Study Results
Results available
Outcome measurements, participant flow, baseline characteristics, and adverse events have been published for this study.
View full resultsBasic Information
Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.
Recruitment Status
COMPLETED
Clinical Phase
PHASE4
Total Enrollment
2634 participants
Study Classification
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Start Date
2021-11-10
Study Completion Date
2022-10-21
Brief Summary
Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.
Sepsis is one of the most common causes of acute illness and death in the United States. Early, empiric broad-spectrum antibiotics are a mainstay of sepsis treatment. Two classes of antibiotics with activity against Pseudomonas, anti-pseudomonal cephalosporins and anti-pseudomonal penicillins, are commonly used for acutely ill adults with sepsis in current practice. Recent observational studies, however, have raised concern that anti-pseudomonal penicillins may cause renal toxicity. Anti-pseudomonal cephalosporins, by comparison, may be associated with a risk of neurotoxicity. Rigorous, prospective data regarding the comparative effectiveness and toxicity of these two classes of medications among acutely ill patients are lacking. The investigator propose a randomized trial comparing the impact of anti-pseudomonal cephalosporins and anti-pseudomonal penicillins on renal outcomes of acutely ill patients.
Detailed Description
Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.
Sepsis is a common condition associated with high mortality and morbidity. Antibiotics are an integral component of the management of patients with sepsis. Each hour delay in antibiotic administration in sepsis is associated with an increase in mortality. Clinical guidelines recommend early management bundles, including early broad-spectrum antibiotics, for patients with presumed sepsis in the emergency department and intensive care unit. Since the specific organism causing an infection is rarely known at clinical presentation, empiric broad-spectrum antibiotics are commonly prescribed. For patients at risk for resistant organisms, the most common regimens include vancomycin (to cover gram-positive organisms including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and an anti-pseudomonal cephalosporin or anti-pseudomonal penicillin (to cover gram-negative organisms including Pseudomonas).
Cephalosporins and penicillins are beta-lactam antibiotics that act by inhibiting the synthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls. They are commonly used for a variety of infections including empiric broad spectrum coverage for sepsis and suspected nosocomial infections. Several cephalosporins and penicillins have anti-pseudomonal activity, including cefepime, a fourth-generation cephalosporin, ceftazidime, a third-generation cephalosporin, and piperacillin-tazobactam, an extended-spectrum penicillin with beta-lactamase inhibitor. Anti-pseudomonal penicillins are the preferred agents for empiric broad spectrum coverage at many centers, and piperacillin-tazobactam, specifically, has the added benefit of treating anaerobic organisms.
Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is a common complication of ICU admission. AKI is associated with a six to eight fold increase in mortality in ICU populations is therefore a common target of critical care trials. Sepsis is the most common cause of AKI and accounts for 40-50% of AKI in the intensive care unit (ICU). As the primary treatment for the underlying cause of sepsis, antibiotics are a critical treatment for acutely ill patients, but antibiotics may cause renal injury, and renally-cleared antibiotics may reach supratherapeutic levels in the setting of AKI. Vancomycin has long been associated with AKI. Recently, a number of retrospective observational analyses have examined a potential association between the concurrent administration of vancomycin and piperacillin-tazobactam and the development of AKI, compared with vancomycin alone. These data, however, are likely to be confounded by indication bias and studies evaluating whether piperacillin-tazobactam causes more AKI than other anti-pseudomonal antibiotics have been inconclusive.
Based on this preliminary, observational data, however, some institutions have elected to change their preferred broad spectrum antibiotic regimens from one including an anti-pseudomonal penicillin to one including an anti-pseudomonal cephalosporin. However, others have argued against this approach given the lack of randomized trials comparing the relative efficacy and safety of the two agents as well as observational data suggesting that cephalosporins may be associated with neuro-toxicity.
Tens of thousands of patients each year receive either anti-pseudomonal cephalosporins and penicillins, but no randomized trials have ever compared their relative effectiveness or safety. Each class of medications has been hypothesized to have toxicities that may be relevant for acutely ill patients. Because the relationship between antibiotic choice (anti-pseudomonal cephalosporins or anti-pseudomonal penicillins) and clinically relevant outcomes, such as AKI, are unknown, clinical trial data is urgently needed. Rigorous high-quality evidence that anti-pseudomonal cephalosporins, compared to anti-pseudomonal penicillins, decreases, increases or has no impact on the risk of AKI would have the potential to change the care received by thousands of acutely ill adults each year.
