06/01/2026
Give ORAL antibiotics when
1. Patient is clinically stable
• Normal or near-normal vitals
• No signs of sepsis
• No hypotension, no hypoxia
2. GI tract is working
• Patient is conscious, cooperative
• Can swallow and retain drugs
• No persistent vomiting or severe diarrhea
• No malabsorption (short gut, severe enteritis)
3. Infection severity is mild–moderate
• Uncomplicated UTI
• Mild CAP
• Cellulitis without systemic toxicity
• ENT infections
💉Give IV antibiotics when
1. Patient is sick or unstable
• Sepsis / septic shock
• Hypotension, tachycardia, hypoxia
• Rising lactate, organ dysfunction
2. Altered sensorium
• Delirium, coma, encephalopathy
• Aspiration risk → oral unsafe
3. Oral route is unreliable
• Repeated vomiting
• Ileus, severe diarrhea
• Malabsorption syndromes
• NPO status
4. Infection is severe or life-threatening
• Severe pneumonia
• Meningitis
• Endocarditis
• Necrotizing infections
• Severe intra-abdominal sepsis
Doctor , medicine , internal medicine , clinical teaching , clinical cases
