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Ciprofloxacin Plus Metronidazole Vs Cefixime Plus Metronidazole Therapy for the Treatment of Liver Abscess

Phase 3
Conditions
Liver Abscess
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT03969758
Lead Sponsor
Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh
Brief Summary

Liver abscess is purulent collections in the liver parenchyma that result from microbial infection spread to the liver through the biliary tree, hepatic or portal vein and by extension of adjacent infection or as a result of trauma. Liver abscesses are most commonly pyogenic followed by amoebic and rarely tuberculous or fungal in immunocompromised patients. In the developing country amoebic liver abscess is more frequent than the developed country but secondary bacterial infection of amoebic liver abscess and polymicrobial pyogenic liver abscess are also common.

Pyogenic liver abscess is commonly a polymicrobial infection caused by mixed enteric facultative and anaerobic pathogens. The most commonly isolated organisms are Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus constellatus, Streptococcus anginosus, Streptococcus intermedius, Enterococcus and anaerobes, including Bacteroidesfragilis and Fusobacteriumnecrophorum. Amoebic liver abscess most frequently occur following infection with the parasite Entamoeba histolytica.

Liver abscess is a common medical emergency. Prompt empirical antimicrobial with or without percutaneous aspiration or drainage of the abscess is therapeutic.

An empiric antimicrobial regimen for liver abscess should cover enteric gram-negative bacilli, streptococci, anaerobes and antamoebahistolytica. Presently a Fluoroquinolone (Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin) or a Third or Fourth generation Cefalosporine (Cefixime, Ceftriaxone, cefepime) or a Beta-lactam-beta-lactamase inhibitor combination (piperacillin-tazobactam or ticarcillin-clavulanate) or a Carbapenem (Imipenem-cilastatin, Meropenem, Doripenem, Ertapenem) are being used in combination with or without Metronidazole as the empirical antimicrobial regime for the treatment live abscess. There is no randomized controlled clinical trial to evaluated and compare efficacy of the antimicrobial regimens for the treatment of liver abscess as well as there is no specific treatment guideline for the use of empirical antibiotics. There is also no definite proven rational for using Cefalosporine, Beta-lactam-beta-lactamase inhibitor combination or Carbapenem upfront, not using Fluoroquinolone in empirical antibiotic regimen for the treatment of liver abscess. Injudicious use of broader spectrum antibiotics may also lead to rise in antibiotic resistance in future.

Both ciprofloxacin and Cefixime are effective oral antibiotics as they are well-absorbed orally with good oral bioavailability and achieve plasma concentration well above the minimal inhibitory concentrations require for the killing of the microorganism. Using intravenous (IV) antibiotics upfront, for the treatment of liver abscess in patients who can take orally may unnecessary increase the duration of hospital stay, healthcare burden and the cost of therapy, as well as the risk of hospital acquired infection.

So the investigators have planned this randomized controlled double blind study to evaluate the efficacy of empirical Ciprofloxacin plus Metronidazole and Cefixime plus Metronidazole therapy for the treatment of liver abscess and to compare the outcomes of two different empirical antibiotics regimen.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
140
Inclusion Criteria
  • Irrespective of gender
  • Age ≥ 18 years
  • Symptomatic patients of liver abscess confirmed with radiology imaging, either by ultrasonography (USG) or computed tomographgy (CT) scan
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Exclusion Criteria
  • Past history of liver abscess
  • Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
  • History of hypersensitivity to either Ciprofloxacin or Metronidazole or Cefixime
  • Shock (blood pressure <90/60 mmHg) at presentation
  • ARDS (PaO2/FiO2≤300)
  • Encephalopathy (altered sensorium with GCS <15)
  • Acute kidney injury (AKI, Increase in serum creatinine to ≥1.5 times from the baseline)
  • Pregnancy at presentation
  • Already received antibiotics for more than 48 hours prior to the admission
  • Not able to take orally
  • Receiving blood thinners like anti-platelets, anti-coagulation agents within 4 weeks of presentation
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Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Ciprofloxacin plus Metronidazole therapyCiprofloxacinWill receive tablet Ciprofloxacin (500 mg BDS) and tablet Metronidazole (800 mg TDS) orally for 2 weeks. Percutaneous aspiration or drainage of the liver abscess will be done for all the participants when there is enough liquid content/pus which is amenable for aspiration or drainage. Percutaneous drainage or aspiration will be done in liver abscess with size of ≥ 5 cm and \<5 cm respectively. After 2 weeks of empirical antibiotic therapy, asymptomatic patients with persistent drainage with USG showing significant drainable collection in the liver will receive another 2 weeks of extended antimicrobial therapy of same combination.
Cefixime plus Metronidazole TherapyCefiximeWill receive tablet Cefixime (200 mg BDS) and tablet Metronidazole (800 mg TDS) orally for 2 weeks.Percutaneous aspiration or drainage of the liver abscess will be done for all the participants when there is enough liquid content/pus which is amenable for aspiration or drainage. Percutaneous drainage or aspiration will be done in liver abscess with size of ≥ 5 cm and \<5 cm respectively. After 2 weeks of empirical antibiotic therapy, asymptomatic patients with persistent drainage with USG showing significant drainable collection in the liver will receive another 2 weeks of extended antimicrobial therapy of same combination.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Clinical cure2 weeks

Asymptomatic and afebrile for more than 48 hours, along with USG showing no drainable collection in the liver with removal of the pigtail catheter if any

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Treatment failure8 weeks

Defined as any one of the following condition

1. Persistently symptomatic with fever for more than 72 hours even after starting empirical antibiotics and percutaneous aspiration or drainage

2. Development of new collection in the liver during the course of antibiotic therapy

3. Development of shock and new onset organ failure ( Encephalopathy, ARDS, AKI) during the course of therapy, leading to shifting to IV antibiotics

4. If culture of the aspirated or drained pus show growth of microorganism not sensitive to either Ciprofloxacin or Cefixime

All-cause mortality8 weeks

Total number of death

Recurrence of liver abscess8 weeks

Development new liver abscess after clinical cure during the 8 weeks follow up period

Need for surgical intervention8 weeks

number of patients needing surgical intervention for the treatment of liver abscess

Need for mechanical ventilation8 weeks

Number of patients needing mechanical ventilation for the respiratory failure.

Need for prolong antibiotics 11.8 weeks

Number of asymptomatic patients receiving 2 weeks of extended antibiotic therapy due to persistent drainage or aspiration even after 2 weeks of empirical antibiotics

Duration of hospital stay8 weeks

Number of days of hospital stay for the treatment of liver abscess

Adverse drug events (ADE)8 weeks

Number of adverse drug events

Localised bio-availability of the drugs (Ciprofloxacin, Metronidazole and Cefixime)8 weeks

Concentration of the drug in drained pus/Concentration of drug in the serum X100 on the day-three of the drainage (when applicable)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research

🇮🇳

Chandigarh, India

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