HAP/VAP Diagnosis in Critically Ill Septic Patients Using a Multiplex PCR Array

NCT ID: NCT05952648

Last Updated: 2025-08-14

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

126 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-04-03

Study Completion Date

2026-04-01

Brief Summary

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Multicenter, randomized, controlled, open-label trial to assess if semiquantitative multiplex PCR assay, as compared to conventional microbiology, can reduce the percentage of patients without microbiological diagnosis in the first 24 hours from HAP/VAP suspicion, thus allowing early de-escalation.

Detailed Description

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Hospital-acquired pneumonia and ventilator-associated pneumonia are leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Intensive Care Unit due to the underlining clinical conditions of critically ill patients and the high rate of multidrug resistance among causative agents.

In patients with sepsis and septic shock, early and appropriate antibiotics are essential for improving clinical outcome, often requiring the use of broad-spectrum combinations.

The optimal use of antimicrobials is part of current implementation programs aimed to reduce the administration of not-necessary antibiotics, the bio-ecologic pressure and the possible side effects .

In this context the application of rapid, molecular microbiological tests on respiratory samples is of overwhelming interest, due to the potential of reducing the time to inappropriate antibiotic therapy and of prompting de-escalation.

During last years a new Multiplex PCR Assay for pneumonia diagnosis (Film-Array Pneumonia Panel Plus, BioFire, Salt Lake City, UT, USA) has been implementing in the clinical practice, showing very high rates of negative and positive predictive values.

The hypothesis is that molecular test on lower respiratory tract samples may reduce the time to microbiological diagnosis, thus allowing early antibiotic de-escalation.

Conditions

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HAP - Hospital Acquired Pneumonia VAP - Ventilator Associated Pneumonia

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Randomized controlled, multicenter, open-label trial
Primary Study Purpose

DIAGNOSTIC

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Film-array Pneumonia Panel Plus group

Patients with suspected HAP or VAP in which lower tract respiratory samples are analyzed with new multiplex PCR assay (Film-array Pneumonia Panel Plus)

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Lower tract respiratory samples

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Within 1 hour from HAP or VAP suspicion, quantitative tracheal aspirate or bronchoalveolar lavage will be performed to confirm the diagnosis. Clinicians will be encouraged to perform BAL whenever possible

Multiplex PCR assay (Film-array Pneumonia Panel Plus)

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

The lower tract respiratory samples will be analyzed with Multiplex PCR assay (Film-array Pneumonia Plus).

Lower respiratory tract standard culture

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

The lower tract respiratory samples will be analyzed using convention microbiological methods (including conventional Gram stain and semiquantitative culture on both selective/differential and screening agar media)

Blood sample standard culture

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

When HAP or VAP are suspected, blood samples from peripheral vein will be collected and analyzed with conventional microbiological methods

Standard culture group (control group)

Patients with suspected HAP or VAP in which lower tract respiratory samples are analyzed with standard culture

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Lower tract respiratory samples

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Within 1 hour from HAP or VAP suspicion, quantitative tracheal aspirate or bronchoalveolar lavage will be performed to confirm the diagnosis. Clinicians will be encouraged to perform BAL whenever possible

Lower respiratory tract standard culture

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

The lower tract respiratory samples will be analyzed using convention microbiological methods (including conventional Gram stain and semiquantitative culture on both selective/differential and screening agar media)

Blood sample standard culture

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

When HAP or VAP are suspected, blood samples from peripheral vein will be collected and analyzed with conventional microbiological methods

Interventions

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Lower tract respiratory samples

Within 1 hour from HAP or VAP suspicion, quantitative tracheal aspirate or bronchoalveolar lavage will be performed to confirm the diagnosis. Clinicians will be encouraged to perform BAL whenever possible

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Multiplex PCR assay (Film-array Pneumonia Panel Plus)

The lower tract respiratory samples will be analyzed with Multiplex PCR assay (Film-array Pneumonia Plus).

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Lower respiratory tract standard culture

The lower tract respiratory samples will be analyzed using convention microbiological methods (including conventional Gram stain and semiquantitative culture on both selective/differential and screening agar media)

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Blood sample standard culture

When HAP or VAP are suspected, blood samples from peripheral vein will be collected and analyzed with conventional microbiological methods

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Suspicion of HAP/VAP (clinical/radiological/laboratory criteria);
* Availability to perform tracheal aspirates or broncoalveolar lavage within 1 hour from clinical suspicion
* Life expectancy ≥ 48 hours
* Signed written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

* Pregnancy,
* Concomitant participating in other interventional trial
* Refusal to sign informed consent
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Catholic University of the Sacred Heart

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Gennaro De Pascale, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS

Massimo Antonelli, MD

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS

Locations

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S. Orsola Research Hospital

Bologna, , Italy

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Ospedale Careggi

Florence, , Italy

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Modena Policlinico

Modena, , Italy

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. GEMELLI" IRCCS

Roma, , Italy

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Italy

Central Contacts

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Gennaro De Pascale, MD

Role: CONTACT

+393208998173

Facility Contacts

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Tommaso Tonetti, MD

Role: primary

Bruno Viaggi, MD

Role: primary

Massimo Girardis, MD

Role: primary

Gennaro De Pascale, MD

Role: primary

Eloisa S Tanzarella, MD

Role: backup

Other Identifiers

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5768

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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