Reducing costs and hospital stay for pneumonia with home intravenous cefotaxime treatment: results with a computerized ambulatory drug delivery system.
Studies have documented the efficacy and safety of antibiotic infusion in the home as a cost-effective alternative to in-hospital infusion. The present analysis focuses on home treatment of pneumonia with cefotaxime delivered via an ambulatory infusion pump and the potential of this therapy to reduce the length of hospital stay. Data presented here and in previously published studies of a variety of serious infections show that admitting patients into home intravenous antibiotic therapy programs can significantly reduce, and sometimes eliminate, hospital stay, while providing efficacy and safety comparable to that expected from hospital treatment. Analysis of hospitalization patterns for pneumonia patients placed on cefotaxime therapy delivered via portable infusion pump revealed that length of stay was only 10% of that for the reference diagnosis-related group. Despite the great potential cost savings, there are reimbursement barriers to the use of home infusion antibiotics. However, healthcare reform may promote greater acceptance, use, and support of home infusion technology.[1]References
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