Association between initial antibiotic route and outcomes for children hospitalized with pneumonia

Initial oral antibiotics may be as effective as intravenous (IV) antibiotics for children hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), but further data are needed.

We evaluated for associations of initial antibiotic route (IV vs. oral) with length of stay (LOS) and secondary outcomes for children hospitalized with CAP.

This multicenter, retrospective cohort study included children with CAP who were hospitalized for >48 h, had chest radiographs, and received antibiotics at four children's hospitals between 2014 and 2020. Data were obtained from the Pediatric Health Information System and manual chart review. The exposure was initial antibiotic route (i.e., first antibiotic given intravenously or orally). We performed multivariable regression modeling using inverse probability treatment weights from propensity scores. Outcomes included LOS, oxygen duration, cost, care escalation, and readmission or emergency department revisit.

Of 1147 included children, 37% received initial oral antibiotics. Within the propensity balanced sample, LOS was 73.5 h (IQR 61.0, 99.5) and 78.7 (61.0, 118.0) for patients with initial oral and IV antibiotics, respectively. Children receiving initial oral antibiotics had an 8% reduction in LOS (OR 0.92 [95% CI: 0.87, 0.94]) and 14% reduction in cost (OR 0.86 [95% CI 0.79, 0.94]) versus those receiving initial IV antibiotics. There were no differences in other outcomes.

Children with CAP receiving initial oral antibiotics had reduced LOS and hospital cost without differences in escalated care or return visits. Starting hospitalized children on oral antibiotics is likely a safe and effective alternative to IV treatment.