Spondylodiscitis is a rare inflammation of the intervertebral discs and adjacent vertebral bodies. The condition can be severe and is usually treated with antibiotics over a period of six weeks. To date, patients have generally received the medication via infusion for two weeks before switching to tablets.
SWITCH-VO, a new research project at NUM, aims to determine whether this treatment can be optimised. To this end, the study will analyse whether switching from intravenous antibiotic therapy to tablets after just seven days is just as safe and effective as the standard switch after 14 days.
To this end, 280 patients at 13 University Medical Centre sites across Germany will be enrolled in the study and monitored for a period of 24 weeks following completion of treatment. The study will examine, amongst other things, treatment success, potential complications and patients’ quality of life.
As spondylodiscitis is a rare condition, a study of this scale can only succeed through collaboration between many sites. The NUM provides precisely the right framework for this.
On 9 July, sWITCH-VO received an unreservedly positive approval from the BfArM and the Ethics Committee via CTIS. This applies to all 13 planned sites (see map below). The sWITCH-VO study is investigating whether switching from intravenous to oral antibiotic therapy earlier – after 7 days instead of 14 – is just as effective and safe in spondylodiscitis.
Final preparations are now in full swing so that the first patient can be enrolled as soon as possible. The study database is currently being tested, and the first study teams have already been set up.
Find out more about the new research project on the new subpage