Partial Oral Treatment of Endocarditis Works in Selected Patients

In a randomized trial, switching to oral antibiotics after at least 10 days of intravenous treatment was not inferior to continued IV antibiotics.

Current U.S. and European guidelines on the management of endocarditis advocate 4 to 6 weeks of intravenous (IV) antibiotic therapy. A switch to oral treatment — common practice in other infectious diseases — has not, so far, been an option. Now, a randomized controlled trial from Denmark sheds new light on the antibiotic management of endocarditis.

The participants were 400 patients (of 1954 screened) with Duke criteria–confirmed left-sided endocarditis owing to streptococci, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, or coagulase-negative staphylococci who had a good response to at least 10 days of IV antibiotic therapy, were in stable condition, and were able to take oral medication. They were assigned to receive continued IV treatment…

Reviewing Author

Thomas Glück, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsConsilium Infectiorum by InfectoPharm, Infection

Thomas Glück, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsConsilium Infectiorum by InfectoPharm, Infection

Partial Oral Treatment of Endocarditis Works in Selected Patients

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Reviewing Author