Guidance

Antimicrobial intravenous-to-oral switch: criteria for prompt switch

National antimicrobial intravenous-to-oral switch (IVOS) criteria for prompt switch​ developed for adult and paediatric patients, categorised into 5 sections.

Documents

Antimicrobial IVOS decision aid for adults

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Antimicrobial intravenous-to-oral switch (IVOS) decision aid for paediatrics

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Details

In 2022, the IVOS criteria for adults were developed through collation of criteria from a sample of 45 acute hospital IVOS policies, completion of a rapid systematic literature review to validate selection of criteria, and a 4-step Delphi consensus-gathering process involving 279 multidisciplinary participants from all UK nations to agree evidence-based, UK-wide IVOS criteria for hospitalised adult patients.

In 2024, paediatric IVOS criteria were also developed. The 29 criteria were co-produced through a UK-wide consensus process involving 170 multidisciplinary participants.

These projects were led by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)’s Healthcare-Associated Infection, Fungal, Antimicrobial Resistance, Antimicrobial Use and Sepsis Division, in collaboration with NHS England AMR Programme and UKHSA’s Behavioural Science and Insights Unit. 

Updates to this page

Published 1 November 2022
Last updated 25 October 2024 + show all updates
  1. Added plain text alternative for 'Antimicrobial intravenous-to-oral switch (IVOS) decision aid for paediatrics' and additional links.

  2. Added decision guide for paediatrics.

  3. Added paediatric IVOS prompt early switch criteria. Changed attachment titles to specify for adult patients.

  4. Added IVOS decision aid.

  5. First published.

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