Blood test may curb antibiotic overuse in COPD attacks

NCT ID NCT05854901

Completed Disease control Sponsor: Erasmus Medical Center Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Aug 13, 2026 · Last updated Aug 14, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This trial tests whether using a blood test that measures procalcitonin—a marker of bacterial infection—can safely guide decisions about antibiotics in people hospitalized for a COPD flare-up. Participants are randomly assigned to either usual care or procalcitonin-guided treatment, where antibiotics are given only if the test suggests a bacterial cause. The goal is to see if this approach is as safe as standard care, with the potential to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: Procalcitonin blood test to guide antibiotic decisions
What this could lead to: If effective, this approach could reduce unnecessary antibiotic use in COPD flare-ups, lowering side effects and antibiotic resistance while maintaining patient safety.
What could go wrong: The trial is early and non-inferiority design means it aims to show no worse outcomes, but there is a risk that skipping antibiotics based on the test could lead to more treatment failures.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD, severe early onset

As listed by the trial registrant

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

ACUTE COPD EXACERBATION COPD COPD EXACERBATION

Contacts and locations

Locations

Amphia hospital

Breda, North Brabant, 4818CK, Netherlands
Bravis hospital

Roosendaal, North Brabant, 4708AE, Netherlands
Catharina hospital

Eindhoven, North Brabant, 5623 EJ, Netherlands
Erasmus MC

Rotterdam, South Holland, 3015GD, Netherlands
Franciscus Gasthuis & Vlietland

Rotterdam, South Holland, 3045PM, Netherlands
Groene Hart

Gouda, South Holland, 2803HH, Netherlands
Isala klinieken

Zwolle, Overijssel, 8025 AB, Netherlands
MST Enschede

Enschede, Overijssel, 7500KA, Netherlands
Noordwest hospital group

Alkmaar, North Holland, 1800AM, Netherlands
OLVG

Amsterdam, North Holland, 1091AC, Netherlands
Zuyderland hospital

Heerlen, Limburg, 6419PC, Netherlands

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