Revolutionizing Pediatric Pneumonia Care: New research aims to reduce antibiotic overuse in Canadian emergency departments

Researcher: Jeffrey Pernica
CIHR Funding: $2,046,376 / 4 years

In Ontario, pneumonia is the leading cause of pediatric hospitalization. In Canadian emergency departments, despite the fact that most childhood pneumonia is caused by viruses, antibiotics are often prescribed. For the many children with viral disease, antibiotic treatment will not help but can cause harms like antibiotic resistance, damage to the natural human microbiome, and side effects such as diarrhea and rashes.

Infectious diseases expert and associate professor of pediatrics Jeffrey Pernica’s CIHR-funded clinical trial will explore a new approach to care that aims to reduce antibiotic overuse.

In partnership with the Pediatric Emergency Research Canada network, in 6 children’s hospitals across Canada, Pernica will use novel rapid point-of-care blood tests and advanced respiratory pathogen testing to guide treatment decisions for children with non-severe pneumonia. The goal is to reduce antibiotic use without compromising recovery time.

Pernica said his research aims to transform pediatric pneumonia care, sparing kids from potential harm while ensuring they recover just as quickly as children receiving traditional treatment.

“We know that overuse of these medicines contributes to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which itself limits the effectiveness of these critically important drugs. This study may lead to significantly less antibiotic use, which could have significant benefits for both the individual patient and their entire community.”

Read more: Promoting Optimal Treatment for Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Emergency Rooms (PIONEERS): a multicentre randomized controlled trial