Cephalosporins and penicillins are beta-lactam antibiotics that act by inhibiting the synthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls. They are commonly used for a variety of infections including empiric broad spectrum coverage for sepsis and suspected nosocomial infections. Several cephalosporins and penicillins have anti-pseudomonal activity, including cefepime, a fourth-generation cephalosporin, ceftazidime, a third-generation cephalosporin, and piperacillin-tazobactam, an extended-spectrum penicillin with beta-lactamase inhibitor. Anti-pseudomonal penicillins are the preferred agents for empiric broad spectrum coverage at many centers, and piperacillin-tazobactam, specifically, has the added benefit of treating anaerobic organisms.
Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is a common complication of ICU admission. AKI is associated with a six to eight fold increase in mortality in ICU populations is therefore a common target of critical care trials. Sepsis is the most common cause of AKI and accounts for 40-50% of AKI in the intensive care unit (ICU). As the primary treatment for the underlying cause of sepsis, antibiotics are a critical treatment for acutely ill patients, but antibiotics may cause renal injury, and renally-cleared antibiotics may reach supratherapeutic levels in the setting of AKI. Vancomycin has long been associated with AKI. Recently, a number of retrospective observational analyses have examined a potential association between the concurrent administration of vancomycin and piperacillin-tazobactam and the development of AKI, compared with vancomycin alone. These data, however, are likely to be confounded by indication bias and studies evaluating whether piperacillin-tazobactam causes more AKI than other anti-pseudomonal antibiotics have been inconclusive.
Based on this preliminary, observational data, however, some institutions have elected to change their preferred broad spectrum antibiotic regimens from one including an anti-pseudomonal penicillin to one including an anti-pseudomonal cephalosporin. However, others have argued against this approach given the lack of randomized trials comparing the relative efficacy and safety of the two agents as well as observational data suggesting that cephalosporins may be associated with neuro-toxicity.
Tens of thousands of patients each year receive either anti-pseudomonal cephalosporins and penicillins, but no randomized trials have ever compared their relative effectiveness or safety. Each class of medications has been hypothesized to have toxicities that may be relevant for acutely ill patients. Because the relationship between antibiotic choice (anti-pseudomonal cephalosporins or anti-pseudomonal penicillins) and clinically relevant outcomes, such as AKI, are unknown, clinical trial data is urgently needed. Rigorous high-quality evidence that anti-pseudomonal cephalosporins, compared to anti-pseudomonal penicillins, decreases, increases or has no impact on the risk of AKI would have the potential to change the care received by thousands of acutely ill adults each year.
Conditions
See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.
Sepsis
AKI
Neurotoxicity
Study Design
Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.
Allocation Method
RANDOMIZED
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
This study will be performed as a pragmatic, randomized controlled clinical trial with parallel group assignment.
Primary Study Purpose
TREATMENT
Blinding Strategy
SINGLE
Outcome Assessors
Patients and providers will necessarily be unblinded, but outcomes will be analyzed by a blind assessor.
Study Groups
Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.
anti-pseudomonal cephalosporin
Participants in the anti-pseudomonal cephalosporin arm will receive at least one dose of an anti-pseudomonal cephalosporin.
Group Type
ACTIVE_COMPARATOR
anti-pseudomonal cephalosporin
Intervention Type
DRUG
Providers will be prompted to order an anti-pseudomonal cephalosporin, such as cefepime with a dose range of 500 mg, 1,000 mg, or 2,000 mg, and frequency every 6, 8, 12, or 24 hours based on provider discretion.
anti-pseudomonal penicillin
Participants in the anti-pseudomonal penicillin arm will receive at least one dose of an anti-pseudomonal penicillin.
Group Type
ACTIVE_COMPARATOR
anti-pseudomonal penicillin
Intervention Type
DRUG
Providers will be prompted to order anti-pseudomonal penicillin, such as piperacillin-tazobactam with a dose range of 3.375 g or 4.5 g and frequency every 6, 8, or 12 hours based on provider discretion.
Interventions
Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.
anti-pseudomonal cephalosporin
Providers will be prompted to order an anti-pseudomonal cephalosporin, such as cefepime with a dose range of 500 mg, 1,000 mg, or 2,000 mg, and frequency every 6, 8, 12, or 24 hours based on provider discretion.
