A 48-year-old woman on ICU has been treated for abdominal sepsis with piperacillin/tazobactam for 5 days. She is improving clinically. Blood cultures ...

Question

A 48-year-old woman on ICU has been treated for abdominal sepsis with piperacillin/tazobactam for 5 days. She is improving clinically. Blood cultures grew E. coli sensitive to amoxicillin, co-amoxiclav, and ciprofloxacin. When considering IV-to-oral antibiotic switch, which criteria should be met?

Accepted Answer

The patient should be clinically improving, tolerating oral intake, haemodynamically stable, and have a functioning gastrointestinal tract

Answer

The patient must have been afebrile for at least 7 days

Answer

The patient must have completed at least 10 days of IV antibiotics before switching to oral

Answer

Oral switch should only occur after repeat blood cultures are negative

Answer

Oral antibiotics should never be used for bloodstream infections

uk-fficm MCQ (SBA): IV-to-Oral Antibiotic Switch

A 48-year-old woman on ICU has been treated for abdominal sepsis with piperacillin/tazobactam for 5 days. She is improving clinically. Blood cultures grew E. coli sensitive to amoxicillin, co-amoxiclav, and ciprofloxacin. When considering IV-to-oral antibiotic switch, which criteria should be met?