Intravenous Antibiotics

Infusion therapy involves the administration of medication through a needle or catheter (intravenous or IV), typically when patients are not able to take medications orally. Since its introduction in the 1970s, a standard modality for patients with many types of infections is long-term IV antibiotic or antifungal therapy.

Home infusion of IV antibiotics or antifungals is prescribed by a doctor for select patients who are well enough to be treated at home, but cannot be adequately treated with oral medications. Appropriate IV access is essential. Only a small number of bacterial infections need to be treated with IV antibiotics in the home. Many mild to moderate infections can be effectively treated with oral antibiotics. Unfortunately, because of the increasing incidence of antibiotic resistance in hospitals and the community, many infections that once had oral antibiotic options can now only be treated with intravenous antibiotics.

The amount and type of IV antibiotics or antifungals are tailored specifically to each patient to effectively treat the infection while allowing the patient to receive treatment in their home (as opposed to remaining in the hospital for treatment). KabaFusion provides an array of acute therapies in the home or alternate site settings which includes antibacterial and antifungal infusion medications. Pharmacists provide careful drug monitoring and patient assessment for safe delivery of infusion therapy and follow Infectious Disease Society guidelines for multidrug resistant infections.

The treatment of infections with IV antibiotics in the home is an established treatment modality. Careful patient selection, safe IV access and appropriate training and monitoring means that many patients can be treated at home. Unfortunately, the rise of multidrug resistant infections means more patients will need prolonged courses of IV antibiotics.