Intervention Type
DRUG
anti-pseudomonal penicillin
Providers will be prompted to order anti-pseudomonal penicillin, such as piperacillin-tazobactam with a dose range of 3.375 g or 4.5 g and frequency every 6, 8, or 12 hours based on provider discretion.
Intervention Type
DRUG
Eligibility Criteria
Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.
Inclusion Criteria
* Age ≥ 18 years old
* Located in a participating emergency department or medical intensive care unit
* Less than 12 hours from presentation to study hospital
* Treating clinician initiating an order for an anti-pseudomonal cephalosporin or anti-pseudomonal penicillin
* Located in a participating emergency department or medical intensive care unit
* Less than 12 hours from presentation to study hospital
* Treating clinician initiating an order for an anti-pseudomonal cephalosporin or anti-pseudomonal penicillin
Exclusion Criteria
* Known receipt of \> 1 dose of an anti-pseudomonal cephalosporin or anti-pseudomonal penicillin during the last 7 days
* Current documented allergy to cephalosporins or penicillin
* Known to be a prisoner
* Treating clinicians feel that either an anti-pseudomonal cephalosporin or anti-pseudomonal penicillin is required or contraindicated for the optimal treatment of the patient, including for more directed antibiotic therapy against known prior resistant infections or suspected sepsis with an associated central nervous system infection
* Current documented allergy to cephalosporins or penicillin
* Known to be a prisoner
* Treating clinicians feel that either an anti-pseudomonal cephalosporin or anti-pseudomonal penicillin is required or contraindicated for the optimal treatment of the patient, including for more directed antibiotic therapy against known prior resistant infections or suspected sepsis with an associated central nervous system infection
Minimum Eligible Age
18 Years
Eligible Sex
ALL
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Sponsors
Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
OTHER
Sponsor Role
lead
Responsible Party
Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.
EDDIE QIAN
Principal Investigator, Clinical Fellow
Responsibility Role
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Principal Investigators
Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.
Edward T Qian, MD
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Locations
Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Site Status
Countries
Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.
United States
References
Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.
Cecconi M, Evans L, Levy M, Rhodes A. Sepsis and septic shock. Lancet. 2018 Jul 7;392(10141):75-87. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30696-2. Epub 2018 Jun 21.
Reference Type
BACKGROUND
Rhodes A, Evans LE, Alhazzani W, Levy MM, Antonelli M, Ferrer R, Kumar A, Sevransky JE, Sprung CL, Nunnally ME, Rochwerg B, Rubenfeld GD, Angus DC, Annane D, Beale RJ, Bellinghan GJ, Bernard GR, Chiche JD, Coopersmith C, De Backer DP, French CJ, Fujishima S, Gerlach H, Hidalgo JL, Hollenberg SM, Jones AE, Karnad DR, Kleinpell RM, Koh Y, Lisboa TC, Machado FR, Marini JJ, Marshall JC, Mazuski JE, McIntyre LA, McLean AS, Mehta S, Moreno RP, Myburgh J, Navalesi P, Nishida O, Osborn TM, Perner A, Plunkett CM, Ranieri M, Schorr CA, Seckel MA, Seymour CW, Shieh L, Shukri KA, Simpson SQ, Singer M, Thompson BT, Townsend SR, Van der Poll T, Vincent JL, Wiersinga WJ, Zimmerman JL, Dellinger RP. Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock: 2016. Intensive Care Med. 2017 Mar;43(3):304-377. doi: 10.1007/s00134-017-4683-6. Epub 2017 Jan 18.
Reference Type
BACKGROUND
Liu VX, Fielding-Singh V, Greene JD, Baker JM, Iwashyna TJ, Bhattacharya J, Escobar GJ. The Timing of Early Antibiotics and Hospital Mortality in Sepsis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2017 Oct 1;196(7):856-863. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201609-1848OC.
Reference Type
BACKGROUND
Damiani E, Donati A, Serafini G, Rinaldi L, Adrario E, Pelaia P, Busani S, Girardis M. Effect of performance improvement programs on compliance with sepsis bundles and mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. PLoS One. 2015 May 6;10(5):e0125827. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125827. eCollection 2015.
Reference Type
BACKGROUND
Thakar CV, Christianson A, Freyberg R, Almenoff P, Render ML. Incidence and outcomes of acute kidney injury in intensive care units: a Veterans Administration study. Crit Care Med. 2009 Sep;37(9):2552-8. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0b013e3181a5906f.
