A Trial of Placebo Versus Macrolide for Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Childhood Pneumonia: MYTHIC Study

A Randomized Controlled Non-inferiority Trial of Placebo Versus Macrolide Antibiotics for Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Infection in Children With Community-acquired Pneumonia - the MYTHIC Study

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare a placebo (a look-alike substance that contains no active drug) with a commonly used antibiotic in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae (a specific bacterium) induced community-acquired pneumonia. The main question it aims to answer is:

Is antibiotic treatment needed in Mycoplasma pneumoniae (a specific bacterium) induced pneumonia?

Participants will receive either a placebo or a antibiotic treatment and track their symptoms and vital signs until they are healthy.

Researchers will then compare the length of symptoms between the placebo and the antibiotic group.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) is the most frequently detected bacterial pathogen in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in hospitalized U.S. children. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, M. pneumoniae was responsible for 8-28% of childhood CAP and thus was substantially contributes to CAP being a leading cause of hospitalization in high-income settings and worldwide morbidity and mortality. After the corona virus disease (COVID)-19 pandemic, M. pneumoniae and its delayed re-emergence remains a thread to children's health. CAP accounts for more treatment days with antibiotics in children's hospitals in the U.S. than any other condition. Macrolides are the first-line treatment for M. pneumoniae infection. Still, there is a lack of evidence for macrolides' the effectiveness in the treatment of M. pneumoniae induced CAP; simultaneously there is an alarmingly increasing antimicrobial resistance among M. pneumoniae. Therefore, childhood CAP, and especially M. pneumoniae, is an important target for antimicrobial stewardship efforts and cost-effectiveness considerations.

The MYTHIC Study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, non-inferiority trial in 13 Swiss pediatric centers. Previously healthy ambulatory and hospitalized children aged 3-17 years with clinically diagnosed CAP will be screened for a M. pneumoniae infection with Immunoglobulin M (IgM) lateral flow assay. Patients will be randomized 1:1 to receive a 5-day-treatment of macrolides (azithromycin) or placebo.

Inclusion criteria for screening phase:

• Children aged 3-17 years (from 3rd up to 18th birthday) presenting to the emergency department (ED) who will be managed ambulatory or will be admitted to general ward.

• Clinical diagnosis of CAP:

  1. Diagnosis defined as the treating physician's documented diagnosis of CAP; AND
  2. Fever ≥38.0°C (measured by any method [i.e., ear, axillary, rectal, or forehead site] in the ED or via parent report observed in the last 24h); AND
  3. Tachypnea (defined as respiratory rate (RR) above age-specific reference value) during the assessment in ED (triage or clinical examination).

• Written screening consent for participation in screening phase signed by parents/legal guardians and the patient if ≥14 years of age.

Additional inclusion criteria for intervention phase:

• Positive Mp screening test result with the Mp IgM lateral flow assay (LFA) (grade 2 or 3).
• Written informed consent for participation in intervention phase signed by parents or legal guardians and the patient if ≥14 years of age.

Exclusion criteria:

Exclusion criteria for screening phase:

• None.

Exclusion criteria for intervention phase:

• Contraindication to azithromycin: Documented allergy to azithromycin; cardiovascular disease, including bradycardia, arrhythmias, and/or QT-interval prolongation*; myasthenia gravis.

  *Co-medication with arrhythmogenic or QT-interval-prolonging drug (www.qtdrugs.org) is no exclusion criteria but will be discussed with the local investigators and/or trial management team (TMT).

• Underlying comorbidities: Cystic fibrosis or other chronic lung disorders (excluding asthma), primary or secondary immunodeficiency, sickle-cell anemia, or severe cerebral palsy.

• History of recurrent pneumonia (two or more episodes) or severe pneumonia (ICU admission or complications of CAP such as lung abscess, effusion, and empyema) in lifetime.

• Antibiotic treatment against Mp within the previous 7 days, including macrolides, tetracyclines, or fluoroquinolones.

• Referral to ICU directly from the ED.

• Inability to take oral medication.

• Parents are unlikely to reliably complete follow up (FUP) visits and questionnaires (e.g., due to language barriers or living far from the study site).