Antibiotics for lower respiratory tract infection in children presenting in primary care: ARTIC-PC RCT

Little, Paul, Francis, Nick A., Stuart, Beth, O'Reilly, Gilly, Thompson, Natalie, Becque, Taeko, Hay, Alastair D., Wang, Kay, Sharland, Michael, Harnden, Anthony, Yao, Guiqing, Raftery, James, Zhu, Shihua, Little, Joseph, Hookham, Charlotte, Rowley, Kate, Euden, Joanne ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2844-6878, Harman, Kim, Coenen, Samuel, Read, Robert C., Woods, Catherine, Butler, Christopher C., Faust, Saul N., Leydon, Geraldine, Wan, Mandy, Hood, Kerenza ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5268-8631, Whitehurst, Jane, Richards-Hall, Samantha, Smith, Peter, Thomas, Michael, Moore, Michael and Verheij, Theo 2023. Antibiotics for lower respiratory tract infection in children presenting in primary care: ARTIC-PC RCT. Health Technology Assessment 27 , 9. 10.3310/DGBV3199

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Abstract

Background Antimicrobial resistance is a global health threat. Antibiotics are commonly prescribed for children with uncomplicated lower respiratory tract infections, but there is little randomised evidence to support the effectiveness of antibiotics in treating these infections, either overall or relating to key clinical subgroups in which antibiotic prescribing is common (chest signs; fever; physician rating of unwell; sputum/rattly chest; shortness of breath). Objectives To estimate the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of amoxicillin for uncomplicated lower respiratory tract infections in children both overall and in clinical subgroups. Design Placebo-controlled trial with qualitative, observational and cost-effectiveness studies. Setting UK general practices. Participants Children aged 1–12 years with acute uncomplicated lower respiratory tract infections. Outcomes The primary outcome was the duration in days of symptoms rated moderately bad or worse (measured using a validated diary). Secondary outcomes were symptom severity on days 2–4 (0 = no problem to 6 = as bad as it could be); symptom duration until very little/no problem; reconsultations for new or worsening symptoms; complications; side effects; and resource use.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Medicine Centre for Trials Research (CNTRR)
Publisher:	NIHR Journals Library
ISSN:	1366-5278
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	18 August 2023
Date of Acceptance:	1 June 2023
Last Modified:	23 Aug 2023 07:41
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/161921

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