Safety and Efficacy of Ceftriaxone in the Treatment of Methicillin-Susceptible Bloodstream Infections: A Noninferiority Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Antistaphylococcal penicillins and cefazolin are the treatments of choice for methicillin-susceptible (MSSA) infections, requiring multiple doses daily. At Parkland, eligible uninsured patients with MSSA bloodstream infections (BSI) receive self-administered outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (S-OPAT). Ceftriaxone was used in a cohort of S-OPAT patients for ease of once-daily dosing.

Objective: A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate clinical outcomes for patients discharged with ceftriaxone versus cefazolin to treat MSSA BSI.

Methods: A retrospective cohort noninferiority study design was used to assess treatment efficacy of ceftriaxone versus cefazolin among Parkland S-OPAT patients treated from April 2012 to March 2020. Demographic, clinical, and treatment-related adverse events data were collected. Clinical outcomes included treatment failure as defined by repeat positive blood culture or retreatment within 6 months, all-cause 30-day readmission rates, and central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) rates.

Results: Of 368 S-OPAT patients with MSSA BSI, 286 (77.7%) received cefazolin, and 82 (22.3%) received ceftriaxone. Demographics and comorbidities were similar for both groups. There were no treatment failures in the ceftriaxone group compared with 4 (1%) in the cefazolin group ( = 0.58). No difference in 30-day readmission rate between groups was found. The CLABSI rates were lower in ceftriaxone group (2%) compared with cefazolin (11%; = 0.02). Limitations include retrospective cohort design.

Conclusions: Ceftriaxone was found to be noninferior to cefazolin in this study. Our findings suggest that ceftriaxone is a safe and effective treatment of MSSA BSI secondary to osteoarticular or skin and soft tissue infections when used in the S-OPAT setting.

Poster Abstract: OFID on 2018 Nov; 5(Suppl 1): S316: doi: