eMedicine Specialties > Clinical Procedures > Medications

Intravenous-to-Oral Switch Therapy

Author: Noah S Scheinfeld, MD, JD, FAAD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Columbia University; Consulting Staff, Department of Dermatology, St Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary; Private Practice
Coauthor(s): Jessica M Allan, MD, Consulting Staff, Private Practice; Charles Kutler, MD, Associate Medical Director, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Comprehensive Care, St Luke's–Roosevelt Hospital Center
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Feb 16, 2010

Introduction

Switching from intravenous to oral therapy as soon as patients are clinically stable can reduce the length of hospitalization and lower associated costs. While intravenous medications may be more bioavailable and have greater effects, some oral drugs produce serum levels comparable to those of the parenteral form. Medications involved in switch therapy include antibiotics, analgesics, antipsychotics, and antivirals.

Early switching of intravenous to oral antibiotics is possible, and positive outcomes have been reported in medical wards.¹ In addition, a 2008 meta-analysis found that early switching of intravenous to oral antibiotics is possible in moderate to severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).²

Community-acquired pneumonia

One of the most common uses of intravenous-to-oral (IV-to-PO) switch therapy is in the treatment of CAP. CAP is most commonly caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. The natural history of CAP is beyond the scope of this article; see Pneumonia, Community-Acquired for more information. In terms of switch therapy, approximately 40-50% of patients admitted for intravenous antibiotics can be switched to oral antibiotics within 2-3 days.

The US Medicare Pneumonia Project database provided evidence that the routine practice of in-hospital observation after the switch from intravenous to oral antibiotics in patients with CAP can be avoided in those who are clinically stable.³ Explicit physiological criteria must be recorded routinely to serve as a benchmark in order for the switch to be consistently successful.

In 1999, Siegel reported that the treatment of hospitalized patients with uncomplicated CAP is changing to include a brief period of intravenous antibiotics followed by oral therapy.⁴ The Classification of Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CoCAP) is a stratification tool in which patients are categorized as having low-risk pneumonia, unstable pneumonia, or complicated pneumonia. Caregivers can achieve a structure for organizing treatment of patients with CAP by using (1) validated hospital admission criteria, (2) the CoCAP algorithm, and (3) newly evolving criteria for switching patients from intravenous to oral therapy.

Patients with unstable pneumonia can be discharged early if (1) their metabolic problems have reversed and comorbid conditions have stabilized and (2) they have not developed any serious pneumonia-related complications. Prolonged courses of intravenous antibiotic therapy are being replaced with 2- to 3-day courses of intravenous hydration and antibiotics; patients can be switched to oral therapy and can be discharged from the hospital after they tolerate one dose of oral therapy. The vital signs and the WBC count should be monitored, and, provided these parameters are improving (although possibly not normalized), patients can be switched to oral therapy.

Patient treatment guidelines and critical pathways are becoming widespread in disease management, and CAP is one disease in which prospective studies have demonstrated that a reduction in hospital stay is safe and agreeable with patients, caregivers, and administrators. Other treatment protocols are being explored, including a single dose of intravenous antibiotic prior to the oral switch and all-oral regimens using the newer fluoroquinolones. A study by Ramirez et al (2005) showed that the care recommended by national guidelines regarding switching from intravenous to oral therapy was not being appropriately delivered to adults with CAP in all regions of the world.⁵

Different doctors have different approaches to switch therapy. Inpatients with CAP treated by hospital clinicians had a shorter adjusted length of stay than those treated by primary care physicians, primarily because of earlier recognition of stability and more rapid conversion from intravenous to oral antibiotics. Adjusted costs were likewise reduced. However, patients treated by hospital clinicians were more often discharged with an unstable clinical variable. Other than earlier switching to oral antibiotics, less use of clindamycin and ceftazidime, and fewer consultations with infectious disease specialists, the care processes of hospital clinicians were similar to those of primary care physicians.⁶

In 2004, Wawruch et al reported on an evaluation of a group of patients selected out of 2870 patients who were hospitalized at the Clinic of Geriatric Medicine at Comenius University in Bratislava from January 1, 1999, to December 31, 2001. In their retrospective study, Wawruch et al analyzed 96 patients with CAP who were successfully treated with antibiotics. Forty-three patients received intravenous antibiotics, and 53 received IV-to-PO switch therapy (ie, intravenous administration was used at the beginning and oral administration was used when their conditions improved).⁷

