Switching from IV to Oral Antibiotics for Infections
Author Information
Author(s): Desai Mohammed, Franklin Bryony Dean, Holmes Alison H, Trust Sarah, Richards Mike, Jacklin Ann, Bamford Kathleen B
Primary Institution: Imperial College, London, UK
Hypothesis
Can switching from intravenous glycopeptides to oral antibiotics reduce hospital stay for patients with resistant gram-positive infections?
Conclusion
Switching to oral antibiotics could significantly reduce the length of hospital stays for patients needing glycopeptide therapy.
Supporting Evidence
- 62 out of 211 patients (29%) could have been discharged earlier with oral antibiotics.
- Switching to oral therapy could save a total of 649 inpatient days.
- Patients with skin and soft tissue infections were most likely to benefit from the switch.
Takeaway
If patients can switch from IV antibiotics to oral ones, they can go home sooner and avoid staying in the hospital for a long time.
Methodology
Patients prescribed IV glycopeptides for 5 days or more were evaluated for suitability to switch to oral antibiotics using logistic regression.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in patient selection and criteria for discharge may affect the results.
Limitations
The study did not account for all possible factors affecting discharge timing, such as other infections or logistical issues.
Participant Demographics
Of the 211 patients, 38% were female, and the majority were prescribed vancomycin.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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