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Intravenous antibiotic therapy at home
Annals of Internal Medicine
|November 1, 1978
Summary
Home intravenous (IV) antibiotic therapy is safe, effective, and significantly more cost-effective than inpatient care for various infections. Patients and families accepted this treatment model, allowing a return to normal activities.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Intravenous (IV) antibiotic therapy is crucial for treating severe infections.
- In-hospital treatment can be costly and limit patient mobility.
- Home-based IV antibiotic programs offer a potential alternative.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of home-based IV antibiotic therapy.
- To assess patient and family acceptance of home IV antibiotic treatment.
- To compare home therapy outcomes with traditional inpatient care.
Main Methods:
- A 12-month study involving 23 patients (aged 12-78) receiving home IV antibiotics for 8-40 days.
- Treatment included bone and joint infections, blastomycosis, actinomycosis, bacteremia, endocarditis, and candidal pyelonephritis.
- Patients self-administered antibiotics via a heparin-lock IV cannula, with nurse support.
Main Results:
- Therapeutic effectiveness was good across various infections.
- Patient and family acceptance was high.
- Home therapy cost $40/patient-day versus an estimated $137 for inpatient care.
- Side effect profile was similar to inpatient treatment, with reduced phlebitis.
Conclusions:
- Home-based IV antibiotic therapy is a safe, effective, and cost-saving alternative to hospitalization.
- The program facilitates patient recovery and return to normal activities.
- This model demonstrates successful patient self-administration and positive outcomes for complex infections.
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