Grant: Project Grant

Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection is a critical public health issue, being one of the most common and lethal bacterial infections globally. In Canada alone, there are over 10,000 cases annually, resulting in about 2,000 deaths and treatment costs over $120 million. Despite its high morbidity and mortality, there are no international treatment guidelines and less than 3,000 patients have been studied globally for this lethal infectious disease. Critically, no large clinical trials have ever been completed focusing on the route of antibiotic administration, which is arguably the most important unanswered question in the management of this disease. Patients with S. aureus bloodstream infection are traditionally treated with at least two weeks of intravenous (IV) antibiotics, extending to six weeks or more for complicated cases. This prolonged IV therapy is largely based on observational research and expert opinion. However, it has significant drawbacks for both patients and healthcare systems. We therefore aim to address the most critical outstanding question with regards to the management of S. aureus bacteremia and determine whether oral antibiotics are a safe alternative for clinically stable patients. We propose a pragmatic study embedded within the CIHR-funded S. aureus Network Adaptive platform (SNAP), which offers the best possible care for patients with S. aureus bacteremia. This project will be added onto an ongoing international collaboration and solidify our Canadian team as world leaders in the study of this lethal infectious disease. By determining if oral antibiotics are a safe alternative to IV therapy, our team will establish best practices to be deployed worldwide. Since this intervention requires no new technology or infrastructure, any findings from our research program will offer immediate benefits to all patients and to the Canadian healthcare system.