardship team will additionally recommend procalcitonin (PCT) testing and treatment per algorithm. PCT will be used in conjunction with clinical status and exam, and results of radiographic and laboratory studies, to make medical decisions about antibiotic therapy.
Number of Participants Whose Provider Adhered to the Procalcitonin-guided Algorithm
123 Participants
121 Participants

Adverse Events

Baseline Antimicrobial Stewardship

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 4 deaths

Procalcitonin-Guided Antimicrobial Stewardship

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 3 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Dr. Sophie Katz

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Phone: 615-343-6190

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place