Pill power: could oral antibiotics replace IV drips for endocarditis?
NCT ID NCT02701595
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether stable patients with a serious heart valve infection (endocarditis) could safely switch from intravenous (IV) antibiotics to oral amoxicillin pills. Over 300 adults participated. The goal was to see if the oral switch worked as well as continuing IV treatment, potentially allowing patients to leave the hospital sooner.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- amoxicillin
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could allow many patients with endocarditis to finish treatment at home with pills instead of staying in the hospital for IV antibiotics.
- What could go wrong
- This is a completed Phase 3 trial, but it only included patients with a specific type of infection who were already stable after IV treatment. Results may not apply to all endocarditis patients.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 3
Large-scale testing in a bigger group. Usually the last step before a treatment can be approved.
- Participants
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324 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Feb 2016
- Finished
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Jun 2023
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Left-sided IE (Defined according to Duke criteria) on native or prosthetic valve * due to one isolate of Streptococcus/Enterococcus sp. susceptible to amoxicillin (MCI ≤ 0.5 mg/l) * in an adult ≥18 year old * appropriate parenteral antibiotics treatment received for at least 10 days * in case of valvular surgery, appropriate parenteral antibiotics treatment received for at least 10 days after valvular surgery * planned duration of antibiotics will extend for at least 14 days at the time of randomisation i.e. a potential switch to oral treatment between Day 10 and Day 28 thus ensuring to have at least 14 days of oral therapy remaining in the experimental group * apyrexia (temperature \< 38°C) at each time point during the last 48 hours (at least two measures/day) at the time of randomisation * blood cultures have been sterile for at least 5 days at the time of randomisation * informed, written consent obtained from patient * subject covered by or having the rights to French social security Exclusion Criteria: * body mass index \<15 kg/m² or \> 40 kg/m² * glomerular filtration rate \< 30 ml/min/1,73m² * patient unable or unwilling to take oral treatment (digestive intolerance, significant malabsorption) at the time of randomisation * expected difficulties regarding compliance with oral antibiotic treatment or follow-up (e.g. severe cognitive impairment, severe psychiatric disease...) * patient without entourage to support and watch him at discharge * valvular surgery planned within the next 6 months * for patients with cardiac devices (pace-maker, implantable cardiac defibrillator) and suspected device-related IE (vegetation on the leads) if removal of the device was not performed * breast feeding or pregnant women, or women on childbearing age without effective contraception * expected duration of follow-up \< 7 months at the time of randomisation (e.g. expected life expectancy \< 7 months, patient living abroad...) * past medical history of IE in the last 3 months * other infection requiring parenteral antibiotic therapy * taking of an estrogen-progesterone treatment interacting with rifampicin * patient with contra-indication to oral antibiotics administered in the experimental arm (i.e. amoxicillin) - including anticipated non-manageable drug interactions, and allergy.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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APHP BICETRE - Service des maladies infectieuses et tropicales
Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, 94275, France
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APHP Henri-Mondor - Service des maladies infectieuses et tropicales
Créteil, 94010, France
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APHP St Antoine
Paris, 75011, France
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CH PAU - Service de Médecine interne et Maladies infectieuses
Pau, 64000, France
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CH QUIMPER - Service d'infectiologie
Quimper, 29107, France
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CHU ANGERS - Service des maladies infectieuses et tropicales
Angers, 49100, France
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CHU St Etienne - Service des maladies infectieuses et tropicales
Saint-Priest-en-Jarez, 42270, France
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CHU Toulouse (Rangueil) Service de Cardiologie
Toulouse, France
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Clinique de la sauvegarde
Lyon, 69337, France
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Consultation de Médecine Interne, maladies infectieuses et tropicales, CH intercommunal de Villeneuve St Georges
Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, 94190, France
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Département d'infectiologie, Complexe Bocage, Hôpital d'enfants, CHU de Dijon
Dijon, 21079, France
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Infectiologie, médecine interne et médecine des voyages, CH d'Annecy
Pringy, 74374, France
