Adjunctive rifampicin to reduce early mortality from Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia

INTERVENTION: 2 weeks of rifampicin or placebo in addition to standard antibiotic therapy CONDITION: S. aureus (meticillin‐susceptible or resistant) infection, acute infection ; Infections and Infestations ; Staphylococcus aureus as the cause of diseases classified to other chapters PRIMARY OUTCOME: Current primary outcome measures as of 09/11/2016:; Bacteriological failure/death through 12 weeks from randomisation ; ; Previous primary outcome measures:; 1. All cause mortality through 14 days from randomisation; 2. Bacteriological failure/death through 12 weeks from randomisation SECONDARY OUTCOME: Current secondary outcome measures as of 09/11/2016:; 1. All cause mortality through 14 days from randomisation; 2. Death or clinically defined treatment failure or disease recurrence by 12 weeks (clinical failure being assessed by an independent endpoint committee blind to the treatment allocation); 3. Duration of bacteraemia (blood cultures will be taken on days 3 and 7 following randomisation); 4. Adverse events (grade 3/4 adverse events, serious adverse events); 5. Modification of any treatment (including concomitant medications) due to drug interactions; 6. Development of rifampicin resistant S. aureus ; 7. Cost‐effectiveness of rifampicin; ; Previous secondary outcome measures:; 1. Death or clinically defined treatment failure or disease recurrence by 12 weeks (clinical failure being assessed by an independent endpoint committee blind to the treatment allocation); 2. Duration of bacteraemia (blood cultures will be taken on days 3 and 7 following randomisation); 3. Adverse events (grade 3/4 adverse events, serious adverse events); 4. Modification of any treatment (including concomitant medications) due to drug interactions; 5. Development of rifampicin resistant S. aureus INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Adults (18 years or older) 2. Staphylococcus aureus (meticillin‐susceptible or resistant) grown from at least one blood culture 3. Less than 96 hours of active antibiotic therapy for the current infection (added 09/11/2016: not including rifampicin and excluding stat doses) 4. Patient or legal representative (LR) provides written informed consent