Effect of Pediatric Lung Ultrasound on Antibiotic Prescriptions in Hospitalized Children and Adolescents With Lower Respiratory Tract Infections. A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The PLUS-AP Trial (Pediatric Lung Ultrasound to Guide Antibiotic Prescriptions for Hospitalized Children and Adolescents with Lower Respiratory Tract Infections) is a randomized controlled trial designed to assess the effect of pediatric lung ultrasound (LUS) on antibiotic prescribing practices for children and adolescents hospitalized with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). This study aims to explore whether incorporating LUS into clinical decision-making can reduce the unnecessary use of antibiotics without compromising patient care.

Background:

Antibiotics are frequently overprescribed for LRTIs in pediatric populations, contributing to antibiotic resistance and unnecessary adverse events. While chest X-rays are commonly used to diagnose LRTIs, they can be resource-intensive and involve radiation exposure. Lung ultrasound (LUS) is a non-invasive, radiation-free imaging modality that has gained recognition for its utility in diagnosing and monitoring respiratory diseases. This trial will evaluate whether LUS can assist clinicians in making more accurate diagnostic decisions and potentially reduce the use of antibiotics in hospitalized pediatric patients with LRTIs.

Study Objectives:

Primary Objective: To assess whether the use of pediatric lung ultrasound (LUS) reduces the duration of antibiotic treatment in hospitalized children and adolescents diagnosed with LRTIs.

Secondary Objectives:

To evaluate the impact of LUS on the length of hospital stay. To compare clinical outcomes such as the need for escalation to invasive respiratory support, mortality, and readmission rates between the LUS and standard care groups.

To assess the cost-effectiveness of LUS implementation in managing pediatric LRTIs.

Study Design:

The PLUS-AP trial is designed as a phase III, randomized, controlled, patient blinded, single center superiority trial with two parallel groups and a primary endpoint of antibiotic prescriptions by the day of discharge from the hospital. Randomization will be performed as permuted block randomization with a 1:1 allocation.

LUS Group: Participants will undergo lung ultrasound within 24 hours of enrollment, and the results will be used to guide antibiotic therapy decisions, including the duration of antibiotic treatment.

Standard Care Group: Participants will receive standard care, which includes clinical evaluation and any other diagnostic tests, such as chest X-ray, as deemed necessary by the treating physician.

Study Population:

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age between 3 months and 17 years old inclusive
• Currently admitted to the pediatric Ward or boarding in the Emergency Department within 24 hours of admission order due to lower respiratory tract infections.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Sickle cell disease (SCD).
• On chemotherapy or any other immunosuppressive therapy except systemic corticosteroids use of ≤ 5 days duration.
• Cystic fibrosis and other chronic lung diseases except asthma
• Pre-existing and/or congenital neurologic, metabolic, and cardiac conditions
• Hospitalized within the previous month
• Patients with suspected foreign body aspiration -Received antibiotic therapy within the previous week
• Patients admitted under PI's care

Study Interventions:

Lung Ultrasound (LUS): The ultrasound will be exclusively performed by the principal investigator (A.I.), who has credentialing in LUS with more than 4 years of experience, and will be blinded to CXR results. It will take less than 15 minutes, with follow-up scans conducted within 48 hours or prior to discharge to monitor disease progression.

Standard Care: The control group will follow typical hospital procedures, with diagnosis and treatment guided by clinical examination and routine diagnostic tests such as chest X-ray.

Outcome Measures:

Primary Outcome: investigate the effect of adding LUS to standard care on the endpoint of antibiotic prescriptions upon discharge in children hospitalized with LRTIs, compared to standard care and SLUS.

Secondary Outcomes:

To investigate the effect of adding LUS to standard care, as compared to standard care with SLUS, on the end points of:

Trial design

• Length of stay in the hospital
• Rate of complications by 4 weeks after enrollment: admission to ICU, chest tube insertion, mortality
• Frequency of CXR performance within 4 weeks of enrollment
• Rate of antibiotic intake assessed 4 weeks after enrollment
• Rate of hospital readmission within 4 weeks of enrollment.

Expected Impact:

The results of this trial could potentially change clinical practices by providing evidence supporting the use of LUS in reducing unnecessary antibiotic use, thereby reducing the burden of antibiotic resistance in pediatric populations. It could also contribute to the safe and more efficient management of LRTIs in hospitalized children and adolescents.

Estimated Study Timeline:

Study Start Date: april 2025 Study Completion Date: noveber 2026

Sponsor and Investigators:

Principal Investigator: Dr. Ali Ismail Co-Investigators: Dr. Marianne Majdalani, Dr. Jihane Moukhaiber, and others.