Comparing Oral and Intravenous Antibiotic Treatments for Main Acute Infections in Emergency Department Patients

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating oral versus intravenous antibiotic treatments for patients admitted to emergency departments with acute infections such as respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, and cellulitis. The study aims to determine if oral antibiotics can provide similar safety and effectiveness compared to standard intravenous treatment, potentially reducing hospital stays and associated costs. This open-label, prospective, randomized controlled trial is sponsored by the University of Southern Denmark and addresses a significant healthcare burden related to prolonged intravenous antibiotic use and hospital admissions. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either standard intravenous antibiotics according to Danish guidelines or oral antibiotics based on recommendations developed by microbiologists and infectious disease specialists, tailored to local treatment guidelines. The oral treatment begins immediately upon randomization. The trial plans to enroll 4,000 patients to compare two primary outcomes days alive outside the hospital within 30 days and safety measured by mortality or need for vasopressors within 30 days. During the study, participants will be monitored for various outcomes including length of hospital stay, mortality at multiple time points up to five years, readmission rates, intensive care admissions, days on antibiotic treatment, and occurrence of bacteremia. Data will be collected from the randomization date and patients will be followed for up to six months or longer depending on the outcome. This comprehensive assessment aims to evaluate both the efficacy and safety of oral antibiotic regimens in acute infections treated in emergency settings.

Intravenous Versus Oral Treatment of the Main Acute Infections