Home intravenous antibiotic therapy programme, 1999.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the cost-effectiveness and safety of the Home Intravenous Antibiotic Therapy (HIAT) program in the district of Haifa and Western Galilee in Northern Israel.


METHODS
We checked all the medical records of all the patients who had been treated at home with intravenous antibiotics during 1999. We reviewed the mean clinical diagnosis, aetiological agent, type of antibiotic given, complications and cost evaluation.


RESULTS
During 1999, 250 patients received 284 courses of HIAT. The total duration of treatments was 3404 days; 61% of the patients were referred from clinical departments from one of the medical centres in our area. Soft-tissue infections and osteomyelitis were the most common clinical diagnoses at 40%. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most frequent pathogen presented and Ceftazidine the most common antimicrobial agent prescribed. The HIAT program saved $815 000 during 1999. Only minor complications were present.


CONCLUSIONS
HIAT is effective, safe, comfortable for the patients, and has an important economical impact.
Steinmetz
D
D
Hospital-at-Home Department, Health Continuation Management Unit, Clalit Health Services, Haifa and Western Galilee District, Israel.
Berkovits
E
E
Edelstein
H
H
Flatau
E
E
Almany
A
A
Raz
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D018575:Home Care Services, Hospital-Based / Q000191:economics*; D018718:Home Infusion Therapy / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents