Prevention of Nosocomial Infections in Critically Ill Patients With Lactoferrin: The PREVAIL Study

Hypothesis/Objectives

Nosocomial infections are common in critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients and remain a source of morbidity and mortality in this vulnerable patient population. Multiple potential etiologies for the increased susceptibility to nosocomial infections have been posited including instrumentation for monitoring and treatment, alterations of immunological function, replacement of normal gastro-intestinal (GI) flora with pathogens and increased permeability of bowel mucosa. Current preventive measures are only partially effective but the most studied and most efficacious preventive measure for nosocomial infections is selective decontamination of the digestive tract (SDD) with antimicrobial therapy although it is rarely used secondary to concerns over the development of antimicrobial resistance. There is a need to study and utilize novel measures for SDD which maintain the benefits of SDD but minimize the negative consequences of increased antibiotic use driving antimicrobial resistance. Lactoferrin, a molecule which is part of the innate immune system has many properties that would make it the ideal agent for the prevention of nosocomial infections. It maintains GI integrity, has antibacterial properties, improves immune function, and has beneficial effects on the bacterial flora in the GI tract. As a result, the overall hypotheses and objectives of this research program are as follows:

OVERALL HYPOTHESIS: The administration of oral and nasogastric Lactoferrin to critically ill mechanically ventilated patients will reduce nosocomial infections, reduce antibiotic usage, result in improved outcomes and improve survival.

HYPOTHESIS for PHASE 2 Study: A Phase 2 randomized controlled trial to determine the effectiveness of Lactoferrin for the prevention of nosocomial infections will demonstrate that the utilization of Lactoferrin results in increased antibiotic free days and is supported by the biomarker and mechanistic data obtained.

OBJECTIVES:

• Objective 1: The primary objective of this Phase 2, multicenter, randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to determine the effect of Lactoferrin on antibiotic free days. These data will inform a future large scale Phase 3 RCT powered on clinically important outcomes such as mortality.
• Objective 2: The second objective will be to assess the feasibility of conducting a future large scale Phase 3 RCT powered on clinically important outcomes.
• Objective 3: To obtain information on the effect of Lactoferrin on clinical outcomes including antibiotic utilization, nosocomial infections, length of stay, measures of organ dysfunction and mortality. This study will not be powered for the detection of clinically important differences but will inform power calculations for the definitive Phase 3 trial.
• Objective 4: To determine the effect of treatment with Lactoferrin on inflammatory biomarkers, immunological function, gastro-intestinal integrity and tracheal colonization.

Inclusion criteria

• Adult patients (>18 years old)
• Duration of mechanical ventilation < 48 hours and
• Expected duration of mechanically ventilation > 72 hours.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients not expected to be in ICU for more than 72 hours from time of randomization (due to imminent death, withdrawal of aggressive care or discharge).
• The presence of a contra-indication to enteral feeding.
• Lack of access to the oral cavity.
• Allergy or sensitivity to Lactoferrin or bovine derived proteins or bovine milk
• Immunocompromised patients (post-organ transplantation, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome [AIDS], neutropenia [<1000 absolute neutrophils], corticosteroids [>20 mgs/day of prednisone or equivalent for more than 6 months])
• Patients with fulminant liver failure or end stage liver disease (Child's Class C)
• Life expectancy, due to pre-existing conditions such as cancer, is less than six months.
• Women who are pregnant or lactating.
• Enrollment in industry sponsored interventional trial (co-enrollment in other academic studies would be allowed with the proviso that there was no potential interaction between the protocols).
• Prior randomization in this study.