Blood test could cut antibiotic use in sick newborns by 30%
NCT ID NCT03730636
First seen Nov 01, 2025 · Last updated Jun 22, 2026 · Updated 30 times
Summary
This study tested whether measuring a substance called procalcitonin in the blood can help doctors decide when to stop antibiotics in newborns with late-onset sepsis. Over 500 newborns were included, and the goal was to reduce antibiotic treatment duration by 30% without increasing infections or deaths. The approach uses a simple blood test every two days to guide treatment decisions.
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the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Department of Neonatology Bretonneau Hospital
Paris, Tours, 37044, France
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
procalcitonin measurement (blood test to guide antibiotic duration)
What this could lead to
If successful, this approach could shorten antibiotic treatment for newborns with sepsis, reducing side effects and hospital stays while maintaining safety.
What could go wrong
This is a completed trial, but the strategy may not work for all newborns or settings. The results depend on how well procalcitonin levels reflect infection status, and there is a small risk of undertreating infections.
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.