Self-administration of intravenous antibiotics: an efficient, cost-effective home care program

The effects of a home care program with 102 courses (2336 patient-days) of intravenous antibiotic therapy were evaluated. Home care nurses changed the intravenous cannula site every 3 days. The initial hospital stay averaged 11.8 days and the duration of home therapy averaged 22.9 days. The diseases treated included osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, endocarditis, cystic fibrosis and pneumonia, staphylococcal bacteremia, blastomycosis, actinomycosis and other soft tissue infections. All classes of commonly used antibiotics, including penicillins, cephalosporins, aminoglycosides and amphotericin B, were administered, alone or in combination. There were no side effects that necessitated discontinuation of home treatment or readmission to hospital. The average cost per patient-day was $58, compared with an estimated $193 for in-hospital therapy; in addition, 2336 hospital bed-days were made available. Most patients were able to resume many or all of their daily activities while receiving intravenous antibiotic therapy.