title: Outpatient antibiotic therapy for elderly patients. HIAT Study Group.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of outpatient intravenous (IV) therapy with a third-generation cephalosporin, cefotaxime, in patients > or = 60 years of age and to determine its effect on length of hospital stay. Subset analysis was performed with 62 patients with various infections who had been enrolled in a prospective, multicenter, open-label trial of IV cefotaxime delivered through a computerized ambulatory delivery system (ADS). Initial treatment was given in hospital if required, followed by home therapy. The overall clinical response rate among evaluable patients was 98%, and the overall bacteriologic response rate was 93%. The mean duration of inpatient therapy was 3.6 days less than the mean of 8.2 days allowed under diagnosis-related group (DRG) allotments. Outpatient therapy with cefotaxime via infusion pump is safe and effective and may reduce hospitalization requirements.
authors.affiliation: Des Moines Internists, P.C., Iowa 50266.
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Angel
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D002439:Cefotaxime / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D007260:Infusion Pumps; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D002439:Cefotaxime