Experience with a decentralized IV to PO ofloxacin conversion program

This report describes the University of Massachusetts Medical Center's expe rience with a decentralized IV to PO ofloxacin conversion program. In an ef fort to achieve cost-effective use of ofloxacin, the pharmacy department, i n cooperation with the antibiotic subcommittee of the P & T Committee, deve loped criteria for converting patients from IV to PO ofloxacin. Pharmacists assigned to patient care areas were charged with evaluating patient eligib ility for IV to PO conversion and making recommendations based on the estab lished criteria. During the initial 8 weeks of the program, 75% of pharmaci st recommendations resulted in a change within 24 hours. Monthly oral oflox acin use, expressed as a percentage of total ofloxacin doses, increased fro m 53% prior to program implementation to 66% after implementation (p < 0.00 1), This program is expected to reduce our annual ofloxacin costs for both the IV and oral formulations by $30,000.