Newcastle Hospitals is leading a UK-wide trial to explore whether a shorter course of antibiotics could safely and effectively treat sepsis.
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition which happens when the immune system overreacts to an infection, damaging the body’s tissues and organs. It needs to be diagnosed and treated quickly with appropriate antibiotics.
Antibiotics are important when treating severe infections like sepsis, however overuse can lead to superbugs. These strains of bacteria have developed resistance to different types of antibiotics, making them much harder to treat and sometimes leading to life-threatening illness.
Research to date has shown that a shorter course of antibiotics is just as effective as a longer course for some infections, but researchers do not know if this applies to sepsis.
The SHORTER trial is comparing if five days of antibiotic treatment is as safe and effective as usual practice, which is around seven days. Hospital staff in critical care units will closely monitor all patients on the trial.
Dr Tom Hellyer, honorary consultant in critical care medicine at Newcastle Hospitals and clinical senior lecturer at Newcastle University, is chief investigator for the trial. He said:
“Striking the right balance of using antibiotics appropriately, while avoiding potential harm, can be challenging.
“Antibiotics are started quickly for sepsis because of the severity of the illness, but the exact duration needed to treat the infection is currently unknown.
“We hope that the SHORTER trial will help to determine the most safe and effective use of antibiotics for patients with this life-threatening condition.”
The SHORTER trial is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, is run by Newcastle University’s Clinical Trials Unit, and delivered by research teams at the Royal Victoria Infirmary and Freeman Hospital.
Professor Anthony Gordon, programme director for the NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme, said: “Studies like the SHORTER trial are essential, as they explore how to optimise treatments for patients who are critically ill.
“To be able to determine how long a patient should receive antibiotics for sepsis could be hugely beneficial for those affected, and to medical professionals to help ensure patients receive effective treatment, and at the same time reduce the risk of antimicrobial resistance.”
The trial is taking place at 47 hospitals across the country and over 800 patients have taken part to date.
Further information:
- For more information about the trial, visit the SHORTER website, email [email protected], or call 0191 208 3819.
- In the North East, the trial is also taking place at Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital (Cramlington), Queen Elizabeth Hospital (Gateshead), Sunderland Royal Hospital, and University Hospital of North Durham.
