Bioavailability of Oral Antibiotics Was Unaffected During the Acute Phase of Infection

In a Dutch study, acute infection did not alter exposure of orally administered amoxicillin or ciprofloxacin in hospitalized patients who were not critically ill.

While concerns about increased volume of distribution and augmented renal clearance during acute infection make parenteral antibiotics desirable for critically ill patients, these concerns may not apply to hospitalized patients who are not critically ill. Before a switch to oral antibiotic therapy is considered in such patients, recommendations specify parenteral antibiotics for at least 48–72 hours until improvement is shown. However, these decisions are not based on solid pharmacokinetic data.

Dutch investigators enrolled 52 patients hospitalized with noncritical illness (mainly community-acquired pneumonia or complicated urinary tract infection) and receiving intravenous (IV) antibiotics other than amoxicillin (AMX) or ciprofloxacin (CIP)…

Reviewing Author

George Sakoulas, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardParatek Pharmaceuticals; Nestle Corp.; AbbVie; Shionogi

Speaker’s BureauAllergan/AbbVie; Paratek Pharmaceuticals; Nestle Corp.

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsAntimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy; Open Forum Infectious Diseases