POET-II shortened endocarditis antibiotics from 41 days to 26
The European Society of Cardiology and News-Medical report that in 508 people with left-sided infective endocarditis, response-tailored therapy cut the median antibiotic course from 41 to 26 days. The six-month composite safety outcome was 8.2 per cent in the shortened arm against 10.7 per cent on standard therapy. Relapse was more common with the shorter course; most were managed by restarting antibiotics. The results were presented at ESC Congress 2026 and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Antibiotic course fell from 41 days to 26
POET-II followed 508 people with infective endocarditis with a mean age of 70. Response-tailored treatment cut the median antibiotic course from 41 days on the standard arm to 26 days. Days alive without antibiotics within six months came to 183 against 169. News-Medical stresses that the course for left-sided infective endocarditis was shortened by two weeks. The European Society of Cardiology says reducing antibiotic courses by two weeks could be possible in infective endocarditis and reports that the results were presented at the ESC Congress.[1], [2]
Six-month safety measure reached 8.2 per cent on the shorter arm
Death, unplanned valve surgery or symptomatic embolic events within six months occurred in 8.2 per cent of the tailored group and 10.7 per cent of the standard group. News-Medical reports the six-month composite safety outcome was 8.2 per cent in the shortened arm against 10.7 per cent on standard therapy. The European Society of Cardiology says the trial's noninferiority criterion was met. Clinically stable people with left-sided endocarditis from Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis or streptococci were assigned to tailored or standard therapy. The results were published simultaneously in the New England Journal of Medicine.[1], [2]
Relapse rose to 5.1 per cent on the shorter course
Relapse was more common with the shorter antibiotic course: 5.1 per cent against 1.6 per cent on the standard arm. The European Society of Cardiology says most relapses were managed by restarting antibiotics. Henning Bundgaard of Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen presented the trial at the ESC Congress. News-Medical also reports the results were presented at ESC Congress 2026 and published in the journal. The concrete message for clinicians is that the two-week shortening did not break the six-month safety picture, but relapse rates rose; most relapses were cleared by restarting treatment.[1], [2]
