From the 8.1.7.4 patch set notes:
Patch sets are cumulative. For example, 8.1.7.2 would include all the fixes in 8.1.7.1.0 as well as new fixes for 8.1.7.2.0. This means that unless the patch set documentation indicates otherwise the patch set can be applied to any earlier 8.1.7 version. There is no requirement to install all intermediate patch sets.
I went from 8.1.7.0 to 8.1.7.3 and then to 8.1.7.4 on Linux (RH) without a problem.
