The appropriate use of antimicrobial agents is crucial for patient’s safety and public health. One way of optimizing antibiotic use is to switch earlier from intravenous to oral therapy. The main types of conversion are sequential therapy, switch therapy and step down therapy. The aim of the study is to evaluate the practice of conversion of intravenous to oral antibiotics and barriers affecting it. Barriers affecting conversion includes patient related factors, clinical course related factors and additional diagnostic factors. A prospective observational study was done for a period of six months at Karuna Medical College Vilayodi, Chittur. A standardized data entry form was prepared to record all patient details, investigations and therapy given. 145 patients were observed and the study shows that cephalosporins (41%) were the mostly prescribed intravenous antibiotics. Step down type conversions were mostly observed type of conversion that is of 45.3% followed by switch type (35.9%) and sequential type (18.7%). The study shows that early conversion of intravenous antibiotics can reduce the cost of therapy and length of stay.

Keywords : Intravenous, Oral, Antibiotics, Conversion, Barriers.