Safety of early oral ambulatory treatment of adult patients with bloodstream infections discharged from the emergency department

Abstract

This study evaluates the safety of early oral ambulatory treatment of adult patients diagnosed with bacteremia after their discharge from the emergency department. A cohort of 206 febrile ambulatory patients was assessed. Bacteremic low-risk patients were recommended an oral treatment and were compared with matched febrile non-bacteremic outpatients. Rates of 14-day mortality and unplanned re-consultations were similar and below 5% in both cohorts, highlighting the safety of oral therapy of low-risk bacteremia, even from its onset.