Many oral antimicrobials have excellent bioavailability and conversion from IV to PO antimicrobial therapy in selected patients is an effective way of achieving the following:
The switch or step-down to oral therapy must be individualized based upon the patient’s clinical status and infection
With appropriate IV to PO conversion, there is no difference in treatment success or mortality
Patients should NOT be converted to oral therapy if they meet any of the following exclusion criteria
Patients should NOT be converted to oral therapy if they meet any of the following exclusion criteria, unless switch advised by infectious disease physican