SEQUENTIAL ANTIBIOTIC-THERAPY - THE RIGHT PATIENT, THE RIGHT TIME ANDTHE RIGHT OUTCOME

The aim of sequential therapy should be to provide better quality of c are at lower cost. In comparison with IV therapy, oral administration is safer, more acceptable to the patient, facilitates early discharge from hospital and reduces the cost of consumables. However, if given t o the wrong patient, oral antimicrobial therapy could both increase th e cost and reduce the quality of care, either because of ineffective t reatment, or unnecessary prolongation of treatment. Hospitals must dev elop policies for sequential therapy which define standards against wh ich clinical care can be audited. The standards will need to be revise d as new data become available from local audit and from research. Fur ther research on sequential therapy is undoubtedly required, with part icular emphasis on the reliability of absorption of oral drugs by hosp italized patients.