Outpatient intravenous antibiotic therapy. Ten years' experience

The experience within the past ten years at Methodist Hospital and Park Nicollet Medical Center, Minneapolis, has clearly demonstrated that outpatient intravenous (IV) antibiotic therapy can be undertaken with relative ease and results in substantial cost savings. During this time, no significant morbidity and no mortality associated with this modality have occurred. Patients of all ages with bone, joint, skin, or soft-tissue infection and other infectious diseases such as meningitis have participated. Patient compliance and enthusiasm have been high. Necessary elements for such a program include an enthusiastic medical staff, a central admixture service, and a team of nurses or other health care professionals available for IV cannula care. Careful patient selection, education, and follow-up are also essential. We believe use of outpatient IV antibiotic therapy will continue to grow in the future, in part because of changes in the financing of medical care.