Early conversion to oral antibiotic therapy has been shown to be effective

Early conversion of patients with low-risk bacteremia caused by Staphylococcus aureus from intravenous to oral antibiotic therapy is no less effective than standard intravenous therapy for 14 days. However, the incidence of serious adverse events was higher. Before a decision is made to switch to oral antibiotics, patients should be excluded from a complicated course of infection.

Researchers from the Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg, the University of Seville and the University Hospital of Düsseldorf studied the efficacy and safety of early conversion from intravenous to oral antibiotics for low-risk S. aureus bacteremia. The results of the study are published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

The incidence of any complications associated with S. aureus bacteremia was comparable in both groups and was 13% after conversion to oral therapy and 12% if intravenous antibiotic therapy was continued. A minimum of one serious adverse event was reported in 34% of participants in the oral antibiotic transfer group and 26% in the intravenous group.

Data from 213 adult patients with low-risk bacteremia caused by S. aureus were analyzed. All participants were initially treated with standard intravenous antibiotic therapy for at least 14 days. After 5-7 days from the start of treatment, patients were equally divided into two groups: continuation of intravenous therapy or conversion to oral antibiotics. The incidence of sepsis-related complications (recurrence of S. aureus bacteremia, sepsis, and infection-related death) at 90 days was assessed.

Although the researchers were able to demonstrate equal efficacy of switching to oral antibiotics in patients with low-risk S. aureus bacteremia, the authors recommend ruling out the presence of symptoms of complicated infection before making a decision.