Switch therapy, or step-down therapy, is the concept of switching from an intravenous antibiotic to an oral preparation after a few days, once the condition of the patient has improved and the pathogen and its susceptibility have been determined. The orally active third-generation cephalosporin cefixime is a primary candidate for switch therapy owing to its very good efficacy and safety profile. Preliminary studies have shown excellent clinical outcomes with switch therapy to cefixime after 2–3 days for a variety of serious infections. Importantly, dramatic cost benefits have also been found, particularly with respect to reduced length of hospital stays. However, guidelines are required to indicate under what conditions switch therapy is appropriate, and awareness must be developed within hospitals among physicians, pharmacists and administrators alike.

This content is only available via PDF.
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.