Genomics to combat resistance against antibiotics for community-acquired lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in Europe (GRACE) work package 10: Antibiotic Trial One

ISRCTN ISRCTN52261229
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN52261229
EudraCT/CTIS number 2007-001586-15
Secondary identifying numbers GRACE WP10 Protocol v4.1 18/09/2007; GRACE WP10 Protocol v4.2 21/4/2009 (to extend the study with additional networks and a third inclusion period and, only in five networks in the third inclusion period, with an additional objective with associated samples)
Submission date
02/12/2008
Registration date
16/01/2009
Last edited
06/11/2015
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Respiratory
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
This study is part of a programme of research into cough/chest infections across 12 European countries. Most people with chest infections probably don’t benefit from antibiotics and inappropriate antibiotic use drives antibiotic resistance, a major global health problem. Some groups of people however might really benefit from antibiotics. The study aims at understanding which subgroups of individuals with chest infections benefit from antibiotics, but also to study antibiotic resistance after antibiotic treatment.

Who can participate?
Throughout Europe 3000 adult patients presenting to primary care with acute cough or other symptoms that suggest a chest infection will take part in this study.

What does the study involve?
If the participating doctors think there is no definite need for antibiotics, participants will be asked to take a 7-day course of tablets to be taken three times a day. The tablets will be either amoxicillin, a very commonly used and safe penicillin-based antibiotic, or a placebo (a tablet without any medication in it). They will not be able to tell whether they will have the real antibiotic or the placebo. Random numbers are used to decide whether participants get antibiotic or placebo to make sure that they have an equal chance of getting either. This is the best way for us to show scientifically whether antibiotics really make a difference. If it is necessary to know whether participants are using an antibiotic or not, the participating doctors will be able to get that information at any time and change the participant’s medication. The participating doctors will also like to take one throat swab at day 8 (extra visit) and at the second study visit (day 28-35). The swab at day 8 will not be taken in all participants. If participants decide they do not want to have a swab taken at day 8 they can still take part in the treatment part of the study.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The main advantage is that the participating doctors will be well informed about the participants’ illness and will monitor them closely. In the future doctors will be able to provide better management for patients with coughs and chest infections, but this will not benefit the participants during this illness. The main disadvantages are the extra time and discomfort related to taking the additional swabs. The patients who will receive amoxicillin can experience the usual side-effects of penicillin: it can cause mild nausea or diarrhoea, and sometimes it can cause a transient skin rash.

Where is the study run from?
University of Southampton (UK).

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
October 2007 to April 2010.

Who is funding the study?
EC Sixth Framework Programme.

Who is the main contact?
Prof Paul Little

Study website

Contact information

Prof Paul Little
Scientific

Primary Medical Care
University of Southampton
Aldermoor Health Centre
Aldermoor Close
Southampton
SO16 5ST
United Kingdom

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0003-3664-1873
Dr Herman Goossens
Scientific

Laboratory of Medical Microbiology
Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO)
University of Antwerp – Campus Drie Eiken
Universiteitsplein 1
Antwerp
2610
Belgium

Study information

Study designRandomised placebo-controlled double-blind trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)GP practice
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleGenomics to combat Resistance against Antibiotics for Community-acquired lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in Europe (GRACE) work package 10: Antibiotic Trial One - a randomised placebo-controlled double-blind trial
Study acronymGRACE AT ONE
Study objectivesThis trial aims at understanding which subgroups of individuals with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) benefit from antibiotics. A randomised placebo-controlled double-blind trial will be carried out with patients as unit of randomisation to study the clinical effectiveness of antibiotics in community-acquired LRTI.

More details can be found at: http://public.ukcrn.org.uk/search/StudyDetail.aspx?StudyID=4175
Ethics approval(s)GRACE WP10 Protocol v4.1: Southampton and South West Hampshire REC (B), 31/08/2007, ref: 07/H0504/104
GRACE WP10 Protocol v4.2: amendment approved 21/04/2009
The study protocols were approved by ethics committees in all participating countries. The competent authority in each country also gave their approval.
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedLower respiratory tract infection (LRTI)
Intervention1. Amoxicillin capsule, gastroenteral use, 3 g a day for 7 days
2. Placebo
Intervention typeDrug
Pharmaceutical study type(s)
PhasePhase III
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)Amoxicillin
Primary outcome measure1. Deterioration of illness: return to doctor with worsening signs, or admission to hospital within 4 weeks of first consultation, measured at one year
2. Symptom severity and duration, duration of symptoms rated moderately bad until symptoms clear, measured by symptom diary (with construct validity), measured at one year
Secondary outcome measures1. Resource use data, assessed by a review of clinical notes measured at two years
2. Quality of life outcomes for use of economic evaluation (EQ5D), measured at two years

Added 25/11/2014:
3. Antibacterial resistance in oropharyngeal streptococci measured before, immediately after and four weeks after the interventions in five networks in the third inclusion period
Overall study start date17/03/2006
Completion date01/04/2010

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants3000
Key inclusion criteria1. Aged 18 and over, either sex
2. Acute or worsened cough is the main presentation suggesting LRTI, less than 28 days duration
3. Not been included earlier in the current GRACE trial
4. Able to fill out study materials
5. Immunocompetent
6. Not been on antibiotic treatment in previous month
7. First consultation for this illness episode
Key exclusion criteria1. Allergic to penicillin
2. History/physical examination suggestive of community acquired pneumonia (CAP)
3. Pregnant
Date of first enrolment15/11/2007
Date of final enrolment14/04/2010

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Belgium
  • England
  • France
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Netherlands
  • Poland
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

University of Southampton
Southampton
SO16 5ST
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

University of Southampton (UK)
University/education

Research Governance Office
George Thomas Building 37
Room 4001
Highfield
Southampton
SO17 1BJ
England
United Kingdom

Website http://www.soton.ac.uk/
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/01ryk1543

Funders

Funder type

Government

Sixth Framework Programme
Government organisation / National government
Alternative name(s)
EC Sixth Framework Programme, European Commission Sixth Framework Programme, EU Sixth Framework Programme, European Union Sixth Framework Programme, FP6

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryStored in repository
Publication and dissemination planWe plan to publish on the overall effect of amoxicillin for acute lower-respiratory-tract infection in primary care when pneumonia is not suspected and on a subgroup analysis of potential high-risk groups. Next we plan to publish on the cost-effectiveness of treatment with amoxicillin for acute lower-respiratory-tract infection in primary care and on the selection and persistence of antibiotic resistance in oral streptococci after such treatment.

Participant level data will be stored in a repository, the GRACE Database and Biobank, which is financially supported through the European Science Foundation (ESF), in the framework of the Research Networking Programme TRACE (Translational Research on Antimicrobial resistance and Community-acquired infections in Europe; www.esf.org/trace) and to consult via its chair Herman Goossens.
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article results 01/02/2013 Yes No
Results article results 01/02/2014 Yes No
Results article results 06/03/2015 Yes No
Results article results 05/11/2015 Yes No

Editorial Notes

On 10/12/2014 the following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The overall trial start date was changed from 01/10/2007 to 17/03/2006.
2. The overall trial end date was changed from 01/04/2010 to 14/04/2010.