Better scans could cut unnecessary antibiotics in elderly pneumonia cases
NCT ID NCT04978116
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether using a low-dose CT scan or lung ultrasound is more accurate than the usual chest X-ray for diagnosing pneumonia in people over 65. About 473 older adults with suspected pneumonia in the emergency room took part. The goal was to see if better imaging could reduce incorrect antibiotic use and improve patient outcomes.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
473 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Jun 2021
- Finished
-
Jul 2025
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
65 years and older
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion criteria: * Aged \>65 years * Suspected community-acquired or nursing-home acquired pneumonia consulting to the emergency room with at least one respiratory symptom (new or increasing among: cough, purulent sputum, pleuritic chest pain, dyspnea, respiratory rate \>20/min, focal auscultatory findings or oxygen saturation \<90% on room air) AND at least one symptom or laboratory finding compatible with an infection (temperature \>37.8°C or \<36.0°C, C reactive protein (CRP) \>10 mg/L, PCT \>0.25 µg/L, leukocyte count \>10 G/L with \>85% neutrophils or band forms) * Signed informed consent * In the oldest old (patients aged \>80 years), the presence of acute delirium or unexplained acute fall can substitute for the presence of either the respiratory or the infectious symptom Exclusion Criteria: * Immediate admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) * Pneumonia in the past 3 months * PCR or antigenic test positive for SARS-CoV-2 in the 3 past weeks * Transfer from another hospital with a diagnosis of pneumonia * CXR or thoracic CT scan or US already done during the present episode * Immediate contrast-enhanced CT scan needed * Advanced care planning limiting therapy to comfort care only * Prisoners * Known uncontrolled psychiatric disorders * Previous enrollment into the current study.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Elderly infection are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
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.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève
Geneva, Switzerland
-
Inselspital
Bern, Switzerland
-
Ospedale regionale di Lugano
Lugano, Switzerland
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can a digital assistant and quick tests stop unnecessary antibiotics for kids?
- Nasal swab could curb unnecessary antibiotics in pneumonia
- AI could outsmart bacteria: a smarter way to choose antibiotics?
- Breathing technique may outperform spirometry for smog pneumonia recovery
- A gentle touch against coughs and colds: could manual therapy shorten respiratory illness?
- Can a smart oxygen device shorten hospital stays for pneumonia?