Outcomes of Ceftriaxone Compared With Cefazolin or Nafcillin/Oxacillin for Outpatient Therapy for Methicillin-Sensitive Staphylococcus aureus Bloodstream Infections: Results From a Large United States Claims Database

Background. Ceftriaxone is a convenient option for methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT), but population-based studies for its effectiveness are lacking. Methods. In this retrospective cohort, a large insurance claims database was queried from 2010 to 2018 for adults with MSSA bloodstream infection (BSI). Patients discharged on OPAT on cefazolin or oxacillin/nafcillin were compared with ceftriaxone with respect to 90-day hospital readmission with the same infection category and 90-day all-cause readmission using logistic regression models. Results. Of 1895 patients with MSSA BSI, 1435 (75.7%) patients received cefazolin, oxacillin, or nafcillin and 460 (24.3%) ceftriaxone. Readmission due to the same infection category occurred in 366 (19.3%), and all-cause readmission occurred in 535 (28.3%) within 90 days. Risk factors significantly associated with readmission with the same infection category were the oldest sampled age group (61–64 years: adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.47 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.01–2.14]), intensive care unit stay during index admission (aOR, 2.33 [95% CI, 1.81–3.01]), prosthetic joint infection (aOR, 1.96 [95% CI, 1.18–2.23]), central line–associated BSI (aOR, 1.72 [95% CI, 1.33–2.94]), and endocarditis (aOR, 1.63 [95% CI, 1.18–2.23]). Ceftriaxone was not associated with increased risk of readmission with the same infection category (aOR, 0.89 [95% CI, .67–1.18]), or 90-day all-cause readmission (aOR, 0.86 [95% CI, .66–1.10]) when compared with oxacillin/nafcillin/cefazolin. Conclusions. In this cohort of MSSA BSI patients discharged on OPAT, there were no differences in outcomes of readmission with the same infection and 90-day all-cause readmission in patients treated with ceftriaxone compared to oxacillin/nafcillin or cefazolin. Patients with complicated BSIs such as endocarditis and epidural abscess were more likely to be prescribed cefazolin or oxacillin/nafcillin.