title: Early switch from intravenous to oral antibiotics in hospitalized patients with infections: a 6-month prospective study.
abstract: We assessed what percentage of hospitalized patients treated with intravenous antibiotics would be candidates for early switch to oral therapy, and evaluated the clinical outcomes of patients after the switch. All hospitalized patients in whom an intravenous antibiotic was prescribed for treatment of an infection were prospectively screened to identify candidates for switch in therapy. Of the 655 patients treated with intravenous antibiotics, 300 (46%) were candidates for a switch, and the change was implemented in 262 (40%). Of the 171 evaluable patients, the switch was associated with clinical cure in 167 (98%) and failure in 4 (2%). In hospitalized patients with infections, the duration of intravenous antibiotic therapy can be minimized with early switch to oral therapy. This practice is associated with good patient outcome.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Louisville School of Medicine, KY 40292, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahkee
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ritter
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ramirez
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007902:Length of Stay; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents