PRESTO

Optimizing care for children hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia

Participating Sites and National Principal Investigator

Dr. Jeffrey (Des) Pernica

What Do We Want To Know?

This project is a small test study to see if two larger studies would be possible in the future. The larger studies would take place at multiple hospitals and would compare two different ways of improving care for children admitted to hospital with pneumonia. Because this is only a test study, the main focus is on whether the study can be carried out smoothly, rather than on health results. Any health outcomes will be looked at as additional information.

How Are We Doing It?

This study tests two different ways to improve the way children hospitalized with pneumonia are diagnosed and treated. One is a blood test that helps physicians decide better whether antibiotics are needed at all for a given child with pneumonia. The other is looking to see what the best duration of antibiotics is to give children with severe pneumonia. For both, researchers track the children's recovery and watch for any problems.

How Is The Project Going?

We have been enrolling at McMaster Children’s Hospital for some time and are about to begin at London Health Sciences Centre, with SickKids to be added in future. Enrolment is going quite well, and caregivers are happy with study procedures.

Who Is Included?

This project includes children hospitalized with pneumonia.