Evolution of outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy

Until recently, the treatment of major infections such as those involving bones, joints, heart valves, and wounds often required hospitalization for up to several weeks in order to administer intravenous antibiotics. To effectively utilize hospital beds and reduce costs, alternative methods of delivering parenteral medications have been developed. It has subsequently become standard practice for intravenous antimicrobics to be administered safely in outpatient settings such as the home, doctor's office, infusion center, or clinic. The development of potent antibiotics with prolonged half-lives coupled with a wide variety of intravenous infusion systems utilizing various access devices have made the transition to outpatient therapy safe, efficient, and cost effective.