OBJECTIVES: Intravenous Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) are widely used in hospital. The galenic formulation of esomeprazole tablets (Multi Unit Pellet System) enables water dispersion and subsequent administration through a gastric tube (GT), thus offering an alternative to injectable PPIs. The primary objective of this study was to estimate the percentage of hospital patients treated with intravenous PPIs that are potential candidates to a treatment with esomeprazole tablets administered via a GT. Secondary objectives were to derive the subsequent savings in terms of drug acquisition cost and nurses time saving. METHODS: Hospitals, stratified on their administrative status, were randomly selected. In each hospital, departments consuming more than 80% of the total injectable PPIs were identified. Patient data collection (including presence of a GT) was done during one single day. The time to administrate injectable PPI and esomeprazole tablets through a GT was estimated by nurses; drug cost calculations were done with undiscounted prices including taxes. RESULTS: A database including 179 patients in 19 different hospital centres was collected. Mean age (SD) was 61.9 (16.3) years and 53.9% of patients were male. Patients were hospitalised for 13.1 (16.5) days in surgery department (41%), medical department (37.1%), intensive care unit (21.9%). 46.6 % of patients were hospitalised for cancers and 30.1% for digestive diseases. Total number of patients which had GT was 33.3%. Median nurse times to administrate injectable PPI and esomeprazole tablets through a GT were respectively 5 and 3 minutes (-40%), while the drug costs were respectively €8.08 and €1.49 (-82%). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that 33% of patients treated with injectable PPI have a gastric tube. These patients are potential candidates to be treated with esomeprazole tablet through a gastric tube with significant benefits both in terms of drug acquisition cost and nurse time saving.