Clinical Trial: Infant Severe Sepsis and Bacterial Meningitis in Malawi

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: An Open Randomised Trial of Ceftriaxone v Penicillin and Gentamicin in Infant Severe Sepsis and Bacterial Meningitis in Malawi

Brief Summary:

This study aims to improve the outcome of infants (<2 months) with severe sepsis and meningitis at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi.

Currently WHO recommends the treatment of infant severe sepsis and bacterial meningitis with 14 to 21 day course of penicillin and gentamicin as first line. The second line treatment is cefotaxime or ceftriaxone.

Severe bacterial infections are common in infants under 2 months of age and the mortality is very high (~50%). There are several reasons for this; one is that the first line antibiotics used are no longer as effective as they used to be. Bacterial resistance to the first line antibiotics has increased and some infections especially of the central nervous system may only be partly treated and not eradicated by present therapy. First line treatment is cheap and available but requires 4 injections a day, for at least 14 days, a total of 58 injections. Many mothers find this number too much and abscond. The investigators second line therapy is ceftriaxone which is also available and cheap and the advantage of being given as a daily injection. The disadvantage is that it can cause (reversible) jaundice particularly in premature babies and it must not be given with calcium products. The investigators do not give calcium to the investigators infants as the investigators cannot routinely check electrolytes. All the most common causes of bacterial meningitis in this age group in the investigators setting are sensitive to ceftriaxone.

The investigators wish to undertake an open randomized trial of penicillin and gentamicin v ceftriaxone as first line treatment for infant meningitis. The investigators are able to monitor for side effects.

The investigators hypothesise tha

Detailed Summary:
Sponsor: University of Malawi College of Medicine

Current Primary Outcome: Recovery v death or severe residual neurological sequelae at hospital discharge, 1 month and 6 months post discharge. [ Time Frame: 3 years ]

Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome: Outcome by causative bacterial agent, recovery v death or severe residual neurological sequelae at hospital discharge, 1 month and 6 months post discharge. [ Time Frame: 3 years ]

Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: University of Malawi College of Medicine

Dates:
Date Received: January 14, 2010
Date Started: April 2010
Date Completion:
Last Updated: October 24, 2016
Last Verified: October 2016