Reduce inappropriate antibiotic use is a priority of public health agencies. Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is one of the most important indications for antibiotic prescriptions.
In the majority of the studies of CAP, there is a large proportion of cases with no pathogen identified. Thus, the choice of the empirical antibiotic depends on the most likely pathogen, individual risk factors, comorbidities, and allergies.
Patients aged 65 years or older are often treated with amoxicillin/clavulanate or with another broad-spectrum antibiotic (third-generation cephalosporins, antipneumococcal fluoroquinolone). However, broad-spectrum antibiotic prescription in CAP is debated and concerns exist about side-effects and selective pressure for resistance. Due to lack of head-to-head antibiotic comparisons, a recent Cochrane review concluded that current evidence from Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) is insufficient to make evidence-based recommendations for the choice for antibiotic to be used, highlighting an important evidence gap.
Patient aged 65 years or older with or without comorbidities defined by chronic diseases in immunocompetent patients,
Patient admitted to the hospital for a CAP defined by at least two clinical signs of pneumonia (cough, sputum production, dyspnea, tachypnea, or pleuritic pain, abnormal lung auscultatory sounds, fever (temperature > 38°C) or hypothermia (<36°C)), and had radiological evidence of a new infiltrate confirming pneumonia
Patient understanding oral and written French
Written informed consent obtained from patient prior to participation in the study (if the patient is unable to express in writing: consent by a trusted person).
Signs of severe CAP (abscess, massive pleural effusion, serious chronic respiratory insufficiency, ICU admission)
Patient requiring ICU admission,
Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate < 30 ml/min,
Known immunosuppression (asplenia, neutropenia, agammaglobulinemia, transplant, myeloma, lymphoma, known HIV and CD4<200/mm3),
Parallel
Amoxicillin
DrugParticipants will be randomized to IV/oral amoxicillin or IV/oral amoxicillin/clavulanate for 5 days. Both agents are approved for treatment of respiratory infections. Amoxicillin PO: The dose is two capsule of 500 mg every 8 hours (that is 3 times daily). Amoxicillin IV: The dose is 1 g every 8 hours (that is 3 times daily)
Amoxicillin/clavulanate
DrugParticipants will be randomized to IV/oral amoxicillin or IV/oral amoxicillin/clavulanate for 5 days. Both agents are approved for treatment of respiratory infections. Amoxicillin/clavulanate PO: The dose is two tablets of 500 mg/62.5 mg every 8 hours (that is 3 times daily, approved standard dose) Amoxicillin/clavulanate IV: The dose is 1 g/200 mg every 8 hours (that is 3 times daily, approved standard dose)
Non-inferiority
To investigate non-inferiority in terms of clinical efficacy among patients aged 65 years or older, hospitalized in a non-ICU ward for a CAP, and treated with narrow-spectrum (amoxicillin) versus broad-spectrum (amoxicillin/clavulanate) antimicrobial therapy, at Day 30 since hospital admission. To answer this question, clinical success rate at Day 30 since admission, defined as survival after completion of antibiotic treatment course, resolution of signs and symptoms of the infection (cough, purulent sputum production, dyspnea, or pleuritic chest pain) present at baseline with no new symptoms or complications attributable to CAP and no need for further antibacterial therapy will be determined
Rates of early clinical response
Early clinical response will be defined as survival with improvement of one or more levels relative to baseline in two or more symptoms of CAP and no worsening of one or more levels in other symptoms of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia, without receipt of rescue antibacterial therapy
Clinical cure after the end of treatment
The proposed endpoint of clinical cure after the end of treatment is defined as resolution in relevant signs and symptoms reported at baseline, no worsening of symptoms, and no change in antimicrobial regimen
To investigate total duration of antibiotic treatment, i.e., the total number of days with antibiotics during the Day 30 follow-up after hospital admission
Days taking antibiotics from the first dose until the interruption of any antibiotic treatment during hospitalization and at late follow-up at Day 30 after hospital admission (to identify the use of any other antibiotic after hospital discharge defined as no IV, regain of autonomy identical to baseline, good clinical response and favorable evolution following initiation of antibiotics, other criteria left at the discretion of the investigators according to centers' practices)
To investigate all-cause mortality at Day 30 after hospital admission
All-cause mortality at Day 30 after hospital admission
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