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Electronic drug ordering system can be helpful to implement iv–oral switch guidelines

Abstract:

Last year we reported that 40% of patients starting on iv antibiotics are candidates for a switch to oral antibiotics after 2–3 days of therapy. An early switch is justified when the patient is improving, oral antibiotics would result in adequate drug levels at the site of infection and the patient is able to take oral medication. 1 This strategy can result in substantial savings in costs and nursing time. An important question is how to identify patients who are candidates for an early switch, and how to effect the iv–oral switch. It is well known that releasing iv–oral switch guidelines alone is not sufficient. 2 Therefore, in phase II of our study, 1 after switch guidelines had been introduced, a study physician identified the patients fulfilling the criteria by reviewing all patient charts on a daily basis. If applicable, she contacted the attending physicians to remind them of the guidelines. 1 In other studies this was done by the hospital …