Comparing Oral Versus Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy

This is an investigator initiated multisite pragmatic randomized controlled trial designed to demonstrate equivalent effectiveness with improved safety of early transition from intravenous (IV) antimicrobial therapy to complex outpatient oral antimicrobial therapy (COpAT) across various infectious diseases (endovascular, bone and joint, skin and soft tissue, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary infections).

All patients referred for outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) will be evaluated by the research team with respect to inclusion/exclusion criteria. If determined eligible for enrollment, patients will be approached by a study investigator who will present the COPAT Trial. Once informed consent is obtained, patients will be randomized 2:1 using computer software into experimental or control (standard of care) group, respectively: Experimental: COpAT only on hospital discharge; Control: Conventional OPAT, OPAT transitioned to COpAT later in outpatient setting, or long-acting parenteral lipoglycopeptides. Both groups will be followed by an ID physician on the research team with in-person or telemedicine ID Clinic standard of care visits at 2, 6, and 12 weeks after hospital discharge. At the 6-week ID Clinic follow-up, patients will be asked to complete a patient satisfaction survey. The following 2 primary outcomes will be assessed: cure at 3 months using clinical (resolution of infection) and laboratory parameters (improvement in inflammatory markers) and adverse events related to antimicrobial therapy/vascular access complication. The following 3 secondary outcomes will be assessed: overall readmission at 3 months, readmission related to initial infection or antimicrobial therapy/vascular access complication at 3 months, and patient satisfaction at 6 weeks. The experimental group is being compared to standard of care in current clinical practice.

As this is a pragmatic clinical trial, patients will not undergo additional invasive testing or procedures.


Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion (must meet all of the following):

* English speaking
* The patient is hospitalized at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital, United Hospital Center, Berkeley Medical Center, Wheeling Hospital, or Camden Clark Medical Center
* The patient has been diagnosed with ≥1 of the following: endovascular, bone and joint, skin and soft tissue, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, or genitourinary infection
* The patient is being transitioned to 2-8 weeks of IV antibacterial therapy on hospital discharge
* The patient has capacity to participate in routine OPAT/COpAT follow-up (telephone check-ins, laboratory monitoring, and in-person or telemedicine ID Clinic follow-up)

Exclusion (may not meet any of the following):

* The patient is not appropriate for OPAT (active injection drug use, lack of infusion resources, and/or unstable outpatient environment)
* The patient is not appropriate for COpAT (unable to receive PO medication or lack of an effective PO antimicrobial option based on susceptibility testing)
* The patient is unable to give informed consent
* The patient is a prisoner, pregnant, and/or mentally handicapped
* The patient is determined unsafe for enrollment at the primary team's discretion