title: Comparable Effectiveness of First Week Treatment with Anti-Staphylococcal Penicillin versus Cephalosporin in Methicillin-Sensitive Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia: A Propensity-Score Adjusted Retrospective Study.
abstract: The objective was to compare the prognostic impact of first week treatment with anti-staphylococcal penicillin (ASP) versus cephalosporin in methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (MS-SAB). Altogether 580 patients were retrospectively followed and categorized according to first week treatment; 84% (488) received ASP (cloxacillin) and 16% (92) cephalosporin (cefuroxime or ceftriaxone). SAB management was optimized with formal bedside infectious disease specialist consultation in 88%, deep infection foci diagnosed in 77% and adjunctive rifampicin therapy given to 61% of patients. The total case fatality in 580 patients was 12% at 28 days and 18% at 90 days. When comparing effectiveness of first week ASP versus cephalosporin treatment there were no significant differences in 28-days (11% vs. 12%, OR; 1.05, 95% CI, 0.53-2.09) or 90-days (17% vs. 21% OR; 1.25, 95% CI, 0.72-2.19) outcome. In univariate analysis no prognostic impact of either first week ASP or cephalosporin treatment was observed for 28-days (OR; 0.96, 95% CI, 0.48-1.90 and OR; 1.05, 95% CI, 0.53-2.09) or 90-days (OR; 0.80, 95% CI, 0.46-1.39 and OR; 1.25, 95% CI, 0.72-2.19) outcome. Propensity-score adjusted Cox proportional regression analysis for first week treatment with cephalosporin demonstrated no significant prognostic impact at 28-days (HR 1.54, 95% CI 0.72-3.23) or 90-days (HR 1.56, 95% CI 0.88-2.86).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a comparable effectiveness with respect to 28- and 90-days outcome for first week treatment with ASP versus cephalosporin in MS-SAB. The results indicate that the difference in prognostic impact between first week ASP and cephalosporin may be non-significant in patient cohorts with SAB management optimized by infectious disease specialist consultation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Inflammation Center, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland and University of Helsinki, City of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Forsblom
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Inflammation Center, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland and University of Helsinki, City of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Eeva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ruotsalainen
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Inflammation Center, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland and University of Helsinki, City of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Asko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Järvinen
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008712:Methicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011379:Prognosis; D057216:Propensity Score; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010406:Penicillins; D008712:Methicillin