An audit of hospital based outpatient infusions and a pilot program of community-based monoclonal antibody infusions.
BACKGROUND
Infliximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody to tumour necrosis factor alpha, is administered as an intravenous infusion requiring a costly hospital day case or inpatient admission.


METHODS
An audit of all current therapies given by intravenous infusions in an outpatient setting in St Vincent's University Hospital (SVUH) was undertaken. Furthermore, in conjunction with TCP homecare, we established in a general practise health clinic, the first Irish community infusion centre for the administration of infliximab in August 2006.


RESULTS
All outpatient departments indicated that they would favour a centralized hospital infusion unit. There were no adverse events and the mean global satisfaction improved in the community infliximab infusion pilot programme of seven patients.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests efficiencies in providing centralized infusion facilities, while the community based infusion of infliximab is feasible and safe in this small cohort and identifies the community infusion unit as a viable and cost efficient alternative for administration of infliximab.
Doran
J-P
JP
Department of Rheumatology, St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. johnpauldoran@gmail.com
Alraqi
S
S
Callanan
I
I
FitzGerald
O
O
Bresnihan
B
B
Veale
D J
DJ
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics; D003151:Community Health Centers; D005260:Female; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000069285:Infliximab