Summary
Specific goals for home-delivered IV antibiotic
therapies include improved clinical status, resolution of infection,
reduction of VAD complications and new infections, therapy completion
and other criteria. Patient safety is
the first priority for any intervention. Home-based care has a different
set of considerations to assure safety of care and treatment. The risk
for infection related to homecare is smaller than the risk for
infections acquired in the hospital setting, especially in the case of
drug-resistant infections.
All of the requirements for patient safety, therapy
efficacy, and team management are available for home administration of
IV antibiotic therapies with the often added bonus of cost-containment
and improved patient satisfaction. Continuing research on best practices
and efficacy and cost-efficient methods of treatment will continue to
make the homecare setting a practical alternative to hospitalization for
intravenous antibiotic therapies.