Smart testing slashes antibiotic overuse in ER lung cases
NCT ID NCT05463406
First seen Apr 28, 2026 · Last updated Jun 23, 2026 · Updated 9 times
Summary
This study tested a new way to decide if patients with lower respiratory tract infections need antibiotics. Instead of relying on standard methods, doctors used a step-by-step approach: a clinical score, a lung ultrasound, and a blood test for procalcitonin. The goal was to reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions while keeping patients safe. Over 1,400 adults in Swiss emergency departments took part, and researchers compared the new approach to usual care.
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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.
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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Cantonal Hospital of St. Gallen
Sankt Gallen, Canton of St. Gallen, 9007, Switzerland
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Cantonal hospital of Baden
Baden, Canton of Aargau, 5404, Switzerland
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Centre hospitalier universitaire vaudois (CHUV)
Lausanne, Canton of Vaud, 1011, Switzerland
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Hôpital Intercantonal de la Broye
Payerne, Canton of Vaud, 1530, Switzerland
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Hôpital Riviera-Chablais
Rennaz, Canton of Vaud, 1847, Switzerland
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Kantonsspital Baselland
Liestal, Canton of Basel-City, 4410, Switzerland
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Luzerner Kantonsspital
Lucerne, Canton of Lucerne, 6000, Switzerland
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Réseau Hospitalier Neuchâtelois
Neuchâtel, Canton of Neuchâtel, 2000, Switzerland
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University Hospital of Basel
Basel, Canton of Basel-City, 4031, Switzerland
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
diagnostic algorithm (clinical score, lung ultrasound, and procalcitonin blood test)
What this could lead to
If successful, this approach could help doctors prescribe antibiotics more accurately, reducing unnecessary use and slowing antibiotic resistance.
What could go wrong
The study is completed, but the strategy may not work for all patients or settings, and the diagnostic tests may not always correctly distinguish viral from bacterial 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.