SEQUENTIAL SWITCH THERAPY FOR LOWER RESPIRATORY-TRACT INFECTIONS - A EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE

Traditionally, serious lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) are treated in hospital and with parenteral antibiotics. During the past d ecade, there has been an impetus to reduce the overall cost of antimic robial therapy. The availability of new oral antibiotics with superior pharmacokinetics profiles and safety has enabled clinicians increasin gly to consider their use in managing serious infections effectively. This article retie rvs the current published literature regarding the practice of switch therapy for LRTIs, examining the evidence for effic acy, safety, appropriate timing of the switch, the economic benefits, and the suitability of various antibiotics. There is an emphasis on co mparing current European and US experience and examining key strategie s in implementing such programs and means of assessing their impact.