An early IV-to-oral antibiotic switch equivalent to Full IV course in Neonates: LANCET

A recent study found that an early switch from intravenous-to-oral antibiotic with amoxicillin-clavulanic acid is equally efficacious to a full course of intravenous antibiotics in neonates with a bacterial infection. There was also no increased incidence of adverse events. The study was published in the journal The LANCET Child and Adolescent Health. 

Shifting to oral antibiotic therapy from intravenous antibiotic therapy among neonates is not a routine practice in high-income settings due to exposure and safety concerns. Hence researchers conducted a multicenter, randomized, open-label, non-inferiority trial, to assess the efficacy and safety of early intravenous-to-oral antibiotic switch therapy compared with a full course of intravenous antibiotics among neonates with a probable bacterial infection between Feb 8, 2018, and May 12, 2021. 

Neonates with a postmenstrual age ≥35 weeks and a postnatal age 0–28 days, with ≥2 kg bodyweight were recruited at 17 hospitals in the Netherlands. Neonates who were on prolonged antibiotic treatment due to a probable bacterial infection were randomly assigned (1:1) to switch to an oral suspension of amoxicillin 75 mg/kg plus clavulanic acid 18·75 mg/kg in a 4:1 dosing ratio, given daily in three doses or continue on intravenous antibiotics as per the local protocol. Both groups were treated for 7 days. Cumulative bacterial reinfection rate 28 days after treatment completion was the primary outcome. A 3% margin was deemed to indicate non-inferiority. So, if the reinfection rate in the oral amoxicillin–clavulanic acid group was less than 3% higher than that in the intravenous antibiotic group the null hypothesis would be rejected. The primary outcome was assessed in the intention-to-treat population who completed the final follow-up visit on day 35 and the per-protocol population. Safety was analyzed in all patients who received at least one administration of the allocated treatment and who completed at least one follow-up visit. Secondary outcomes included clinical deterioration and duration of hospitalization.