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RecruitingNCT03014687POETUpdated Aug 15, 2018

Prophylactic Oral Antibiotics on Sinonasal Outcomes Following Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Surgery for Pituitary Lesions

A Phase 4 interventional study of Placebo and Oral Antibiotics cefdinir or trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole in Antibiotics and Pituitary Adenoma, sponsored by St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 84 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2018-08-15.

Sponsored by St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix · Phase 4, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Primary completion was expected by Jan 2019, 7 years 9 months ago, but the record still lists the study as recruiting.
  • Started Jul 2017; still recruiting 9 years 3 months later.
Phase
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
116
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 84 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

To find out whether oral antibiotics given after transsphenoidal endoscopic surgery for pituitary adenoma improves sinus and nasal symptoms, reduces the incidence of infection (sinusitis), and helps mucosal healing in the nasal passages.

Read the detailed description

Transsphenoidal surgery is the standard of care for most symptomatic pituitary adenomas. Since transsphenoidal surgery exploits the nasal passage to reach the sella turcica and pituitary gland, the technique causes disruption of sinonasal function and temporarily impacts sinonasal quality of life. Disrupted sinonasal function is a primary source of postoperative morbidity following transsphenoidal surgery. Common sinonasal complications include sinusitis, synechiae formation, nasal obstruction and crusting. The development of postoperative sinusitis is specifically associated with decreased sinonasal function after surgery. Because the nasal cavity is a contaminated surgical field, practitioners routinely prescribe a course of oral postoperative antibiotics for 7-14 days (in addition to standard prophylactic perioperative intravenous antibiotics) with the intention of improving nasal functional outcomes. To date, no studies have examined whether the administration of oral antibiotics following transsphenoidal surgery improves sinonasal healing. This question has been studied in a closely-related field, functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). A meta-analysis of clinical trial data obtained in FESS indicated that current literature does not support the use of oral antibiotics to reduce infection, improve symptoms scores, or improve endoscopic findings. Furthermore, there is the potential for antibiotic-related adverse events including the emergence of bacterial resistance, Clostridium difficile infection, and allergic reactions to the medication. Despite the lack of supporting evidence in FESS, prophylactic antibiotic use for improving sinonasal healing is still common in pituitary surgery. The investigators propose to study whether prophylactic oral antibiotics following transsphenoidal surgery improve sinonasal quality of life, reduce sinusitis incidence, and promote mucosal healing following endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery.

02

Conditions studied

  • Antibiotics
  • Pituitary Adenoma

Keywords

  • transsphenoidal surgery
03

In context

Adenoma

657 studies on the registry are indexed under Adenoma; 98 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 116 is below the median of 250 across 412 interventional studies indexed under Adenoma.

Browse Adenoma studies →

Lead sponsor

St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix is the lead sponsor of 63 studies on the registry; 11 are open to participants now.

Of its 5 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 1 (20%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 84 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Adult patient undergoing endoscopic surgery for resection of pituitary tumors for nonfunctioning adenoma, acromegaly, or prolactinoma
  • Adults >18 and \<85 years of age
  • English speaking and able to understand the ASK Nasal-12 and SNOT-22 scales
  • Free of any physical, mental, or medical condition which, in the opinion of the investigator, makes study participation inadvisable

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Anaphylaxis/intolerance to the study drugs
  • Cirrhosis, hepatitis
  • Any solid organ transplant or bone marrow transplant. And any patient felt to be immunocompromised by the investigators
  • Renal failure on dialysis
  • Any subject who is unwilling or unable to sign informed consent for the study
  • Pregnancy
  • Incarcerated patients
  • Cushing's disease
  • Rathke's Cleft cyst or pituitary cyst
  • History of chronic sinusitis
  • Anticipated use of nasal splints
  • Anticipated use of nasal septal flap
  • Active sinusitis
  • Nasal polyps
  • Previous sinus surgery
  • Concurrent antibiotics for another indication (i.e., urinary tract infection)
  • Immunodeficiency
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 4
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Double (Participant, Investigator)
Enrollment
116 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Placebo comparator
    Standard Nasal Care

