Partial Oral Antibiotic Treatment for Bacterial Brain Abscess: an Open-label Randomised Non-inferiority Trial
The investigators aim to determine if oral antibiotics are clinically acceptable as treatment of brain abscess. Following 2 weeks of standard intravenous antibiotic therapy, half of patients will continue with this treatment for another 4 weeks or longer while the other half will be assigned to oral antibiotics for the remaining duration of treatment.
• A clinical presentation (e.g. headache, neurological deficit or fever) and cranial imaging (CT or MRI) consistent with brain abscess AND
• The physician responsible for the patient decides to treat the patient for bacterial brain abscess AND
• Ability to take and absorb oral medications (including by nasogastric tube) AND
• To have received relevant antibiotic therapy for bacterial brain abscess for 14 consecutive days before randomisation AND
• Expected to be treated with antibiotic therapy for at least another 14 days after time of randomisation AND
• No progression in symptom intensity or occurrence of new-onset neurological symptoms (excluding seizures) within five days before time of randomisation.