Effect of Gram Stain–Guided Initial Antibiotic Therapy on Clinical Response in Patients With Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: The GRACE-VAP Randomized Clinical Trial

IMPORTANCE: Gram staining should provide immediate information for detecting causative pathogens. However, the effect of Gram staining on restricting the initial antibiotic choice has not been investigated in intensive care units (ICUs). OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical response to Gram stain–guided restrictive antibiotic therapy vs guideline-based broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This multicenter, open-label, noninferiority randomized clinical trial (Gram Stain-Guided Antibiotics Choice for VAP) was conducted in the ICUs of 12 tertiary referral hospitals in Japan from April 1, 2018, through May 31, 2020. Patients aged 15 years or older with a VAP diagnosis and a modified Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score of 5 or higher were included. The primary analysis was based on the per-protocol analysis population. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized to Gram stain–guided antibiotic therapy or guideline-based antibiotic therapy (based on the 2016 Infectious Disease Society of America and American Thoracic Society clinical practice guidelines for VAP). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was the clinical response rate; clinical response was defined as completion of antibiotic therapy within 14 days, improvement or lack of progression of baseline radiographic findings, resolution of signs and symptoms of pneumonia, and lack of antibiotic agent readministration, with a noninferiority margin of 20%. Secondary outcomes were the proportions of antipseudomonal agents and anti–methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) agents as initial antibiotic therapies; 28-day mortality, ICU-free days, ventilator-free days; and adverse events. RESULTS: In total, 206 patients (median [IQR] age, 69 [54-78] years; 141 men [68.4%]) were randomized to the Gram stain–guided group (n = 103) or guideline-based group (n = 103). Clinical response occurred in 79 patients (76.7%) in the Gram stain–guided group and 74 patients (71.8%) in the guideline-based group (risk difference, 0.05; 95% CI, –0.07 to 0.17; P < .001 for noninferiority). Reduced use of antipseudomonal agents (30.1%; 95% CI, 21.5%-39.9%; P < .001) and anti-MRSA agents (38.8%; 95% CI, 29.4%-48.9%; P < .001) was observed in the Gram stain–guided group vs guideline-based group. The 28-day cumulative incidence of mortality was 13.6% (n = 14) in the Gram stain–guided group vs 17.5% (n = 18) in the guideline-based group (P = .39). Escalation of antibiotics according to culture results was performed in 7 patients (6.8%) in the Gram stain–guided group and 1 patient (1.0%) in the guideline-based group (P = .03). There were no significant differences between the groups in ICU-free days, ventilator-free days, and adverse events. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Results of this trial showed that Gram stain–guided treatment was noninferior to guideline-based treatment and significantly reduced the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics in patients with VAP. Gram staining can potentially ameliorate the multidrug-resistant organisms in the critical care setting. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03506113