[Effectiveness of switch therapy for peritonitis].

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Pharmacology
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Peritonitis management often involves intravenous antibiotics.
• Evaluating alternative treatment strategies like switch therapy is crucial for optimizing patient care and resource utilization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy and economic impact of switch therapy (intravenous to oral) in peritonitis treatment.
• To compare switch therapy outcomes against traditional intravenous antibiotic administration.

Main Methods:

• A randomized study involving 35 patients with peritonitis.
• Four treatment groups were established: one with carbapenem alone, and three utilizing switch therapy from injectable to oral quinolone.
• Treatment protocols included specific criteria for continuing intravenous therapy or switching to oral medication based on patient response.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in therapeutic effects were observed between the switch therapy groups and the intravenous administration group.
• Switch therapy groups demonstrated a significant reduction in both the duration of hospitalization and total medical costs.
• Patient improvement criteria were established for both treatment arms to guide medication adjustments.

Conclusions:

• Switch therapy from injectable to oral medication is a viable and beneficial treatment strategy for peritonitis.
• This approach offers significant advantages in reducing healthcare costs and hospital stays.
• Further research may explore broader applications of switch therapy in managing intra-abdominal infections.