Table 1.

Modifications of antibiotic regimens

Process measures	Definition
Modification of therapy
Escalation	Change from oral to intravenous (i.v.) antibiotic treatment within the same antibacterial spectrum, change to more broad-spectrum treatment, adding an antibiotic to a combination.
De-escalation	Change from i.v. to oral antibiotic treatment within the same antibacterial spectrum or change to more narrow-spectrum treatment.
Change same level	Change to a regimen within the same antibacterial spectrum and form of administration (i.v./oral).
Unchanged	Regimens where first change of therapy was discontinuation of antibiotics, either during admission or after discharge.
Time to first modification of AB regimen	Time to first escalation/de-escalation/change within same antibacterial spectrum and dosage form (change of active substance(s), i.v. to oral switch, stopping or adding an antibiotic).
Number of treatment regimens	The number of treatment regimens from initiation of treatment until antibiotics prescribed at discharge
Day of oral antibiotics	The first day that one or more oral antibiotics were given.