Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole vs. Clindamycin for the Treatment of Children With Invasive MRSA Infections

Phase 4

Not yet recruiting

• Conditions: Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus; Osteomyelitis Acute; Septic Arthritis; Orbital Cellulitis; Facial Cellulitis; Mastoiditis; Cervical Adenitis; Retropharyngeal Abscess; Peritonsillar Abscess
• Interventions: Drug: Trimethoprim Sulfamethoxazole

• Registration Number: NCT06982105
• Lead Sponsor: Indiana University

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) works to treat invasive infections due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in children. It will also learn about the safety of TMP-SMX in the treatment of children with invasive MRSA infections. The main questions it aims to answer are:

-Is TMP-SMX effective at successfully treating children with invasive infections due to MRSA? What are the side effects of TMP-SMX in children taking it for invasive infections due to MRSA?

Researchers will compare TMP-SMX to a clindamycin (a commonly prescribed antibiotic for the treatment of MRSA in children) to see if TMP-SMX works better, worse or the same as clindamycin for children with invasive infections due to MRSA.

Participants will:

Take TMP-SMX or clindamycin for the treatment of their invasive infection due to MRSA.

Will follow up with the provider treating their invasive infection at the discretion of the treating provider.

Keep a diary of their symptoms and any side effects of the medicine

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2025-03-28
• Status Verified: 2025-05
• Study Start: 2025-05
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-05-19
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-05-19
• Study First Posted: 2025-05-21
• Last Update Posted: 2025-05-21
• Primary Completion: 2027-06
• Study Completion: 2027-06

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 100

Inclusion Criteria

1. 60 days to 18 years of age (inclusive) at the time of oral step down treatment

2. Diagnosed by the clinical team with OAI or HNI:

   • OAI- at least 1 focal finding and 1 systemic finding OR radiographic confirmation of OAI

     • Focal finding- pain/swelling over a bone/joint, or restricted movement/failure to bear weight
     • Systemic finding- fever >38oC, or elevated c-reactive protein (CRP) or elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. (ESR) or elevated white blood cell count (WBC) or elevated WBC in synovial fluid OR
     • Radiographic confirmation- findings consistent with osteomyelitis or septic arthritis - Plain radiograph, MRI, CT or ultrasound, bone scan result indicating abnormal bone, subperiosteal or bone marrow findings consistent with infection

   • HNI- at least 1 focal finding and 1 systemic finding OR radiographic confirmation of HNI

     • Focal finding- facial pain or redness, eye pain or proptosis, neck or throat pain or swelling, ear pain or proptosis
     • Systemic finding- fever >38oC, or elevated CRP or elevated ESR or elevated WBC OR
     • Radiographic confirmation- findings consistent with facial/orbital cellulitis, cervical lymphadenitis, mastoiditis, or deep neck infection/abscess (including peritonsillar, retro- and para-pharyngeal. Plain radiograph, MRI, CT or ultrasound, bone scan result indicating abnormal findings consistent with infection

3. Treated by the clinical team for confirmed MRSA or suspected MRSA infection

   • Confirmed MRSA- positive culture for MRSA from a sterile body fluid (e.g., blood, abscess, bone, synovial fluid, or other surgical specimen)
   • Suspected MRSA- treatment for MRSA by the clinical team without microbiologic confirmation (e.g., negative cultures)

4. Currently ready or planned to be transitioned to oral antibiotic therapy by the clinical team

5. OAI or HNI symptoms < 14 days at the time of hospital admission

Exclusion Criteria

1. Enrollment in another interventional study or receipt of investigational drug as part of a research trial within the past 30 days.
2. Known cancer, acquired or primary (including sickle cell anemia or G6PD deficiency) immunodeficiency
3. Underlying bone disease, presence of hardware /implantable device in affected bone/joint
4. Infection (OAI or HNI) resulting from penetrating wounds, open fractures, major trauma, foreign body or post-operative infection.
5. Spinal osteomyelitis
6. Underlying chronic renal, gastrointestinal, liver, or heart disease that would be expected to potentially affect absorption or the metabolism of assigned drug
7. Inability to take medicine by mouth, gastrostomy, jejunostomy or nasogastric tube
8. Received intravenous antibiotic therapy as the treatment for OAI or HNI >14 days.
9. Inability or unwilling to consent
10. Any social or medical conditions judged by the study clinician to preclude participation because it could negatively affect the participant.
11. Allergy to both TMP-SMX and clindamycin
12. Known MRSA isolate resistant to both TMP-SMX and clindamycin
13. Patient is known to be pregnant at the time of enrollment

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
TMP-SMX	Trimethoprim Sulfamethoxazole	Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole * For osteoarticular infections- 4-5 mg/kg/dose (based on TMP) PO every 8 hours (max dose 320mg/dose) * For head and neck infections- 5-6 mg/kg/dose (based on TMP PO every 12 hours (max dose 320mg/dose) Duration will be at the discretion of the treating provider
Clindamycin	Trimethoprim Sulfamethoxazole	13 mg/kg/dose PO every 8 hours (max 600mg/dose) Duration will be at the discretion of the treating provider

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Number of Participants with Treatment Success	6 months post hospitalization	Compare number of participants with treatment success vs. failure at 6 months post hospitalization

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Number of Participants with Treatment Success at 6 weeks post-hospitalization	6 weeks post hospitalization	Compare number of participants with treatment success vs. failure at 6 weeks
Number of Participants who experience an antibiotic-related adverse events (AEs)	6 months post hospitalization	Compare number and severity of AEs between groups graded based on common terminology criteria for adverse events v5.0