Pharmacy-implemented guidelines on switching from intravenous to oral antibiotics: an intervention study

A high proportion of medical in-patients in the UK receive intravenous (IV) antibiotic therapy. This may be inappropriate in non-severe infections, or unnecessarily prolonged. Data relating to infection and antibiotic therapy were collected for 4 weeks pre-intervention (group 1) and 4 weeks post intervention (group 2). Six months later, data were collected for a further 4 weeks following a second intervention (group 3). Interventions consisted of pharmacy-led implementation of guidelines incorporating criteria for IV therapy and switching to the oral route. The second intervention also included pharmacy-initiated feedback on prescribing. The main outcome measures were IV antibiotic duration, and appropriateness of the IV route and switching.