• M Amodio-Groton, A Madu, C N Madu, L L Briceland, M Seligman, P McMaster, and M H Miller.
• Department of Pharmacy, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA.
• Ann Pharmacother. 1996 Jun 1;30(6):596-602.

ObjectiveTo compare, in patients with gram-negative bacteremia, a course of parenteral antibiotic therapy alone with initial parenteral therapy followed by oral ciprofloxacin in terms of the length of hospitalization, clinical effectiveness, toxicity, and cost.DesignA prospective, controlled, randomized, open trial in select hospitalized patients.SettingLarge metropolitan teaching hospital.PatientsFifty hospitalized patients with proven gram-negative bacteremia were randomized to receive either oral ciprofloxacin (group 1) following a 72-hour initial intravenous antibiotic regimen or to continue parenteral therapy alone (group 2). To compare the length of hospitalization, an additional group of 50 hospitalized patients with bacteremia (not enrolled in the study, group 3) were analyzed.InterventionParenteral antibiotics for 72 hours followed by continuation of a parenteral regimen or oral ciprofloxacin 750 mg bid.Main Outcome MeasuresClinical response, toxicity, and length of hospitalization.ResultsClinical resolution was comparable in the 24 group 1 patients receiving intravenous antibiotics followed by oral ciprofloxacin (83%), the 26 group 2 patients receiving parenteral therapy alone (77%), and the 50 comparison patients (76%). There was little toxicity noted in any group, and the initial parenteral antibiotic regimens were similar. The mean numbers of hospital days on antibiotics were 9.1, 11.2, and 10.6 days in groups 1,2, and 3, respectively (p < 0.05 for group 1 vs. group 2 or 3), and the lengths of hospitalization were 9.8, 15.7, and 12.1 days, respectively (p < 0.05 for group 1 vs. group 2 or 3). Shortening the length of hospitalization and days of antibiotic therapy was associated with a cost savings of up to $78 000 for group 1 patients.ConclusionsParenteral therapy for 72 hours followed by oral ciprofloxacin significantly shortened both the number of hospital days taking antibiotics and the length of stay compared with parenteral therapy alone. Both regimens were equally effective and safe in the therapy of gram-negative bacteremia, and initial parenteral therapy followed by oral ciprofloxacin was cost-effective.

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