January 2026

MEASURE Trial to evaluate antibiotic use in children

Please join us in congratulating University of Pittsburgh investigator Nader Shaikh, MD, MPH, who has been awarded over 20 million dollars from PCORI for a large, randomized multi-site trial to determine whether antibiotics are superior to observation in children with ear or sinus infections. These infections are the most frequent complaints for which pediatricians prescribe antibiotics, but the existing evidence falls short of supporting antibiotic use in such cases. Because of the lack of high-quality evidence, many children may receive unnecessary treatment, putting them at risk of experiencing the negative consequences of inappropriate antibiotic use. The MEASURE trial will enroll 2,200 children, and will examine whether amoxicillin-clavulanate, a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is more likely to create antibiotic resistance, is superior to amoxicillin in patients with these infections.

Patient engagement is at the core of the work that PCORI supports. Engagement work for the MEASURE trial will leverage PaTH engagement infrastructure and be led by our PaTH Network Engagement Lead, Dr. Megan Hamm. Dr. Hamm will work with the Parent engagement Advisory Board (PEAB), who will contribute to all phases of the study, from trial design to dissemination. The results of this trial will inform treatment decisions made by pediatricians and parents, while addressing a significant gap in the evidence base. Dr. Shaikh says, “We hope that these studies will provide evidence that parents of children with ear and sinus infections need to make informed decisions about choice treatment”

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