    One dose of preoperative intravenous (iv) antibiotic (e.g., cefazolin 1gm, or cefuroxime 1.5gm, or clindamycin 300mg will be administered within 60 minutes of start of surgery. Repeat intraoperative dosing of antibiotics is permitted if length of surgery exceeds recommended dosing interval. IV antibiotic dosing schedules: Cefazolin 1 gm iv Q6 hr -or- Cefuroxime 1.5gm iv Q8 hr -or- Clindamycin 300 mg iv Q12 hr. Postoperative antibiotics: Study participants will receive one dose only of postoperative intravenous antibiotic (e.g., cefazolin 1gm, or cefuroxime 1.5gm, or clindamycin 300mg \[cephalosporin allergic patients\]) according to the recommended dosing schedule described above. This dose of antibiotics is in addition to the preoperative dose. Placebo PO BID (twice daily) will commence on the morning of postoperative day 1 and continue for 7 days.

    Drug: Placebo

  • Experimental
    Standard Nasal Care + Oral Antibiotics

    One dose of preoperative iv antibiotic (cefazolin 1gm, or cefuroxime 1.5gm, or clindamycin 300mg) will be administered within 60 minutes of start of surgery. Repeat intraoperative dosing of antibiotics is permitted if length of surgery exceeds recommended dosing interval. IV antibiotic dosing schedules: Cefazolin 1 gm iv Q6 hr -or- Cefuroxime 1.5gm iv Q8 hr -or- Clindamycin 300 mg iv Q12 hr. Participants will receive 1 dose only of postoperative iv antibiotic (cefazolin 1gm, or cefuroxime 1.5gm, or clindamycin 300mg \[cephalosporin allergic patients\]) according to the recommended dosing schedule described above. This dose of antibiotics is in addition to the preoperative dose. Oral antibiotics will commence on the morning of postoperative day 1; this group will receive oral antibiotics (cefdinir \[Omnicef®\] 300 mg PO BID or trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole \[Bactrim DS™\] PO BID for cephalosporin intolerant patients) for 7 days.

    Drug: Oral Antibiotics cefdinir or trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole

Interventions

  • DrugPlacebo

    PO BID placebo for 7 days. Postoperative days 1 through 7: patients will administer saline spray (e.g., Ocean nasal spray) to both nostrils four times daily. Postoperative days 8 through 30: patients will begin twice daily sinus irrigation rinse (e.g., Neti-pot) until day 30. After day 30, patients will perform sinus irrigation as needed. If a patient is unable to tolerate nasal rinses, saline spray can be used as an alternative.

    Also known as: inert substance

  • DrugOral Antibiotics cefdinir or trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole

    Oral antibiotics (cefdinir \[Omnicef®\] 300 mg PO BID or trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole \[Bactrim DS™\] PO BID for cephalosporin intolerant patients) for 7 days.Postoperative days 1 through 7: patients will administer saline spray (e.g., Ocean nasal spray) to both nostrils four times daily. Postoperative days 8 through 30: patients will begin twice daily sinus irrigation rinse (e.g., Neti-pot) until day 30. After day 30, patients will perform sinus irrigation as needed. If a patient is unable to tolerate nasal rinses, saline spray can be used as an alternative.

    Also known as: Omnicef, Bactrim DS™ cephalosporin intolerant patients

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in quality of life from baseline - Anterior Skull Base Nasal Inventory 12 (ASK Nasal-12)

    Completed by subject in clinic or by phone interview. Assesses urge to blow nose; post-nasal discharge; thick nasal discharge; headaches; nose makes whistling sound; nasal crusting; trouble breathing through nose during day; trouble breathing through nose during night; not breathing equally in both nostrils; sense of smell; sense of taste; and, overall functioning of nose.Rating choices include no problem 0; very minor problem 1; minor problem 2; moderate problem 3; moderately severe problem 4; and, severe problem 5. Subject also selects the 5 symptoms/items listed that impact life the most.

