Children with neurological impairment are at high-risk of lower respiratory tract infections, leading to recurrent hospitalisations and a burden on the family and healthcare system. To prevent these lower respiratory tract infections, many of the children are prescribed prophylactic antibiotics. However, the type, duration and dose vary considerably.

Aim

The aim of this study is to determine if 52 weeks of azithromycin antibiotic prophylaxis is more effective than placebo in reducing the proportion of children with neurological impairment who are admitted to hospital with lower respiratory tract infection.

Secondary aims are to determine if 52 weeks of azithromycin antibiotic prophylaxis, compared to placebo, improves

• Parent-reported health-related Quality of Life for both parent and child/young person
• Child/young person nutritional status
• Amount of quality of sleep for both parent and child/young person
• The cost-effectiveness
• Respiratory tract microbiology and rates of antimicrobial resistance

This study is funded by National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

The study is a joint UK and Australia randomised clinical trial being conducted in Darwin, Brisbane, Melbourne and the United Kingdom.