Assessment of the use of cefixime for switch therapy.

Switch therapy, the switch from a parenteral to an oral antimicrobial agent, has been used successfully in the treatment of many serious infections. Several studies have found that significant cost savings can be achieved by switch therapy. Moreover, it has the further advantages of shortening hospital stay and reducing nosocomial bacteremia. With the exception of Staphylococcus aureus and penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae, cefixime has similar in vitro activity to cefotaxime and ceftriaxone. It has a prolonged half-life, allowing for once-a-day dosing, and has excellent tissue penetration (132%). These characteristics support the use of cefixime for switch therapy when a susceptible pathogen has been identified.