Lay summary
Severe brain injuries from accidents, strokes, cardiac arrests, or bleeding in the brain are a leading cause of death and long-term disability in New Zealand. Māori are particularly affected, making up more than one in four intensive care admissions for these conditions. Many of these patients need a breathing machine in intensive care, and serious lung infections often develop early, worsening brain damage and increasing the risk of death. The PREVENT trial will test whether giving a single dose of the antibiotic ceftriaxone soon after patients are placed on a breathing machine can prevent these infections, protect the brain, and improve survival. If effective, this simple, low-cost treatment could save more than 50 New Zealand lives every year, reduce long-term disability, and lessen the burden on whānau, caregivers, and the health system.