According to the cost-effectiveness coefficient, the switch therapy was significantly less expensive in all evaluated antibiotics (except pefloxacin) compared with intravenous administration. For ampicillin-sulbactam, the coefficients were 93.9 versus 168.1, 90 versus 123.3 for cefuroxime, 74 versus 116.3 for amoxicillin-clavulanate, and 31.7 versus 54.1 for ciprofloxacin. Wawruch et al found that timely switching from intravenous to oral administration of antibiotics in suitable patients is an effective way to save financial resources.⁷

Oosterheert et al (2006), based on a study of 302 patients, found that early switch from intravenous to oral antibiotics in patients with severe CAP is safe and decreases the hospital stay by 2 days.⁸

Peyrani et al (2006) reported that, in a study involving 40 hospitals in 13 countries, IV-to-PO switch antibiotic therapy among hospitalized patients with CAP did not comply with evidence-based guidelines implemented by The American Thoracic Society and the Infectious Diseases Society of America.⁹

Rhew and associates investigated the effectiveness of early switch and early discharge strategies in patients with CAP by searching the MEDLINE, HealthStar, EMBASE, Cochrane Collaboration, and Best Evidence databases for the period between January 1, 1980, and March 31, 2000, for CAP studies that included specific switch criteria or recommendations to switch on a particular day.¹⁰

Rhew et al identified 1794 titles and reviewed 121 articles. They identified 10 prospective, interventional, CAP-specific studies that evaluated length of stay. Nine studies applied an early switch from parenteral to oral antibiotic criteria. Six different criteria for switching were applied in the 9 studies. Five of the studies that applied early-switch criteria also applied separate criteria for early discharge. Six studies applied an early-switch and early-discharge strategy to an intervention and a control group, and 5 of these provided standard deviation values for length of stay.¹⁰

The mean change in length of stay was not significantly (P = .05) reduced in studies of early switch and early discharge (-1.64 d; 95% CI, -3.3 to 0.02 d). However, when the 2 studies in which the recommended length of stay was longer than the control length of stay were excluded from the analysis, the mean change in length of stay was reduced by 3 days (-3.04 d; 95% CI, -4.9 to -1.19 d). Studies did not reveal significant differences in clinical outcomes between the intervention and control groups. Rhew and colleagues concluded that criteria for early switching from parenteral to oral antibiotics vary considerably for patients with CAP. Early-switch and early-discharge strategies may significantly and safely reduce the mean length of stay when the recommended length of stay is shorter than the actual length of stay.¹⁰

Other uses of switch therapy can include the treatment of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. A more cost-effective switch therapy in the treatment of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in patients with cirrhosis who are not receiving prophylaxis with quinolones involves the use of a cephalosporin rather than intravenous ceftazidime.¹¹

Antibiotics

Switch Therapy Options

Sequential antibiotic therapy ensures an early switch to the oral route when a patient is clinically stable. This increasingly used strategy is safe and improves the quality and cost-effectiveness of health care. Timely and appropriate switch therapy must be underpinned by clear guidelines and supported by a multidisciplinary team. According to some authorities, approximately 40% of patients starting on intravenous antibiotics are candidates for a switch to oral antibiotics after 2-3 days of therapy.

In 2004, Vogtlander et al, at the Department of General Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Nijmegen, in the Netherlands, involved the departments of internal medicine, surgery, and neurology and the emergency department at a tertiary referral university medical center in a study of all consecutive patients receiving therapeutic antibiotics. Dosages, timing of first doses, dosing intervals, administration routes, and adjustment of the chosen drug to clinical data were investigated. After the preintervention period, barriers to change were identified, followed by specific interventions and a postintervention measurement. In the preintervention and postintervention periods, 247 and 250 patients were enrolled, receiving 563 and 598 antibiotic prescriptions, respectively.¹³

The mean time from the order to first dose at the wards improved from 2.7 to 1.7 hours in potentially severe cases (P = .003). Dosage adjustment per renal function remained unchanged at 45% versus 52% (P = .09) of cases when necessary. Switching of therapy from an intravenous route to an oral route improved from 46% to 62% (P = .03) and was performed a mean of 1.6 days earlier (P = .002). Streamlining was performed correctly in most cases; thus, no interventions were necessary. Timing of antibiotic therapy and switch therapy may be improved with a combination of interventions. Other strategies are needed to improve the poor adjustment of dosing per renal function. In this study, streamlining was already correct in most cases.¹³

Fluoroquinolones

Levofloxacin and ofloxacin

Fluoroquinolones are suitable for switch therapy. The intravenous and oral formulations of levofloxacin have same-dose bioequivalence, allowing for switch or step-down therapy from parenteral to oral formulations of the same agent at the same dose. In the late 1990s, ofloxacin was also used for switch therapy, but its role is unclear in switch therapy because it is a twice-a-day medication, whereas levofloxacin is a once-a-day medication. Fluoroquinolones should not be used in children because of a possible adverse effect on cartilage.

