RecruitingPhase 1

Vancomycin and Acute Kidney Injury in Sepsis Treatment - Intervention

United States20 participantsStarted 2026-04-15

Plain-language summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine if vancomycin dosing in children with sepsis can be improved by using updated, personalized dosing models that account for new markers of an individual's kidney function. Vancomycin is prescribed based on the known information of how the body breaks this medicine down. Vancomycin may not be effective if blood levels of the medicine are too low. Vancomycin has potential side effects, including the possibility of injury to the kidney. These side effects usually happen when blood levels of vancomycin are too high. There are guidelines for the range of vancomycin blood levels doctors should target to treat an infection and lower the risk of side effects. Children with sepsis may metabolize vancomycin at different rates, faster or slower, than children who do not have sepsis. For these reasons, the current dosing strategy may lead to a higher risk of kidney injury or a risk of not adequately treating an infection in children with sepsis. The investigators' goal is to use new vancomycin dosing equations to improve the ability to select the right dose of vancomycin. The main questions this trial aims to answer are: 1. Is it feasible to use personalized models of vancomycin dosing in children with sepsis? 2. Will personalized models of vancomycin dosing achieve vancomycin blood levels in acceptable ranges?

Who can participate

Age range

1 Month – 17 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion criteria

. Age \>1 month and \<18 years
. Weight \>5kg and \<50kg
. Vancomycin intended duration of therapy ≥48 hours
. Admitted to intensive care unit with suspected or confirmed sepsis
. Either sepsis-induced respiratory (invasive mechanical ventilation) or cardiovascular (vasoactive infusion) dysfunction as part of sepsis-associated organ dysfunction (these organ dysfunctions may be improving or resolved at the time of enrollment)

Exclusion criteria

. Serum creatinine elevated and meets criteria for trough-based dosing by local Clinical Pharmacy

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Feasibility - personalized dose adjustment performed

Timeframe: From enrollment to the longer of 7 days after the completion of vancomycin therapy or through 30 days from enrollment

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07084129

SponsorChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2027-05-15

Contact for this trial

Julie Fitzgerald, MD PhD

215-590-4879 fitzgeraldj@chop.edu

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Sepsis trials