Oral antibiotic therapy for serious infections.

After a pathogen has been identified and the antibiotic susceptibility determined, parenteral antibiotic administration can be replaced by the oral route for certain patients with meningitis, brain abscess, endocarditis, and skeletal infections. Antibiotics should be administered with the stomach empty and accompanied by 3 ml/kg of water. Direct instillation into the lumen of the small intestine may be advantageous with selected patients. Documenting adequate antibiotic absorption and ensuring compliance are essential to efficacious therapy.