Levofloxacin provides almost complete (>99%) oral bioavailability, suggesting that oral administration may provide exposure that is comparable to that of the intravenous regimen. The overall clinical success rate in such a switch is 94.1%. In several randomized controlled trials, 5-14 days of treatment with intravenous and/or oral levofloxacin proved to be an effective therapy for patients with upper and lower respiratory tract infections. In patients with mild-to-severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), intravenous and/or oral levofloxacin at a dose of 500 mg once or twice daily was as effective as clarithromycin, azithromycin, and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. Overall, clinical response rates with levofloxacin were 86-95% versus 88-96% with comparator agents; bacteriological response rates were 88-95% and 86-98%, respectively.

In 2005, Pablos et al reported on a study of the consumption of quinolones (eg, ofloxacin, levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin) 6 months before and after the implementation of a sequential therapy program in hospitalized patients. A program was calculated for each antibiotic, in its oral and intravenous forms, in "defined daily dose/100 stays per day" and in economic terms (drug acquisition cost). At the beginning of the program, ofloxacin was replaced by levofloxacin and, because their clinical uses are similar, the consumption of both drugs was compared during the period.¹⁴

In economic terms, the consumption of intravenous quinolones decreased 60%, whereas the consumption of oral quinolones increased 66%. In "defined daily dose/100 stays per day," consumption of intravenous forms decreased 53% and consumption of oral forms increased 36%. Pablos et al focused on quinolones and their use in implementing a sequential therapy program based on promoting an early switch from an intravenous regimen to an oral regimen. They proved the program's capacity to alter the use profile of these antibiotics. During the period under consideration, the program achieved a global drug savings of $41,420 for the hospital.¹⁴

Ciprofloxacin

Ciprofloxacin also has a role in IV-to-PO switch therapy. Giamarellou and colleagues demonstrated that high-dose ciprofloxacin administered intravenously for at least 3 days and then orally is therapeutically equivalent to the routine regimen of intravenous ceftazidime plus amikacin, even in febrile patients with severe neutropenia (ie, polymorphonuclear leukocyte count, <100/µL).¹⁵

Solomkin and colleagues studied patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections, who were randomized to receive either (1) intravenous ciprofloxacin plus metronidazole or intravenous imipenem throughout their treatment course or (2) intravenous ciprofloxacin plus metronidazole and treatment with oral ciprofloxacin plus metronidazole when oral feeding was resumed. The study demonstrated statistical equivalence between intravenous ciprofloxacin plus metronidazole and intravenous imipenem in both the intent-to-treat and valid populations. Conversion to oral therapy with intravenous ciprofloxacin plus metronidazole appeared as effective as continued intravenous therapy in patients able to tolerate oral feedings.¹⁶

In 2003, a trial reported by Drummond et al compared sequential intravenous/oral monotherapy with moxifloxacin (400 mg/d) to intravenous/oral co-amoxiclav (1.2 g IV/625 mg PO tid) with or without clarithromycin (500 mg bid) for 7-14 days in hospitalized patients with CAP and found that intravenous/oral monotherapy with moxifloxacin shows clinical benefits, including increased speed of response, and is cost-effective compared with intravenous/oral co-amoxiclav with or without clarithromycin.¹⁷

Similarly, in 2002, Finch et al noted that monotherapy with moxifloxacin is superior to a standard combination regimen of a beta-lactam and a beta-lactamase inhibitor (co-amoxiclav) with or without a macrolide (clarithromycin) in the treatment of patients with CAP admitted to a hospital.¹⁸

Specifically, Finch et al noted the superiority of moxifloxacin irrespective of the pneumonia severity and regardless of whether the combination therapy included a macrolide. The time to resolution of fever was also statistically significantly faster in patients who received moxifloxacin (median time, 2 vs 3 d), and the duration of hospital admission was approximately 1 day less among patients who received moxifloxacin. The treatment was converted to oral therapy immediately after the initial mandatory 3-day period of intravenous administration for a larger proportion of patients in the moxifloxacin group than patients in the comparator group (151 [50.2%] vs 57 [17.8%] patients). Fewer deaths (9 [3%] vs 17 [5.3%]) and fewer serious adverse events (38 [12.6%] vs 53 [16.5%]) were reported in the moxifloxacin group than in the comparator group.¹⁸

