1. Primary Objective: o To evaluate the efficacy of intravenous azithromycin compared with meropenem in the treatment of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) enteric fever. 2. Secondary Objectives: * To evaluate the fever defervescence and Salmonella Typhi eradication * To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of intravenous azithromycin versus meropenem in treating XDR enteric fever. 3. Exploratory Objectives: * To evaluate the drug resistance against intravenous azithromycin versus in treating XDR enteric fever.
Screening Period: Patients with positive blood culture of XDR S. typhi underwent further screening for inclusion in study by physician. Before randomization, ECG monitoring, investigations including serum creatinine, liver function test, pregnancy test for married female participants will be done. If patient meet eligibility criteria and physician enrolled, randomization will be done and treatment will be allocated. Treatment Period: During treatment period, on D3 clearance blood culture will be sent to check bacterial eradication or sterility of blood. Temperature, blood pressure, pulse will be monitored three times a day. If D3 blood culture and sensitivity report is still positive, second clearance blood culture will be sent on D7. On D7 ECG and LFTs will reassessed. On D7 of treatment detailed clinical assessment will be done in order to evaluate improvement in clinical condition and need of therapy modification "Discontinuation of treatment" based on the list of all terms and condition including hypersensitivity reaction, any adverse event. Total treatment duration will be 14 days. Resolution of symptoms, fever defervescence and blood culture clearance will be consider as study end point. Randomization and Blinding: The participant meeting all the inclusion and exhibits no characteristics of exclusion criteria will be eligible to enroll in the study. The written informed consent will be taken and signed ICF will be obtained from participant. The participants will be enrolled in the study based on randomization. The randomization will be done by using randomization allocation software. The office of research and innovation (ORIC) personnel independent from the study will randomize and allocate treatment group. This is an open-label study; thus, both the investigators and participants will be aware of the treatment allocation after randomization. Principle investigator will enroll participants in collaboration with physician. The office of research and innovation (ORIC) personnel will develop envelope containing allocation sequence and treatment option either standard treatment or intervention treatment. Envelop will hand over to physician and will assign treatment option to participants. Study treatment and Intervention: For the standard care protocol, patients are initially treated with meropenem 1g intravenously every 8 hours. Once their condition stabilizes , treatment is transitioned to oral azithromycin. The transition involves administering a first dose of azithromycin 1g orally, followed by a daily dose of 500mg orally. Intravenous meropenem will continue until 24 hours after the patient's fever has resolved, after which the treatment will switch to oral azithromycin. In the intervention group, patients begin with azithromycin 1g administered intravenously for the initial dose, followed by a daily dose of 500mg intravenously. When the patient's condition stabilizes, the treatment will transition to oral azithromycin, starting with a 1g oral dose and continuing with 500mg orally once daily. Intravenous azithromycin will be maintained until 24 hours after the patient's fever has resolved, after which the treatment will switch to oral azithromycin.
Azithromycin 1g IV loading dose then 500mg IV OD
Meropenem 1000 mg IV Q8H
Indus Hospital & Health Network - Mian Campus
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
RECRUITINGFever defervescence
Proportion of participants with fever defervescence of temperature 37 ℃ at Mid-treatment outcome (Day 7). Temperature will be monitored and documented in degrees centigrade (°C)
Time frame: Mid-treatment outcome (Day 7)
Salmonella Typhi eradication
Proportion of participants with Salmonella Typhi eradication in Blood culture test on day 3. After start of intervention, a clearance of blood culture will be monitor at day 3. if Salmonella Typhi in blood culture of day 3 will not eradicate, a second blood culture will be done on Day 7.
Time frame: Mid-treatment outcome (Day 7)
Hospital Admission Days
Mean hospital length of stay (in days) will be compared between groups to evaluate differences in duration of hospitalization
Time frame: End-of-treatment outcome (Day 14)
Cumulative Treatment Duration
Average total treatment duration, expressed in number of days, will be compared across groups to assess differences in cumulative therapy requirements
Time frame: End-of-treatment outcome (Day 14)
Adverse Events Monitoring
Adverse events will be monitored throughout the study period, including abnormal clinical findings such as rash, pruritus, flushing, or angioedema of the face or extremities. Laboratory assessments (ECG and liver function tests) will be performed on Mid-treatment outcome (Day 7) to check any ECG changes and hepatotoxicity. Vital signs-including body temperature (°C), blood pressure (mmHg), and heart rate (beats/min) will be recorded daily from baseline (Day 1) to day of discharge from hospital.
Time frame: Mid-treatment outcome (Day 7)
Antimicrobial Resistance and Cost of treatment
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
40
Antimicrobial resistance will be assessed by monitoring any changes in the susceptibility pattern of Salmonella Typhi isolates during the study period. The direct cost of treatment will be calculated in Pakistani Rupees (PKR), based on the total cost of vials utilized throughout the treatment course, and will be compared between study groups to evaluate overall cost-effectiveness.
Time frame: End-of-treatment outcome (Day 14)