Secondary outcome parameters
| Variables | PDT | EAT | 95% CI | p value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PDT, pathogen directed treatment group; EAT, empirical antibiotic treatment group; 95% CI, 95% confidence interval for difference; ABiv, duration of intravenous antibiotic treatment; AB, total duration of antibiotic treatment; SF-36, quality of life questionnaire; SSC, symptom severity score. | ||||
| *Adverse events in PDT group were: gastrointestinal disturbances (n = 9), phlebitis (n = 8), reversible deafness (n = 5), reversible hair loss (n = 5), urticaria (n = 2). | ||||
| †Adverse events in EAT group were: gastrointestinal disturbances (n = 42), phlebitis (n = 38), reversible deafness (n = 14), reversible hair loss (n = 10), urticaria (n = 2); some patients had more than one adverse event. | ||||
| Mean (SD) ABiv (days) | 5.4 (4.3) | 5.1 (3.8) | −0.6 to 1.4 | 0.47 |
| Mean (SD) AB (days) | 10.8 (5.5) | 9.9 (5.0) | −0.4 to 2.1 | 0.19 |
| Mean (SD) time to resolution of fever (days) | 2.9 (2.7) | 2.5 (2.5) | −0.3 to 1.0 | 0.24 |
| Adverse events, no of patients (%) | 23 (17)* | 77 (60)† | −50% to −30% | <0.001 |
| Mean (SD) SF-36 score [no of patients] | ||||
| Hospitalisation | 60.2 (23.4) [n = 72] | 58.3 (23.3) [n = 59] | −6.2 to 9.9 | 0.65 |
| 30 day follow up | 59.5 (21.5) [n = 59] | 57.3 (20.5) [n = 47] | −6.0 to 10.3 | 0.60 |
| 90 day follow up | 66.7 (22.9) [n = 50] | 67.2 (30.1) [n = 35] | −11.9 to 10.9 | 0.93 |
| 180 day follow up | 79.3 (22.4) [n = 31] | 64.1 (20.1) [n = 22] | +3.3 to 27.3 | 0.01 |
| Mean (SD) SSC score [no of patients] | ||||
| Admission | 49.8 (16.2) [n = 110] | 47.0 (18.3) [n = 95] | −1.9 to 7.6 | 0.24 |
| Day 7 of treatment | 21.6 (14.2) [n = 92] | 19.3 (12.5) [n = 70] | −1.9 to 6.5 | 0.28 |
| 30 day follow up | 13.0 (10.1) [n = 107] | 11.2 (7.8) [n = 95] | −0.7 to 4.4 | 0.15 |
| 90 day follow up | 9.1 (9.7) [n = 102] | 9.6 (9.6) [n = 89] | −3.3 to 2.2 | 0.69 |
| 180 day follow up | 7.4 (9.8) [n = 94] | 9.9 (10.8) [n = 85] | −5.6 to 0.5 | 0.10 |