Combating antibiotic resistance requires a wide range of interventions in order to reduce the unnecessary use of antimicrobials and preserve their efficacy. Hospital antimicrobial policies should include a recommendation that intravenous administration of antibiotics is targeted at patients who are severely ill, unable to tolerate oral treatment, or where oral therapy would not provide adequate coverage or tissue penetration. Clinicians are encouraged to review antibiotic use after 48 hours and to consider switching from an intravenous to an oral preparation as soon as possible.

Intravenous antibiotic use is …