Analysis populations
SECONDARY, PCT, SENSITIVITY
All randomised participants will remain in their originally assigned groups, regardless of protocol deviations or non-adherence, and will be included in all analyses if outcome data are available.In one of the planned secondary analyses (“Sensitivity analyses” section), we will estimate the complier average causal effect (CACE) [
Patients whose PCT result was available at the time of the clinical reviewPatients whose PCT result was available and was considered by the clinician (per protocol)Patients whose PCT result was available and was considered and where the actual clinical decision agreed/did not agree with the recommendation of the PCT-guided algorithm∘ Adherence to/overruling of recommendation to continue IV antibiotics∘ Adherence to/overruling of recommendation to stop IV antibioticsPatients whose PCT result was available and where the actual clinical decision agreed/did not agree with the recommendation of the PCT-guided algorithm, regardless of whether it was considered by the clinicianWe will also consider adherence longitudinally (“Additional exploratory analyses” section). Most patients will have several PCT measurements taken at different points in time and availability/consideration/adherence may be different at different time points for the same child.