A French cohort study has shown that patients with infective endocarditis who transition from intravenous to oral antibiotics experience similar outcomes to those receiving only intravenous treatment, while spending more time outside the hospital. The study analyzed 333 patients from 2016 to 2023, revealing a treatment failure rate of 10% in the oral switch group compared to 20% for intravenous-only therapy. Early transitions to oral therapy within 10 days showed higher failure rates, highlighting the importance of timing. These findings suggest that oral therapy may benefit a broader patient population than previously recognized.

Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases