Screening, eligibility, and recruitment
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Identification of potential participants will be done by the clinical care team, or the clinical members of the research team involved in care of children on the ward, or the general paediatric or infectious diseases teams involved in care of children on the ward. A screening log will be kept at each site. Screening procedures are described in the trial protocol [Children in whom antibiotics are likely to be continued for more than 48 h are potentially eligible for the trial. The clinician or designated research nurse will explain the trial to the child’s parent (used hereafter to refer to a person with legal responsibility for the child, who may be a carer designated as a legal guardian) and will ensure that they have had enough time to consider participation and answer any questions that they may have. Eligibility will be confirmed by a member the clinical care team, or delegated members of the research team, who may be medical or nursing practitioners. Detailed eligibility criteria are listed in the trial protocol [Procedures for informed consent and registration are described in the trial protocol [