Meal interference with antibiotics administered orally in hospitals

A study of 132 hospitals in New York City was conducted to determine: (1) The usual drug administration and meal serving time schedules used; (2) if oral antibiotics recommended to be given on an empty stomach are actually administered with or near meals; and (3) who is responsible for establishing drug administration time schedules. A structured-disguised questionnaire was used and administered via telephone. Results revealed a wide variation of drug administration time schedules and meal serving times. Meal interference with oral antibiotic absorption was defined as a meal that is served less than one hour before or two hours after an oral antibiotic is scheduled to be administered. The incidence of meal interference ranged from 35 percent to 64 percent. The pharmacy and therapeutics committee, more often than any other group or individual (19.2 percent), was responsible for establishing drug administration times. A formal dosage schedule for orally administered antibiotics is recommended as an effort to reduce the incidence of meal interference with antibiotic absorption. Such a schedule developed at one hospital is presented.