Cephalosporins

Similar switches can be effective with cephalosporins. Validated treatment algorithms, such as the Classification of Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CoCAP), now enable decisions concerning which patients with CAP require hospitalization and which patients will benefit from early switch therapy. Generally, unstable patients with CAP are suitable candidates for early switch therapy, which consists of rapid initiation of 1-2 days of intravenous therapy followed by 5 days of oral therapy, with early hospital discharge after the administration of 1-2 doses of oral antibiotic.

Cefuroxime, cefuroxime axetil, and cefetamet pivoxil

Studies of intravenous cefuroxime followed by oral cefuroxime axetil suggest this regimen is both effective and well-tolerated as rapid switch therapy and has the potential to reduce overall health care costs and improve patient satisfaction. Specifically, Van den Brande and colleagues noted that intravenous cefuroxime twice daily followed by oral cefuroxime axetil is a simple and effective sequential therapy regimen for the treatment of CAP.¹⁹

Hamilton-Miller found that switch therapy to cefixime after 2-3 days used to treat serious infections resulted in excellent clinical outcomes.²⁰ Similarly, Dagan and colleagues found that 1 or 2 days' treatment with parenteral ceftriaxone before switching to oral cefetamet pivoxil was safe and effective in the treatment of childhood pneumonia.²¹ This suggests that parenteral-to-oral switch therapy is a feasible treatment option in the treatment of serious pediatric CAP.

Ceftriaxone and ceftibuten

Fernandez and San Martin studied 40 patients admitted to the hospital because of CAP. Initially, these patients were treated with intravenous ceftriaxone (1 g/d) and showed clinical improvement after 3 days of therapy. They were randomly assigned to continue intravenous ceftriaxone therapy for a total of 10 days or to switch to ceftibuten (400 mg/d) for 7 days. Twenty-one of the patients continued intravenous treatment, and 19 were switched to ceftibuten. In terms of clinical cure, radiological improvement, and normalization of WBC count, no differences were noted between the 2 groups.²² These findings support the viability of switch therapy in this context.

Macrolides

Azithromycin

The macrolide azithromycin appears to be superior to the cephalosporin cefuroxime in intravenous therapy and a subsequent switch to oral therapy. This was shown in a cost-effectiveness analysis of IV-to-PO switch regimens of azithromycin versus cefuroxime with or without erythromycin in the treatment of patients hospitalized with CAP.

Drug Name: Azithromycin (Zithromax)
Description: Active against gram-positive bacteria and organisms responsible for atypical pneumonia but resistant to erythromycin-resistant pneumococci. Inhibits bacterial growth, possibly by blocking dissociation of peptidyl tRNA from ribosomes, causing RNA-dependent protein synthesis to arrest. Treats mild-to-moderate microbial infections.
Adult Dose: Day 1: 500 mg PO. Days 2-5: 250 mg PO qd. Alternatively: 1 g PO once
Pediatric Dose: <6 months: Not established. >6 months: Day 1: 10 mg/kg PO once; not to exceed 500 mg/d; Days 2-5: 5 mg/kg PO qd; not to exceed 250 mg/d
Contraindications: Documented hypersensitivity; hepatic impairment; do not administer with pimozide
Interactions: May increase toxicity of theophylline, warfarin, and digoxin; effects are reduced with coadministration of aluminum and/or magnesium antacids; nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity may occur when coadministered with cyclosporine
Precautions: Site reactions can occur with IV route; bacterial or fungal overgrowth may result from prolonged antibiotic use; may increase hepatic enzymes and cholestatic jaundice; caution in patients with impaired hepatic function, prolonged QT intervals, or pneumonia; caution in hospitalized, geriatric, or debilitated patients
Pregnancy: B - Fetal risk not confirmed in studies in humans but has been shown in some studies in animals

Clarithromycin

Clarithromycin can also be used to in an IV-to-PO switch regimen. In 2000, Parola et al reported on 290 patients with CAP who were given clarithromycin at 500 mg twice daily, first given intravenously in 250 or 500 mL of saline solution and then switched after 4-5 days to the same dose given orally. Within 10-15 days, 261 (90%) of 290 patients improved clinically and radiologically.²³

