Early antibiotics in ICU aspiration: small trial halted before answers

NCT ID NCT05079620

Terminated Disease control Sponsor: UConn Health Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tested whether giving antibiotics early to ICU patients who may have inhaled stomach contents could prevent pneumonia and improve recovery. Only 5 patients were enrolled before the trial was stopped early. The results are too limited to draw any conclusions about whether this approach works.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Ceftriaxone, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, or cefepime (antibiotics)
What this could lead to: If it had succeeded, this could have pointed to a standard approach for using early antibiotics to prevent pneumonia in ICU patients after aspiration.
What could go wrong: The trial was terminated early with only 5 participants, so results are very limited. It is unclear if early antibiotics help or harm in this setting, and overuse of antibiotics carries risks like resistance and side effects.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

aspiration pneumonia aspiration pneumonitis Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated pneumonia prevention target

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

ASPIRATION ASPIRATION PNEUMONIA

Contacts and locations

Locations

UConn Health, John Dempsey Hospital

Farmington, Connecticut, 06030, United States

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