Comparison of Early Intravenous to Oral Switch Amoxicillin/clavulanate with Parenteral Ceftriaxone in Treatment of Hospitalized Patients with Community Acquired Pneumonia

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy and cost effectiveness of early intravenous to oral switch Amoxicillin/Clavulanate and parenteral Ceftriaxone in treatment of hospitalized patients with community acquired pneumonia (CAP). Design: Open, randomized, parallel group comparative study. Setting: Department of Medicine at Services Hospital, Lahore Patients and Methods: Fifty patients with community acquired pneumonia requiring intravenous antibiotics on admission to the hospital and fulfilling study criteria were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive therapy either with Amoxicillin/Clavulanate or Ceftriaxone. Patients in Amoxicillin/Clavulanate group were switched from IV to oral antibiotics based upon switch criteria whereas those in Ceftriaxone group completed the therapy parenterally. Main Outcome Measures: The two groups were compared to each other on the basis of clinical and bacteriological outcome at the end of treatment and follow up. Treatment costs were calculated for the