SCOUT Study Toolkit for Physicians

Short COurse Therapy for Urinary Tract Infections in Children (SCOUT)

Thank you for your interest in this study. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most prevalent serious infections in infants, toddlers and young children. The traditional standard of care is treatment with antibiotics for a period of 10 days. However, because of concerns about antibiotic overuse, we are interested in learning whether a shorter, 5-day course of antibiotics can be as effective as the standard course.

Studies have shown that shorter courses of antibiotics are effective in treating UTI in adults. Shorter courses in children who are improving and who do not have fever not only may be sufficient to treat the infection, but also may reduce the likelihood of bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics and difficult to treat. A shorter treatment course may also help to reduce the likelihood of side effects.

As part of a broader initiative of clinical trials to fight antimicrobial resistance, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health is sponsoring SCOUT. This multi-center study that is expected to enroll nearly 750 children. For more information about the study and to learn how to enroll your patients, please read this Letter to Physicians (PDF).

Patient Outreach

Below we’ve provided links to information that will provide a more complete understanding of this research and will help you with parent education and patient participation in this clinical study.

If you are not one of the participating PittNet sites and wish to refer a patient to the study, please:

• Review the Key Study Points (PDF) with the child’s parents.
• Call Dr. Hoberman or the study staff at 412-692-UTIS (8847) .
• Provide parents with the Letter to Parents and Directions to Oakland Medical Building (PDF) and a copy of the Brochure for Participants (PDF).
• Your patient will be seen immediately upon his or her arrival at Children’s Primary Care Center.
• You may also post copies of the SCOUT Study Poster (PDF) within your practice.

Additional Resources

• Study description at National Institutes of Health
• Clinical Practice Guideline for Diagnosis and Management of UTI in Febrile Infants and Children 2 to 24 Months (Pediatrics) (PDF)
• New UTI Guidelines Video

Related Publications

• Does This Child Have a Urinary Tract Infection? (PDF)
• Imaging Studies after a First Febrile Urinary Tract Infection in Young Children (New England Journal of Medicine) (PDF)
• Oral vs. Initial Intravenous Therapy for UTI in Young Febrile Children (PDF)

Study Documents

• Key Study Points (PDF)
• Letter to Physicians (PDF)
• Letter to Parents and Directions to Oakland Medical Building (PDF)
• SCOUT Study Poster (PDF)
• Consent Form For This Study (PDF)