Study comparing 3-week versus 6-week antibiotic treatment for patients with drained pyogenic liver abscess

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What is this study about?

This study focuses on treating pyogenic liver abscess, which is a collection of pus in the liver caused by bacterial infection. The study aims to determine if 3 weeks of antibiotic treatment is as effective as 6 weeks of treatment after drainage of the abscess. Various antibiotics will be used including meropenem, linezolid, tedizolid, sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim, ceftazidime with avibactam, daptomycin, colistin, metronidazole, amikacin, and imipenem with cilastatin.

The medications will be given either by mouth or through a vein, depending on the specific antibiotic used. The treatment begins after the abscess has been drained through a medical procedure. Patients will be monitored for 12 weeks after the drainage procedure to assess how well the treatment worked.

The study will track several aspects of patient recovery, including how quickly the abscess disappears on imaging tests, how long patients stay in the hospital, and whether there are any complications or side effects from the treatment. Doctors will also monitor for any return of the infection and check how the antibiotics affect bacteria in the digestive system.

1 Initial assessment

A CT scan will be performed to confirm the presence of liver abscess

A sample of fluid from the liver abscess will be taken to identify the bacteria causing the infection

Your eligibility for participation requires you to be at least 18 years old

2 Drainage procedure

The liver abscess will be drained through a thin tube placed through the skin (percutaneous drainage) or by needle aspiration

A follow-up scan will be performed 10 days (plus/minus 2 days) after drainage to confirm that the abscess size has decreased by more than 50%

3 Antibiotic treatment

You will receive antibiotic treatment through one of two possible durations:

Option 1: 3 weeks of antibiotics after drainage

Option 2: 6 weeks of antibiotics after drainage

Antibiotics may be given through a vein (intravenous) or by mouth (oral), including medications such as meropenem, linezolid, daptomycin, or other appropriate antibiotics

4 Follow-up assessments

Your liver abscess will be checked by imaging at weeks 3, 6, and 12 after drainage

A bacterial test using a rectal swab will be performed at the start and at week 12

Your progress will be monitored for any complications or side effects

A final assessment will occur at week 12 to determine if the treatment was successful

5 Extended monitoring

Additional follow-up will continue until 6 months after treatment

Any new health issues or recurrence of infection will be documented

The study will monitor for any adverse effects from the treatment

Who Can Join the Study?

Must be at least 18 years old
Must have a liver abscess (a collection of pus in the liver) confirmed by a CT scan (special X-ray imaging)
Must have bacteria found in the pus sample taken from the liver abscess through laboratory testing
Must show successful drainage of the abscess, meaning the size of the abscess has decreased by more than 50% when checked by ultrasound or CT scan about 10 days after the drainage procedure
Can be either male or female
The drainage can be done either through:
- Percutaneous drainage (inserting a thin tube through the skin to drain the abscess)
- Aspiration (removing fluid using a needle)

Who Cannot Join the Study?

Age under 18 years old
Presence of septic shock (a serious condition where blood pressure drops dangerously low due to infection)
Immunocompromised patients (people with weakened immune systems)
Patients who cannot receive oral antibiotics
Known allergy to the study medications
Pregnant or breastfeeding women
Patients with multiple liver abscesses (more than one infected area in the liver)
Patients who have already started antibiotic treatment for more than 48 hours
Patients unable to provide informed consent
Patients with severe liver disease
Patients with polymicrobial infection (infection caused by multiple types of bacteria)
Patients who cannot attend follow-up visits
Participation in another clinical trial within the past 30 days

Where you can join this trial?

Verified and Recommended Sites

No sites found in this category

Verified Sites

Site Name	City	Country	Status
CHU Grenoble Alpes	La Tronche	France

Other Sites

Site Name	City	Country
Hospital Foch	Suresnes	France
Centre Hospitalier Sud Francilien	Corbeil Essonnes	France
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire De Montpellier	Montpellier	France
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire De Rennes	Rennes	France
Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud	Pierre Benite	France
Hopital Beaujon	Clichy	France
Coqpun Hlwjseidekd Upvrtwxhqhady Dz Deueg	Dijon	France
Bttuedri Umhplpjusf Hfcedlpq Cpqktm	Besançon	France
Clysdn Hzlkexgfwkp Rybfwagy Utxuihturrnjq Dd Tcric	Tours	France
Ccucul Hvnsziqkgei Rlqdqbnf Dajuxhoexhgbcu	Angers	France

Trial status

Country	Status	Recruitment Start
France	Not yet recruiting	01.09.2025

Trial locations

Investigated drugs:

Antibiotic therapy

This trial evaluates antibiotic treatment used after draining liver abscesses (infected fluid collections in the liver). The antibiotics are used to clear the remaining infection after the drainage procedure. The specific antibiotics may vary depending on the type of bacteria causing the infection, but they are all medications designed to fight bacterial infections. The study compares different durations of the same antibiotic treatment to determine the most effective length of therapy.

Pyogenic Liver Abscess – A serious infection in the liver where pus-filled cavities develop within the liver tissue. The condition occurs when bacteria enter the liver and cause an infection, leading to the formation of one or more abscesses. The infection typically begins with inflammation of liver tissue, which then progresses to the formation of pus-filled pockets. The abscess can vary in size and may be single or multiple. The condition can develop from various sources, including infections in the abdomen, blood-borne infections, or as a complication of other medical procedures.

Trial ID:

2025-520940-14-00

Trial Phase:

Therapeutic confirmatory (Phase III)

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Study comparing 3-week versus 6-week antibiotic treatment for patients with drained pyogenic liver abscess

What is this study about?

Who Can Join the Study?

Who Cannot Join the Study?