Other Antibiotics

Clindamycin

Martinez and associates found that switch therapy can be used when administering clindamycin.²⁴ Specifically, a multicenter, prospective, controlled study compared the clinical efficacy, safety, and economic impact of pharmacist intervention to promote sequential IV-to-PO clindamycin conversion. Clindamycin was prescribed for respiratory tract infections in 38.9% of patients and for prophylaxis in surgery in 25.4% (71% were contaminated during surgery). A total of 473 patients receiving intravenous clindamycin for at least 72 hours were included in the study. Two groups were established. Those in the intervention group (204 patients) were given an informative sheet recommending the sequential treatment, and the other group consisted of 269 control patients. Outcomes appeared similar.

Drug Name: Clindamycin (Cleocin)
Description: Lincosamide for treatment of serious skin and soft tissue staphylococcal infections. Also effective against aerobic and anaerobic streptococci (except enterococci). Inhibits bacterial growth, possibly by blocking dissociation of peptidyl t-RNA from ribosomes, causing RNA-dependent protein synthesis to arrest.
Adult Dose: 150-450 mg/dose PO q6-8h; not to exceed 1.8 g/d. 600-1200 mg/d IV/IM divided q6-8h, depending on severity of infection
Pediatric Dose: 8-20 mg/kg/d PO as hydrochloride or 8-25 mg/kg/d as palmitate divided tid/qid
20-40 mg/kg/d IV/IM divided tid/qid
Contraindications: Documented hypersensitivity; regional enteritis; ulcerative colitis; hepatic impairment; antibiotic-associated colitis
Interactions: Increases duration of neuromuscular blockade induced by tubocurarine and pancuronium; erythromycin may antagonize effects; antidiarrheals may delay absorption
Precautions: Adjust dose in severe hepatic dysfunction; no adjustment necessary in renal insufficiency; associated with severe and possibly fatal colitis by allowing overgrowth of C difficile
Pregnancy: C - Fetal risk revealed in studies in animals but not established or not studied in humans; may use if benefits outweigh risk to fetus

Ertapenem

The efficacy and safety of intravenous ertapenem (1 g/d) with the option to switch to an oral agent for treatment of adults with complicated urinary tract infections were compared with those of intravenous ceftriaxone (1 g/d) with the same oral switch option in a multicenter, double-blinded, prospective randomized study. The frequency and severity of drug-related adverse events were generally similar in both treatment groups. In this study, ertapenem was as effective as ceftriaxone for the initial treatment of complicated urinary tract infections in adults, was generally well tolerated, and had a similar overall safety profile.²⁵

Linezolid

In 2003, Li et al noted that intravenous linezolid can be followed by oral linezolid; these regimens were found to shorten hospital stays.²⁶ The exact timing of the switch depends on the clinical condition of the patient; oral and intravenous linezolid are relatively similar in effect. Linezolid is available in intravenous, film-coated tablet, and oral suspension forms. Linezolid can be assayed in serum and body fluids and has good bioavailability, with a maximum blood concentration at 0.5-2 hours.

Metronidazole

Metronidazole can be part of regimens for switching patients from intravenous to oral therapy. Treatment between prolonged intravenous therapy and intravenous therapy followed by conversion to oral antibiotic therapy is equivalent in children with perforated appendicitis. Similarly, a study noted 8 patients with brain abscesses who refused prolonged hospitalization and were treated with a short course (6-12 d) of intravenous antibiotics followed by prolonged treatment (15-19 wk) with an oral antibiotic regimen consisting of metronidazole, ciprofloxacin, and amoxicillin. All patients responded favorably based on clinical findings and imaging studies.

In 2003, Starakis et al compared the efficacy and safety of sequential intravenous/oral ciprofloxacin plus intravenous/oral metronidazole with that of intravenous ceftriaxone plus intravenous/oral metronidazole in the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections in 135 patients. Conversion to oral therapy with ciprofloxacin/metronidazole was as effective as continued intravenous therapy with ceftriaxone and oral metronidazole in patients who were able to tolerate oral feeding.²⁷

Similarly, in 1996, Solomkin et al reported a study in which patients were randomized to either (1) ciprofloxacin plus metronidazole intravenously or imipenem intravenously throughout their treatment course or (2) ciprofloxacin plus metronidazole intravenously and treatment with oral ciprofloxacin plus metronidazole when oral feeding was resumed, with equal outcomes.¹⁶

Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole

Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim) can also be used as part of IV-to-PO switch regimens. In 2002, Gollin et al reported on a study of 80 children who underwent appendectomy for perforated appendicitis. The children were safely discharged home on a 7-day course of oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and metronidazole when enteral intake was tolerated, regardless of fever or leukocytosis.²⁸

Antifungals

Itraconazole and fluconazole

The efficacy and safety of intravenous and oral itraconazole and intravenous and oral fluconazole for long-term prophylaxis of fungal infections in transplantation patients have been established; itraconazole is better tolerated. Generally, in patients who can take oral medications, itraconazole and fluconazole can be given orally with no adverse effects or effect on outcomes. Similarly, in 2002, Purkins et al noted that switching from intravenous to oral voriconazole can be effectively achieved.²⁹

Specifically, in 2002, Winston and Busuttil reported a study in which adult liver transplant recipients were randomized to receive either an oral itraconazole solution (200 mg q12h) or intravenous/oral fluconazole (400 mg/d). Each study drug was started immediately before the transplantation surgery and continued for 10 weeks after transplantation. Patients were evaluated for fungal colonization, proven invasive or superficial fungal infection, drug-related adverse effects, and death. Results were similar.³⁰

Antidepressants

Citalopram

Recently, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor citalopram has been administered as an intravenous infusion to patients with severe depression. The results from both open and double-blinded clinical studies with intravenous citalopram suggest that it is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for depression. Moreover, when infusion treatment is initiated and continued orally, citalopram is at least as effective as clomipramine, doxepin, and viloxazine. As with oral treatment, adverse events are mild to moderate in severity, and 50% of patients report no adverse events.

The high bioavailability of citalopram indicates that the switch from intravenous to oral citalopram prevents a deterioration of symptoms because plasma drug concentrations are maintained. Thus, citalopram, the only selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor available as an intravenous formulation, may be a useful addition in the treatment of patients with severe depression who may benefit from more intensive therapy.³¹

Drug Name: Citalopram (Celexa)
Description: Enhances serotonin activity because of selective reuptake inhibition at neuronal membrane.
Adult Dose: 20-60 mg PO qd
Pediatric Dose: Not indicated
Contraindications: Documented hypersensitivity; concurrent MAOI therapy
Interactions: May be potentiated by azole antifungals, omeprazole, and macrolides; serotonin syndrome (ie, myoclonus, rigidity, confusion, nausea, hyperthermia, autonomic instability, coma, eventual death) may be induced by buspirone, tramadol, MAOIs, and nefazodone; serotonin syndrome occurs with simultaneous use of other serotonergic agents (eg, anorectic agents, tramadol, buspirone, trazodone, clomipramine, nefazodone, tryptophan); discontinue other serotonergic agents at least 2 wk prior to administration
Precautions: Caution in cirrhosis, suicidal tendencies, SIADH, diabetes mellitus, and breastfeeding; common adverse effects include fatigue and sexual dysfunction
Pregnancy: C - Fetal risk revealed in studies in animals but not established or not studied in humans; may use if benefits outweigh risk to fetus

Doxepin

In 1997, Adler et al conducted a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study on doxepin to evaluate the effect of a switch from parenteral to oral administration upon symptoms of endogenous depression. They tested the hypothesis that the treatment response significantly worsens during the switch and concluded that this hypothesis must be rejected based on objective and subjective psychometric test findings. In fact, they noted continuous improvement. Preconditions included selection of patients with typical endogenous depression and maintenance of at least constant plasma levels of the active antidepressants.³²

In patients younger than 65 years, doxepin plasma levels can be kept constant by switching in a ratio of 125 mg intravenous to 250 mg oral. Individual case studies indicated that declining progress after switching was correlated with a decreasing plasma level of the active drug. An already-low plasma level during the infusion period, insufficient response, and questionable compliance with the oral medication were associated factors. Owing to large (by a factor of 10) interindividual differences of plasma levels, measurements before and after switching were required.

Analgesics

Acetaminophen

Promptly switching intravenous acetaminophen to oral acetaminophen is possible in patients with severe pain outbreaks if certain steps have been taken, including the establishment of a local consensus process, presentation of a short educational program, display of posters in all nurses' offices, and feedback regarding the practice 6 months after implementation of guidelines.

