Randomized Clinical Trial to Compare a Regimen of Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole Plus Rifampicin With a Regimen of Linezolid in the Treatment of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Infection

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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MRSA infections often require systemic antibiotic therapy and represent an important healthcare burden. Currently available treatment options are either only available in parenteral form (vancomycin) or expensive (linezolid). Thus, there is an urgent, unmet need to better investigate in-expensive but highly active alternatives to currently recommended standard treatment options. The purpose of the proposed study is to test the hypothesis that a combination of TMP-SMX and rifampicin is not inferior to linezolid for treatment of MRSA infections.

Official Title
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Randomized Clinical Trial to Compare a Regimen of Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) Plus Rifampicin With a Regimen of Linezolid in the Treatment of Infections Caused by Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Conditions
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MRSA Infection

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX)
* Drug: Linezolid
* Drug: Rifampicin


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Age > 18 years Patients with clinical signs and symptoms of MRSA-related infection Culture of MRSA (predominant microorganism in culture) susceptible to all of the following: TMP-SMX rifampicin linezolid Patient must give written informed consent to participate in the study. Exclusion Criteria: Women who are pregnant or nursing Women who refuse to substitute oral contraception during treatment Known or suspected hypersensitivity to linezolid, TMP-SMX or rifampicin Clinical or laboratory evidence of significant impairment of hepatic function, as demonstrated by any of the following criteria: Bilirubin > 3 x upper limit of normal range AST or ALT > 5 x upper limit of normal range Acute hepatitis or proven liver cirrhosis by liver histology Treatment with other antimicrobials with activity against MRSA for > 72 hours prior to study inclusion Patients with a high probability of death within the week following study entry Patients who, in the opinion of the investigator, cannot be relied upon for post-therapy follow-up Patients requiring alternative antibiotic therapy with anti-MRSA activity. However, if another antibiotic treatment without antistaphylococcal activity is necessary, the patient is acceptable for randomization. In that sense, the use of aztreonam (against Gram negative microorganisms) or metronidazole (against anaerobes) is allowed Hemodialyzed patients History of pheochromocytoma, carcinoid syndrome, untreated hyperthyroidism, uncontrolled hypertension, or patients receiving serotonin uptake inhibitors Severe thrombocytopenia (< 50.000 platelets) Left-sided endocarditis with a poor prognosis (patients aged over 50; cerebral embolism) Chronic osteomyelitis without surgical debridement; superinfected indwelling foreign body, deliberately kept in place Patients with severe sepsis or septic shock due to MRSA bacteremia Patients who receive any of the following drugs, which cannot be substituted or temporarily withdrawn: adrenergic and serotonergic agents, tramadol, pethidine, duloxetine, venlafaxine, milnacipran, sibutramine, chlorpheniramine, brompheniramine, cyproheptadine, citalopram, and paroxetine.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: 1<br>trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) plus rifampicin | Drug: trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX)<br>* TMP-SMX (160 mg TMP/ 800 mg SMX IV or PO 3x daily)<br>Drug: Rifampicin<br>* Rifampicin (600 mg IV or PO once daily)<br>|
| Active Comparator: 2<br>Linezolid | Drug: Linezolid<br>* Linezolid (600 mg IV or PO twice daily)<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bacteriological and clinical cure |  | 6 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Treatment costs |  | 6 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Staphylococcal infection