RecruitingNot Applicable

PromotIng Optimal Treatment for Community-acquired PNeumonia in EmErgency Rooms

Canada698 participantsStarted 2026-04-15

Plain-language summary

In North America, up to 5% of preschoolers develop community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) every year. Pneumonia is the second-leading reason for paediatric hospitalization in both Canada and the US; approximately 20% of children hospitalized with CAP may need intensive care, which can result in significant morbidity. Given this burden of disease, it is critical that CAP is managed appropriately. Specific therapy for CAP is dependent on microbiologic aetiology, as bacterial disease will improve with antibiotic treatment.

Who can participate

Age range

6 Months – 18 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: Children aged 6 month to 18 years presenting to the Emergency Department who are diagnosed with CAP and are well enough to be discharged home (i.e. 'non-severe' CAP) will be eligible. They must have a fever (on exam or by history) and at least one of: * Tachypnoea measured at triage (\>60 bpm for age \<1, \>50 for 1-2 years of age, \>40bpm for 2-4 years of age, and \>30bpm for \>4 years of age) * Cough on exam or by history * Increased work of breathing on exam * Auscultatory finding (focal crackles, bronchial breathing, etc.) consistent with CAP Exclusion Criteria: Children will be excluded if they have any of the following * Cystic Fibrosis * Anatomic Lung Disease * Bronchiectasis * Chronic Lung Disease requiring home oxygen or home ventilation * Congenital heart Disease (requiring specific medical treatment or with exercise restrictions), * History of repeated aspiration/velopharyngeal incompetence * Malignancy * Immunodeficiency (primary, acquired or iatrogenic) * Pneumonia previously (clinically) diagnosed within the past month (that was presumed to have resolved prior to the episode prompting the current visit to the ED) * Lung abscess within the past 6 months * Children who present with ongoing fever after 4 days of amoxicillin, cefprozil, cefuroxime, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin or doxycycline are not eligible; as this duration of therapy with these drugs would normally be sufficient to treat bacterial CAP, a different approach would be required…

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

Antibiotic use for CAP or respiratory tract infection before day 7 post-enrolment

Timeframe: From enrollment to 7 days post enrollment

Early clinical response (ECR, clinical improvement in symptoms and lack of requirement for additional antibacterials as measured at day 4).

Timeframe: From enrollment to day 4

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07099976

SponsorJeffrey Pernica

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2030-04-15

Contact for this trial

Jeffrey Pernica, MD

905-521-2100 pernica@mcmaster.ca

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) trials