Reference Type
BACKGROUND
Uchino S, Kellum JA, Bellomo R, Doig GS, Morimatsu H, Morgera S, Schetz M, Tan I, Bouman C, Macedo E, Gibney N, Tolwani A, Ronco C; Beginning and Ending Supportive Therapy for the Kidney (BEST Kidney) Investigators. Acute renal failure in critically ill patients: a multinational, multicenter study. JAMA. 2005 Aug 17;294(7):813-8. doi: 10.1001/jama.294.7.813.
Reference Type
BACKGROUND
Hoste EA, Bagshaw SM, Bellomo R, Cely CM, Colman R, Cruz DN, Edipidis K, Forni LG, Gomersall CD, Govil D, Honore PM, Joannes-Boyau O, Joannidis M, Korhonen AM, Lavrentieva A, Mehta RL, Palevsky P, Roessler E, Ronco C, Uchino S, Vazquez JA, Vidal Andrade E, Webb S, Kellum JA. Epidemiology of acute kidney injury in critically ill patients: the multinational AKI-EPI study. Intensive Care Med. 2015 Aug;41(8):1411-23. doi: 10.1007/s00134-015-3934-7. Epub 2015 Jul 11.
Reference Type
BACKGROUND
Gomez H, Kellum JA. Sepsis-induced acute kidney injury. Curr Opin Crit Care. 2016 Dec;22(6):546-553. doi: 10.1097/MCC.0000000000000356.
Reference Type
BACKGROUND
Arnaud FCS, Liborio AB. Attributable nephrotoxicity of vancomycin in critically ill patients: a marginal structural model study. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2020 Apr 1;75(4):1031-1037. doi: 10.1093/jac/dkz520.
Reference Type
BACKGROUND
Filippone EJ, Kraft WK, Farber JL. The Nephrotoxicity of Vancomycin. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2017 Sep;102(3):459-469. doi: 10.1002/cpt.726. Epub 2017 Jun 5.
Reference Type
BACKGROUND
Bellos I, Karageorgiou V, Pergialiotis V, Perrea DN. Acute kidney injury following the concurrent administration of antipseudomonal beta-lactams and vancomycin: a network meta-analysis. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2020 Jun;26(6):696-705. doi: 10.1016/j.cmi.2020.03.019. Epub 2020 Mar 25.
Reference Type
BACKGROUND
Rutter WC, Burgess DR, Talbert JC, Burgess DS. Acute kidney injury in patients treated with vancomycin and piperacillin-tazobactam: A retrospective cohort analysis. J Hosp Med. 2017 Feb;12(2):77-82. doi: 10.12788/jhm.2684.
Reference Type
BACKGROUND
Carreno J, Smiraglia T, Hunter C, Tobin E, Lomaestro B. Comparative incidence and excess risk of acute kidney injury in hospitalised patients receiving vancomycin and piperacillin/tazobactam in combination or as monotherapy. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2018 Nov;52(5):643-650. doi: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2018.08.001. Epub 2018 Aug 10.
Reference Type
BACKGROUND
Downes KJ, Cowden C, Laskin BL, Huang YS, Gong W, Bryan M, Fisher BT, Goldstein SL, Zaoutis TE. Association of Acute Kidney Injury With Concomitant Vancomycin and Piperacillin/Tazobactam Treatment Among Hospitalized Children. JAMA Pediatr. 2017 Dec 4;171(12):e173219. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2017.3219. Epub 2017 Dec 4.
Reference Type
BACKGROUND
Kalligeros M, Karageorgos SA, Shehadeh F, Zacharioudakis IM, Mylonakis E. The association of acute kidney injury with the concomitant use of vancomycin and piperacillin/tazobactam in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2019 Sep 9;63(12):e01572-19. doi: 10.1128/AAC.01572-19. Epub 2019 Oct 7.
Reference Type
BACKGROUND
O'Callaghan K, Hay K, Lavana J, McNamara JF. Acute kidney injury with combination vancomycin and piperacillin-tazobactam therapy in the ICU: A retrospective cohort study. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2020 Jul;56(1):106010. doi: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2020.106010. Epub 2020 May 12.
