[Articles] Oral step-down, optimal drug, and total duration of antibiotic treatment in African children hospitalised with severe community-acquired pneumonia (PediCAP): a factorial randomised controlled trial

AI Summary

A trial in sub-Saharan African children hospitalized with severe community-acquired pneumonia shows that stepping down to oral amoxicillin after initial intravenous antibiotics with a 4-5 day total treatment is as effective as the WHO 5-day intravenous protocol. This strategy can optimize treatment while maintaining efficacy.

For sub-Saharan African children hospitalised with severe CAP without complicating factors, a strategy of stepping down upon clinical improvement to oral amoxicillin after initial intravenous antibiotics, with a total treatment duration of 4–5 days, is non-inferior to WHO-recommended 5-day intravenous treatment.