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Institut Mutualiste Montsouris - Service de médecine interne
Paris, 75674, France
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Medipôle Lyon-Villeurbanne
Villeurbanne, 69625, France
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Service Maladies Infectieuses et tropicales, Hôpital Côte de Nacre, CHU de Caen
Caen, 14033, France
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Service Universitaire des Maladies Infectieuses et du voyageur, CH de Tourcoing
Tourcoing, 59208, France
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Service d'Infectiologie, Hôpital de l'Archet, CHU de Nice
Nice, 06200, France
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Service de Cardiologie, Hôpitall Louis Pradel, Hôpitaux Est, Hospices Civils de Lyon
Bron, 69677, France
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Service de Maladies infectieuses et tropicales médecine interne, CH Métropole Savoie
Chambéry, 73011, France
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Service de Maladies infectieuses et tropicales, Hôpital Hôtel Dieu, CHU Nantes
Nantes, 44093, France
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Service de Maladies infectieuses et tropicales, Hôpital de la Source, CHR Orléans
Orléans, 45100, France
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Service de Maladies infectieuses et tropicales, Hôpitaux de Brabois, CHU de Nancy
Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, 54511, France
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Service de Microbiologie, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, APHP
Paris, 75015, France
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Service de Médecine infectieuse, Hôpital Nord Michallon, CHU de Grenoble
La Tronche, 38700, France
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Service de Médecine interne et maladies infectieuses, Hôpital Bretonneau, CHU de Tours
Tours, 37044, France
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Service de Médecine interne polyvalente et neurologique CH de Douai
Douai, 59507, France
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Service de Médecine interne, maladies infectieuses et tropicales, CHU de Poitiers
Poitiers, 86021, France
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Service de Médecine interne, maladies infectieuses, immunologie clinique, Hôpital R. Debré, CHU de Reims
Reims, 51092, France
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Service de Pathologies infectieuses et tropicales, Hôpital Nord, CHU d'Amiens
Amiens, 80054, France
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Service de Réanimation médicale, Hôpital St André, CHU de Bordeaux
Bordeaux, 33000, France
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Service de maladies infectieuses et tropicales, Hôpital Necker, APHP
Paris, 75018, France
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Service de maladies infectieuses, parasitaires et tropicales, Hôpital Bichat, APHP
Paris, 75018, France
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Service de médecine aigue spécifique, Hôpital Raymond Poincaré, APHP
Garches, 92380, France
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Service de médecine interne, Hôpital Ambroise Paré, APHP
Boulogne-Billancourt, 92104, France
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Service de médecine post-urgence, infectiologie, Site de la Roche sur Yon, CHD Vendée
La Roche-sur-Yon, 85025, France
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Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Hôpital Carémeau, CHU de Nîmes
Nîmes, 30029, France
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Service des Maladies infectieuses et Tropicales, Hôpital Jean Minjoz, CHU de Besançon
Besançon, 25030, France
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Service des Maladies infectieuses et tropicales, CH Le Mans
Le Mans, 72037, France
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Service des Maladies infectieuses et tropicales, Hôpital Charles Nicolle, CHU de Rouen
Rouen, 76031, France
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Service des Maladies infectieuses et tropicales, Hôpital de Purpan, CHU de Toulouse
Toulouse, 31059, France
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Service des Maladies infectieuses, CH de Niort
Niort, 79021, France
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Service des maladies infectieuses et réanimation médicale, Hôpital Pontchaillou, CHU de Rennes
Rennes, 35033, France
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Service des maladies infectieuses et tropicales, Hôpital G. Montpied, CHU de Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand, 63003, France
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Service des maladies respiratoires et infectieuses, CH de St Malo
St-Malo, 35403, France
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Unité médicale d'infectiologie, Hôpital Huriez, CHU de Lille
Lille, 59037, France
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Could a donor heart valve beat Man-Made ones for treating severe valve infections?
- Could a simple dental cleaning prevent a deadly heart infection?
- Heart infection registry aims to unlock better treatments
- New diagnostic tool could speed up treatment for deadly heart infection
- New antibiotic strategy could shorten hospital stays for heart infections