Reference Type
BACKGROUND
Hammond DA, Smith MN, Painter JT, Meena NK, Lusardi K. Comparative Incidence of Acute Kidney Injury in Critically Ill Patients Receiving Vancomycin with Concomitant Piperacillin-Tazobactam or Cefepime: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Pharmacotherapy. 2016 May;36(5):463-71. doi: 10.1002/phar.1738. Epub 2016 Apr 1.
Reference Type
BACKGROUND
Kang S, Park J, Yu YM, Park MS, Han E, Chang MJ. Comparison of acute kidney injury and clinical prognosis of vancomycin monotherapy and combination therapy with beta-lactams in the intensive care unit. PLoS One. 2019 Jun 5;14(6):e0217908. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217908. eCollection 2019.
Reference Type
BACKGROUND
Buckley MS, Hartsock NC, Berry AJ, Bikin DS, Richards EC, Yerondopoulos MJ, Kobic E, Wicks LM, Hammond DA. Comparison of acute kidney injury risk associated with vancomycin and concomitant piperacillin/tazobactam or cefepime in the intensive care unit. J Crit Care. 2018 Dec;48:32-38. doi: 10.1016/j.jcrc.2018.08.007. Epub 2018 Aug 11.
Reference Type
BACKGROUND
Hammond DA, Smith MN, Li C, Hayes SM, Lusardi K, Bookstaver PB. Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Acute Kidney Injury Associated with Concomitant Vancomycin and Piperacillin/tazobactam. Clin Infect Dis. 2017 Mar 1;64(5):666-674. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciw811. Epub 2016 Dec 10.
Reference Type
BACKGROUND
Molina KC, Barletta JF, Hall ST, Yazdani C, Huang V. The Risk of Acute Kidney Injury in Critically Ill Patients Receiving Concomitant Vancomycin With Piperacillin-Tazobactam or Cefepime. J Intensive Care Med. 2020 Dec;35(12):1434-1438. doi: 10.1177/0885066619828290. Epub 2019 Feb 10.
Reference Type
BACKGROUND
Luther MK, Timbrook TT, Caffrey AR, Dosa D, Lodise TP, LaPlante KL. Vancomycin Plus Piperacillin-Tazobactam and Acute Kidney Injury in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Crit Care Med. 2018 Jan;46(1):12-20. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000002769.
Reference Type
BACKGROUND
Abanades S, Nolla J, Rodriguez-Campello A, Pedro C, Valls A, Farre M. Reversible coma secondary to cefepime neurotoxicity. Ann Pharmacother. 2004 Apr;38(4):606-8. doi: 10.1345/aph.1D322. Epub 2004 Feb 24.
Reference Type
BACKGROUND
Balderia PG, Chandorkar A, Kim Y, Patnaik S, Sloan J, Newman GC. Dosing Cefepime for Renal Function Does Not Completely Prevent Neurotoxicity in a Patient With Kidney Transplant. J Patient Saf. 2018 Jun;14(2):e33-e34. doi: 10.1097/PTS.0000000000000225.
Reference Type
BACKGROUND
Qian ET, Casey JD, Wright A, Wang L, Shotwell MS, Siemann JK, Dear ML, Stollings JL, Lloyd BD, Marvi TK, Seitz KP, Nelson GE, Wright PW, Siew ED, Dennis BM, Wrenn JO, Andereck JW, Han JH, Self WH, Semler MW, Rice TW; Vanderbilt Center for Learning Healthcare and the Pragmatic Critical Care Research Group. Cefepime vs Piperacillin-Tazobactam in Adults Hospitalized With Acute Infection: The ACORN Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2023 Oct 24;330(16):1557-1567. doi: 10.1001/jama.2023.20583.
Reference Type
DERIVED
Qian ET, Casey JD, Wright A, Wang L, Siemann J, Dear ML, Stollings J, Lloyd BD, Seitz K, Nelson G, Wright P, Siew ED, Dennis B, Wrenn J, Andereck J, Self WH, Semler MW, Rice TW; Vanderbilt Learning Healthcare System Platform Investigators. Protocol and statistical analysis plan for the Antibiotic Choice On ReNal outcomes (ACORN) randomised clinical trial. BMJ Open. 2023 Mar 10;13(3):e066995. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-066995.
Reference Type
DERIVED
Provided Documents
Download supplemental materials such as informed consent forms, study protocols, or participant manuals.
Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan
Other Identifiers
Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.
210591
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id