Early switch of intravenous to oral antibiotic therapy in clinically well neonates with a probable bacterial infection is as effective as a full course of intravenous antibiotics therapy

Study design Design: Randomised open-label, non-inferiority trial. Study question Setting: Multicentre including 17 teaching hospitals in the Netherlands between February 2018 and May 2021. Patients: 510 infants were included in the study. Inclusion criteria were greater than 35 weeks’ gestation at birth, with weight of at least 2 kg, who were intended to receive a 7-day course of antibiotics for probable bacterial infection. Infants were recruited at postnatal age between 0 day and 28 days. Probable bacterial infection was defined as the presence of maternal risk factors or clinical symptoms and elevated inflammatory parameters (C reactive protein ≥10 mg/L or elevated procalcitonin concentrations according to the postnatal age-related nomogram) despite blood culture negativity. 253 neonates were assigned to receive oral amoxicillin–clavulanic acid as the intervention group, and 253 neonates continued intravenous antibiotics as the control group. Intervention: Neonates were randomly assigned (1:1) to the intervention group (switch to...
Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood - Education and Practice - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Picket Key publications in paediatrics: Picket Source Type: research