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Ertapenem Administered Subcutaneously Versus Intravenously

Phase 3
Terminated
Conditions
Urinary Tract Infections
Interventions
Combination Product: Ertapenem
Registration Number
NCT03218800
Lead Sponsor
Instituto Nacional de Cancer, Brazil
Brief Summary

Infections requiring intravenous antimicrobial therapy are very common events in patients with advanced cancer. Nevertheless, these patients frequently present vascular damages becoming extremely difficult to access and maintain intravenous route for hydration and nutritional support. In this context, the subcutaneous route could be implemented as an alternative route for replacement of fluids, electrolytes and drugs. Few studies have evaluated the possibility of using the subcutaneous route for treatment of infections though.

Patients in palliative care often have infections caused by multidrug resistant bacterial such as beta-lactamase producing bacteria. In this context, we hypothesize Ertapenem subcutaneously is not inferior to the same drug intravenously for the treatment of urinary infections in patients on oncologic palliative care. A non-inferiority clinical trial would be adequate and could provide stronger evidence on the possibility of this alternative route for antibiotic therapy in urinary tract infections, with important advantages such as greater convenience of use.

Detailed Description

This is a randomized open label clinical trial to evaluate Ertapenem administered subcutaneously is non-inferior to the same antibiotic intravenously to treat urinary tract infections in oncological palliative care patients.

The study will be performed at the Palliative Care Unit (PCU) of the National Cancer Institute of Brazil José Alencar Gomes da Silva (INCA), a 56-bed hospital and the only public hospital for cancer palliative care located in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

A sample of 82 patients was estimated, considering the level of significance (alpha) of unilateral 2.5%, the power of the study (1-beta) of 80%, the non-inferiority limit of 4%, and success percentages in the groups control and experimental studies of 92% and 100%, respectively. Once the high mortality rate of the study site (about 60%, according to unpublished administrative information), it was decided to increase this number by 30% to compensate for possible losses, totaling 106 patients, 53 in each arm.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
TERMINATED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
30
Inclusion Criteria
  • Any type of cancer in palliative care;
  • Urinary tract infection;
  • Informed consent assigned by the patient or legal representative.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Neutropenia;
  • Unconsciousness.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Subcutaneous ErtapenemErtapenemPatients with urinary tract infection will be treated with ertapenem by the subcutaneous route.
Intravenous ErtapenemErtapenemPatients with urinary tract infection will be treated with ertapenem by the intravenous route.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
microbiological cureseven days for cystitis and fourteen days for pyelonephritis

negative uroculture at the end of the treatment

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
adverse events30 days

infusion related adverse events

clinical response14 days

improve urinary tract symptoms after ertapenem treatment

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

INCA Instituto Nacional do Cancer

🇧🇷

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

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