Antivirals

Acyclovir

Carcao and colleagues noted that immunocompromised children are at risk for disseminated varicella infections and that standard treatment involves hospitalization and intravenous acyclovir for 7-10 days. Carcao et al undertook a pilot study to assess the safety and efficacy of an alternative approach that involved a combination of intravenous followed by oral acyclovir in a cohort of immunocompromised children. Specifically, the cohort consisted of 26 immunocompromised children aged 1.5-12.7 years (mean age, 6.3 y).³³

Therapy was commenced with intravenous acyclovir (1500 mg/m²/d in 3 divided doses). Concurrent treatment included holding or reducing immunosuppressive therapy (by 50%) and administering varicella-zoster immunoglobulin in 11 (69%) of 16 patients in whom exposure to chickenpox was recognized. Patients were eligible to switch to oral therapy after receiving a minimum of 48 hours of intravenous acyclovir therapy, provided they were afebrile, had no new lesions for 24 hours, had no internal organ involvement, and were able to tolerate oral medications.³³

Patients were observed in the hospital for another 24 hours and were then discharged provided they remained well. Oral acyclovir was continued for a total of 7-10 days (intravenous plus oral). Carcao et al found that 25 of the 26 patients were successfully switched from intravenous to oral administration after 4.1 (mean) ± 1.2 days (standard deviation) (range, 2.3-6 d). Children had fever for a mean of 2 ± 1.6 days (range, 0-5 d) and developed new lesions for 2.9 ± 0.7 days (range, 2-4 d).³³

Disease resolved in all 25 patients who switched to oral therapy, and no patient required resumption of intravenous therapy. Carcao and associates concluded that the sequential use of intravenous acyclovir followed by oral acyclovir is feasible in the treatment of varicella infection in immunocompromised children and results in a reduced duration of intravenous therapy and hospitalization.³³

Drug Name: Acyclovir (Zovirax)
Description: Inhibits activity of both HSV-1 and HSV-2. Has affinity for viral thymidine kinase and, once phosphorylated, causes DNA chain termination when acted on by DNA polymerase. Patients experience less pain and faster resolution of cutaneous lesions when used within 48 h of rash onset. May prevent recurrent outbreaks. Early initiation of therapy is imperative.
Adult Dose: 600-800 mg PO 5 times/d for 7 d or 10 mg/kg/dose IV q8h; initiate treatment immediately upon onset of symptoms of recurrent episodes. Immunocompromised adults: 800 mg PO q4h (5 times/d) for 7-10 d
Pediatric Dose: 250-600 mg/m²/dose PO 4-5 times/d for 7-10 d; alternatively, 1500 mg/m²/d IV divided q8h or 10 mg/kg/dose IV q8h for 7 d
Contraindications: Documented hypersensitivity
Interactions: Concomitant use of probenecid or zidovudine prolongs half-life and increases CNS toxicity
Precautions: Caution in renal failure or when using nephrotoxic drugs
Pregnancy: B - Fetal risk not confirmed in studies in humans but has been shown in some studies in animals

Famciclovir and valacyclovir

The bioavailability of acyclovir is approximately 8%. The bioavailability of famciclovir and valacyclovir is approximately 50%. Now that famciclovir and valacyclovir have been approved, choosing either agent seems advisable when switching from intravenous acyclovir to an oral agent.

Inpatient Care

Inpatients with nonsevere community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) can be effectively and safely treated with oral antimicrobials from the time of admission, whereas those with severe pneumonia can be treated with early switch therapy. Once a hospitalized patient with CAP is clinically stable, switching from intravenous to oral antibiotics, even if the bacteremia was initially documented to be caused by S pneumoniae, is safe.

Numerous factors must be weighed before switching hospitalized patients from intravenous to oral antibiotics. In a study by Halm et al, the following factors were rated as very important to the antibiotic conversion decision:³⁴

• Absence of suppurative infection (93%)
• Ability to maintain oral intake (79%)
• Respiratory rate at baseline (64%)
• No positive blood culture findings (63%)
• Normal temperature (62%)
• Oxygenation at baseline (55%)
• Mental status at baseline (50%)

Fifty-eight percent of physicians believed that "patients should be afebrile for 24 hours before conversion to oral antibiotics," and 19% said "patients should receive a standard duration of intravenous antibiotics." The median thresholds at which physicians believed a typical patient could be converted to oral therapy were as follows:³⁴

• Temperature of less than or equal to 100°F (37.8°C)
• Respiratory rate of less than or equal to 20 breaths per minute
• Heart rate of less than or equal to 100 beats per minute
• Systolic blood pressure of 100 mm Hg or higher
• Room air oxygen saturation of 90% or higher