    Time frame: 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks post-surgery

  2. Change in quality of life from baseline - Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22)

    Completed by subject in clinic or by phone interview. Assesses need to blow nose; nasal blockage; sneezing; runny nose; cough; post-nasal discharge; thick nasal discharge; ear fullness; dizziness; ear pain; facial pain/pressure; decreased sense of smell/taste; difficulty falling asleep; waking up at night; lack of a good night's sleep; wake up tired; fatigue; reduced productivity; reduced concentration; frustrated/restless/irritable; sad; and, embarrassed. Rating choices include no problem 0; very mild problem 1; mild or slight problem 2; moderate problem 3; severe problem 4; problem as bad as it can be 5. Subject also selects the 5 symptoms/items listed that impact life the most.

    Time frame: 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks post-surgery

Secondary outcomes

  1. Incidence of Acute Bacterial Sinusitis

    Incidence includes 3 or more of: i. Nasal congestion by patient report or physical exam, ii. Purulent nasal discharge by patient report or physical exam, iii. Facial pressure or pain or headache by patient report, iv. Antibiotics prescribed by a provider for the purpose of treating sinusitis.

    Time frame: 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks post-surgery

  2. Changes in endoscopic appearances using Postoperative Debridement Scoring Sheet (modified Lund-Kennedy score)

    Postoperative nasal endoscopy findings graded by surgeon. Grading includes Polyps = none 0; middle meatus 1; beyond middle meatus 2. Discharge = none 0; clear and thin 1; thick and purulent 2. Edema = none 0; mild 1; moderate 2; severe 3. Scarring = none 0; mild 1; moderate 2; severe 3. Crusting = none 0; mild 1; moderate 2; severe 3.

    Time frame: 1-2 and 3-4 weeks post-surgery

  3. Sinusitis and antibiotic resistance as evidenced by nasal congestion

    Cultures and sensitivities when nasal congestion noted by patient report or physical exam.

    Time frame: 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks post-surgery

  4. Sinusitis and antibiotic resistance as evidenced by purulent discharge

    Cultures and sensitivities when purulent nasal discharge noted by patient report or physical exam.

    Time frame: 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks post-surgery

  5. Sinusitis and antibiotic resistance as evidenced by pressure

    Cultures and sensitivities when facial pressure noted by patient report.

    Time frame: 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks post-surgery

  6. Sinusitis and antibiotic resistance as evidenced by pain

    Cultures and sensitivities when facial pain noted by patient report.

    Time frame: 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks post-surgery

  7. Sinusitis and antibiotic resistance as evidenced headache

    Cultures and sensitivities when headache noted by patient report.

    Time frame: 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks post-surgery

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • Barrow Brain and Spine
    Phoenix, Arizona 85013, United States
    • Heidi Jahnke, RN,MSN · Contact · heidi.jahnke@dignityhealth.org · 602-406-6976
    • Andrew Little, MD · Principal investigator
    • James Evans, MD · Principal investigator
    • Varun Kshettry, MD · Principal investigator
    Recruiting
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Undecided

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Aug 15, 2018, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03014687
Lead sponsor
St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix
Collaborators
Thomas Jefferson University, The Cleveland Clinic
Responsible party
Pam Dewey (Research Manager, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix) — Principal investigator
First posted
Jan 9, 2017
Start date
Jul 1, 2017
Primary completion
Jan 2019 (estimated)
Completion
Jul 2019 (estimated)
Last update
Aug 15, 2018

Study contacts

Heidi Jahnke, RN, MSN
Contact
heidi.jahnke@dignityhealth.org
602-406-6976
Andrew Little, MD
study chair · Barrow Brain and Spine
James Evans, MD
study chair · Thomas Jefferson University

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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