A cost-effective approach to managing infectious disease.
Outpatient intravenous therapy (OIT) offers a safe, practical, and cost-effective means for long-term antimicrobial treatment of certain infectious diseases. The author compares the efficacy, frequency of administration, and cost of the most suitable parenteral agents and cites criteria for patient selection. An efficient and safe OIT program requires a multidisciplinary approach that integrates support from the physician, nurse-educator, social services, and pharmacy. Several small studies indicate that OIT can result in an impressive savings when compared with inpatient costs.
D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*; D003363:Cost Control / Q000379:methods; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000639:trends*; D010045:Outpatients; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D012648:Self Care; D014481:United States