Efficacy of BPS (Bacterial Pneumonia Score) Guided Antibiotic Use in Children With Community Acquired Pneumonia on Reducing Antibiotic Use as Compared to Standard Care Practice (Current Guidelines for CAP)

Background: Pneumonia is a leading cause of mortality in children. Despite more than 50% of pneumonias are due to viruses, because it is difficult to rule out bacterial etiology, initial management of pneumonia in children usually includes antibiotics, often unnecessary. In 2006 was designed and validated a clinical prediction rule (BPS: Bacterial Pneumonia Score) which accurately identifies hospitalized children's risk of bacterial pneumonia. However, BPS efficacy on guiding therapeutic decision in children with community acquired pneumonia (CAP) has not been yet assessed.

Aim: The aim of this study is to test if BPS guided antibiotic use in children with non severe community acquired pneumonia will reduce antibiotic use as compared to standard care practice (current guidelines for CAP) Design: This is a randomized, controlled, blinded trial, to assess antibiotics use regarding two methods for initial management of children aged 3-60 months with non severe community acquired pneumonia. Children will be randomly allocate to be managed according to BPS or currently enforced guidelines. Use of antibiotics (%) and clinical outcome of both groups will be compared.

Setting: Tertiary children hospital in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Patients: Consecutive children aged 3-60 months assisted for non severe community acquired pneumonia as outpatients. Patients with wheezing, severe pneumonia, pulmonary or cardiovascular chronic disease, or antibiotic use or hospitalization in the previous two weeks will be excluded.

Endpoints:

Primary: Use of antibiotics in each group (proportion) Secondary: Treatment failure (proportion) in each group Endpoints will be assessed at baseline and after 1, 2, 5, 7 and 10 days by a blinded investigator.