[Early switch from intravenous to oral antibiotic treatment]

Abstract

During the latest decades, the efficacy and safety of an early switch from intravenous to oral antibiotics has been the topic of several investigations. In this review, we summarise the results of studies, which have shown that it is safe to treat mild infections with oral antibiotics only. For more severe infections, three days of intravenous antibiotics followed by oral antibiotics is typically sufficient. There are several benefits of early switch therapy including easier administration and lower expenses. The most frequently prescribed intravenous antibiotics have oral formulations or oral alternatives with a high bioavailability.