title: Oral antibiotic therapy for serious infections.
abstract: After a pathogen has been identified and the antibiotic susceptibility determined, parenteral antibiotic administration can be replaced by the oral route for certain patients with meningitis, brain abscess, endocarditis, and skeletal infections. Antibiotics should be administered with the stomach empty and accompanied by 3 ml/kg of water. Direct instillation into the lumen of the small intestine may be advantageous with selected patients. Documenting adequate antibiotic absorption and ensuring compliance are essential to efficacious therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000367:Age Factors; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001682:Biological Availability; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000188:drug therapy; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008581:Meningitis / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents