MedPath

Duration of ANtibiotic Therapy for CEllulitis

Phase 4
Terminated
Conditions
Erysipelas
Cellulitis
Interventions
Drug: Placebo (for flucloxacillin)
Registration Number
NCT02032654
Lead Sponsor
Academisch Medisch Centrum - Universiteit van Amsterdam (AMC-UvA)
Brief Summary

Cellulitis is among the most common infections leading to hospitalization, yet the optimal duration of therapy remains ill defined. Pragmatically, Dutch guidelines advise 10-14 days of antibiotics, which is the current standard of care. Recently it has been shown that antibiotic treatment for pneumonia and urinary tract infections can safely and significantly be shortened. Importantly, in an outpatient setting, treatment of uncomplicated cellulitis with 5 days of antibiotics was as effective as 10 days. We hypothesize that there is no difference in outcomes when patients hospitalized with cellulitis are treated with either a short-course (6 days) or standard-course (12 days) of antibiotics.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
TERMINATED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
151
Inclusion Criteria
  • Admitted to receive intravenous antibiotics for cellulitis/erysipelas
  • 18 years of age or older
  • Capable of giving written informed consent, able to comply with study requirements and restrictions
Exclusion Criteria
  • Allergy for flucloxacillin, other beta-lactam antibiotics or one of the additives, or flucloxacillin induced hepatitis or liver enzyme disorders.

  • Concurrent use of antibiotics for other indications

  • Alternative diagnosis accounting for the clinical presentation.

  • All cases involving any of the following complicating factors:

    • Use of antibiotics with Gram-positive activity for more than 4 days in the past 7 days

    • Intensive care unit admission during the last 7 days

    • Severe peripheral arterial disease (Fontaine IV)

    • Severe cellulitis necessitating surgical debridement or fascial biopsy

    • Necrotizing fasciitis

    • Periorbital or perirectal involvement

    • Surgery

    • Life expectancy less than one month

    • Risk factors associated with Gram-negative pathogens as a causative agent:

      • Chronic or macerated infra-malleolar ulcers, or infra-malleolar ulcers with previous antibiotic treatment, in patients with diabetes mellitus.
      • Neutropenia
      • Cirrhosis (Child-Pugh class B or C)
      • Intravenous drug use
      • Human or animal bite
      • Skin laceration acquired in fresh or salt open water
      • Fish fin or bone injuries

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Short coursePlacebo (for flucloxacillin)Flucloxacillin (1000mg iv OR, later, 500mg capsules), every 6 hours, for 6 days, followed by: Placebo (for flucloxacillin 500mg) 500mg capsules, every 6 hours, for 6 days
Standard courseFlucloxacillinFlucloxacillin (1000mg iv OR, later, 500mg capsules), every 6 hours, for 6 days, followed by: Flucloxacillin 500mg capsules, every 6 hours, for 6 days
Short courseFlucloxacillinFlucloxacillin (1000mg iv OR, later, 500mg capsules), every 6 hours, for 6 days, followed by: Placebo (for flucloxacillin 500mg) 500mg capsules, every 6 hours, for 6 days
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Part 1/2: Resolution...day 14

Resolution of cellulitis at day 14, defined as disappearance of warmth and tenderness at the site of infection, with substantial improvement in erythema and edema

Part 2/2: ...without relapseday 28

No recurrence by day 28, defined as the need for additional antibiotic therapy for cellulitis

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Additional antibiotic usageUp to 90 days

Total usage of additional antibiotics for cellulitis between the end of treatment and day 90.

Resolution without relapseday 28

Other operators used to define resolution at day 14 (no fever; reduction in combined erythema/edema/warmth/tenderness score of at least 2 points, or reach 0) and relapse at day 28 (no fever; stable or further improved combined score; no new antibiotics for cellulitis)

Health care resource utilisationUp to 90 days

Determined by total antibiotic use and effect on direct and indirect health-care associated costs, using modified versions of iMTA's Productivity Cost Questionnaire (iPCQ) and Medical Consumption Questionnaire (iMCQ). Measured at day 5-6, day 28 and day 90.

Subjective speed of recoveryUp to 90 days

Visual Analog Scales (0-10) on pain and on swelling. Determined at day 1, day 2-3, day 5-6, day 14, day 28, and day 90

Recurrence at day 9090 days

Recurrence of cellulitis by day 90, defined as the need for additional antibiotic therapy for cellulitis

Objective speed of recoveryUp to 90 days

Improvement in cellulitis severity score (a 7 item scoring system, each with a score between 0-3; items are erythema, warmth, tenderness, edema, ulceration, drainage and fluctuance). Determined at day 1, day 2-3, day 5-6, day 14, and day 28

Time to relapseUp to 90 days

Time between end of treatment and the need for additional antibiotics for cellulitis

Health related Quality of LifeUp to 90 days

Using questionnaires Dutch SF-36 and EQ-5D at day 1, day 28, and day 90

Trial Locations

Locations (11)

Diakonessenhuis

🇳🇱

Utrecht, Netherlands

Flevoziekenhuis

🇳🇱

Almere, Flevoland, Netherlands

Sint Lucas Andreas Ziekenhuis

🇳🇱

Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Slotervaartziekenhuis

🇳🇱

Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

VU university medical center

🇳🇱

Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis

🇳🇱

Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Academic Medical Center - University of Amsterdam

🇳🇱

Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Spaarne Gasthuis Locatie Haarlem Zuid

🇳🇱

Haarlem, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Tergooi

🇳🇱

Hilversum, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

St. Antonius Ziekenhuis locatie Utrecht

🇳🇱

Utrecht, Netherlands

University Medical Center Utrecht

🇳🇱

Utrecht, Netherlands

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