In univariate analyses, pulmonary and infectious disease physicians were the most predisposed toward early conversion to oral antibiotics, and other medical specialists were the least predisposed, with generalists being intermediate (P <.019). In multivariate analyses, practice beliefs were associated with age, inpatient care activities, attitudes about guidelines, and agreeableness on a personality inventory scale. In summary, physicians believed that patients could be switched to oral antibiotics once vital signs and mental status had stabilized and oral intake was possible. However, antibiotic practice beliefs varied considerably.³⁴

Regarding the management of CAP, Ramirez reported in 2001 that switch therapy can reduce costs associated with drug administration and length of hospital stay. He stated that switch therapy can be safely implemented when the following 4 criteria are met: (1) cough and respiratory distress improve, (2) fever abates for at least 8 hours, (3) the WBC count is returning to within the reference range, and (4) the patient can take drugs orally. In prospective clinical studies conducted at his institution, the clinical cure rate with switch therapy was 99% and the mean length of hospital stay was reduced by more than 2 days. Early switch, coupled with hospital discharge, may be possible in nearly half of all patients with CAP. Ramirez concluded that universal use of switch therapy in the United States could result in a total reduction of approximately 440,000 hospital days annually and an overall savings of $400 million.³⁵

In 1999, Ramirez and colleagues studied early switching to oral antibiotics (within the first 3 d of hospitalization) in 133 patients (67%). Clinical failure was documented in 1 patient. Early switch and early discharge was achieved in 88 patients (44%). The mean length of hospital stay for this group was 3.4 days. The most common reason for prolonged hospitalization after the switch to oral antibiotics was the need for a diagnostic workup. More than 95% of patients were satisfied with the care they had received. Ramirez and colleagues concluded that, based on simple clinical and laboratory criteria, a significant proportion of hospitalized patients with CAP (44%) can be treated with early switch and early discharge. This model did not affect patient outcome, but it did decrease the length of hospitalization and was associated with a high level of patient satisfaction.³⁶

Implementation of Switch Therapy Protocol

Important questions include how to identify candidates for an early switch and how to effect the IV-to-PO switch. Releasing IV-to-PO switch guidelines alone is not sufficient. Electronic drug-ordering systems have been introduced during the past years, enabling a central computer to provide a daily list of all patients who are on intravenous antibiotics for more than 48 hours and are therefore potential candidates for an IV-to-PO switch. The consulting infectious diseases physician can review these patients' charts and contact the attending physician to investigate whether the patient can indeed be switched to oral therapy. Electronic drug-ordering systems might be a more convenient way to streamline antibiotic prescribing methods.

In 1999, Teich et al reported on their study of a computer program to facilitate switch therapy. They found that physicians agreed to change (or had just changed) the patient's medication from intravenous to oral in 31.7% of cases.³⁷

Special Concerns

According to Wilcox, less obvious potential benefits of sequential antimicrobial therapy include fewer intravascular catheter infections because of shorter line-dwell times and less endoluminal contamination.³⁸ Sequential antimicrobial therapy may also be used as part of a policy to reduce the selective pressure, particularly due to cephalosporin use, for endemic hospital pathogens such as C difficile and extended-spectrum–producing gram-negative bacilli.

Caceres et al found that an in-hospital observation period after a patient is changed to oral treatment is of limited usefulness. In this study, only 1% of patients had evidence of clinical relapse within the study period. Four percent of patients had adverse reactions to their oral antibiotic, none of which was serious. Thus, discharging patients after changing to oral antibiotics could result in savings from avoiding an extra day of hospitalization, amounting to millions of dollars annually in the United States.³⁹

Keywords

intravenous to oral switch therapy, IV-PO switch therapy, IV-to-PO switch therapy, parenteral to oral switch therapy, parenteral-to-oral switch therapy, parenteral-to-PO switch therapy, antibiotics, analgesics, antipsychotics, antivirals, community-acquired pneumonia, CAP, community acquired pneumonia, antibiotic agents, analgesic agents, antipsychotic agents, antiviral agents, antibiotic drugs, analgesic drugs, antipsychotic drugs, antiviral drugs, anti-virals, anti-viral drugs, anti-viral agents, anti-psychotic agents, anti-psychotic drugs, fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins, chloramphenicol, clindamycin, metronidazole, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, doxycycline, minocycline, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, linezolid, ofloxacin, citalopram, clomipramine, doxepin, viloxazine, clindamycin, cefuroxime, cefuroxime axetil, cefetamet pivoxil, ceftriaxone

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