Recruiting

SAFEStopping Antibiotics After 3 Days for the Treatment of FEbrile Neutropenia in Haematology Patients (SAFE Study): a Randomized Open-label Non-inferiority Trial

0 criteria met from your profileSee at a glance how your profile meets each eligibility criteria.
What is being tested

Comparison short vs extended EBAT treatment group

Other
Who is being recruted

Cytopenia+9

+ Agranulocytosis

+ Hematologic Diseases

Over 16 Years
See all eligibility criteria
How is the trial designed

Supportive Care Study

Phase 4
Interventional
Study Start: February 2024
See protocol details

Summary

Principal SponsorUniversitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven
Study ContactRobina Aerts, MDMore contacts
Last updated: January 28, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Study start date: February 26, 2024

Actual date on which the first participant was enrolled.

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare a short course of antibiotics in patients in whom no bacterial infection is found with the current "golden standard": long-term antibiotic treatment in adult hematology patients who develop neutropenic fever. The main question it aims to answer is: whether the short-term treatment is equally safe for patients, hence the name 'SAFE study'. Participants will be randomly assigned (randomized) to one of two treatment options once they develop neutropenic fever: short-term or long-term antibiotic treatment. An additional blood sample, urine sample and stool sample will be collected. Researchers will compare the short-term and the long-term antibiotic treatment groups to see if the short treatment is equally safe as the long-term treatment group.

Official TitleStopping Antibiotics After 3 Days for the Treatment of FEbrile Neutropenia in Haematology Patients (SAFE Study): a Randomized Open-label Non-inferiority Trial
NCT05926063
Principal SponsorUniversitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven
Study ContactRobina Aerts, MDMore contacts
Last updated: January 28, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Protocol

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.
Design Details

410 patients to be enrolled

Total number of participants that the clinical trial aims to recruit.

Supportive Care Study

These studies explore ways to improve comfort and daily life for people living with a condition. They may focus on easing symptoms, reducing treatment side effects, or supporting overall well-being.



Eligibility

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria: person's general health condition or prior treatments.
Conditions
Criteria

Any sex

Biological sex of participants that are eligible to enroll.

Over 16 Years

Range of ages for which participants are eligible to join.

Healthy volunteers not allowed

If individuals who are healthy and do not have the condition being studied can participate.

Conditions

Pathology

CytopeniaAgranulocytosisHematologic DiseasesHemic and Lymphatic DiseasesInfectionsLeukemiaLeukocyte DisordersLeukopeniaNeoplasmsNeoplasms by Histologic TypeNeutropeniaFebrile Neutropenia

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Voluntary written informed consent of the participant or their legally authorized representative has been obtained prior to any screening procedures; * Age older than 16 years; * Intensive therapy is started within three days before randomization for one of the following haematological conditions: * Remission induction chemotherapy for newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS); OR * Re-induction chemotherapy for relapsed after haematological remission lasting for a minimum duration of 6 months; OR * Conditioning regimen to prepare for an allogeneic HCT; OR * Conditioning regimen to prepare for an autologous HCT. * Expected longstanding (≥ 7 days) neutropenia (ANC \< 0.5x10\^9/L); * Expected length of hospital stay of at least 10 days. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Clinically or microbiologically documented infection; 2. Patient already receives broad spectrum antibiotic therapy; 3. Any critical illness for which Intensive Care Unit treatment is required; 4. SOFA score ≥ 11; 5. Longstanding neutropenia (\>21 days) prior inclusion; 6. Previous enrolment in this study; 7. Not able to provide written informed consent; 8. Any disorder, which in the Investigator's opinion might jeopardise the participant's safety or compliance with the protocol; 9. Any prior or concomitant treatment(s) that might jeopardise the participant's safety or that would compromise the integrity of the Trial.

Study Plan

Find out more about all the medication administered in this study, their detailed description and what they involve.
Treatment Groups
Study Objectives

2 intervention groups are designated in this study

This study does not include a placebo group 

Treatment Groups

Group I

Active Comparator
Empirical broad-spectrum antibiotics (EBAT) as per local protocol: * Meropenem 3 x 1(/2) g IV; OR * Piperacilline-Tazobactam 4 x 4 g IV; OR * Cefepime 3 x 2 g IV; OR * Ceftazidim 3 x 2 g IV Extended treatment arm: EBAT will be continued: * At least 5x24 hours; * Until afebrile (TMT\<38.0°C) for at least 5 consecutive days; OR * Until resolution of neutropenia (ANC \>0,5 x109/L); OR * Until they have been treated 10 days, whatever comes first.

Group II

Experimental
Empirical broad-spectrum antibiotics (EBAT) as per local protocol: * Meropenem 3 x 1(/2) g IV; OR * Piperacilline-Tazobactam 4 x 4 g IV; OR * Cefepime 3 x 2 g IV; OR * Ceftazidim 3 x 2 g IV Short treatment group: EBAT will be discontinued: * After 3x24 hours; * Irrespective of presence of fever; AND * If no clinical of microbiological infection is documented.

Study Objectives

Primary Objectives

Secondary Objectives

Study Centers

These are the hospitals, clinics, or research facilities where the trial is being conducted. You can find the location closest to you and its status.

This study has 1 location

Recruiting

University Hospitals Leuven

Leuven, BelgiumOpen University Hospitals Leuven in Google Maps
Recruiting
One Study Center