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Home intravenous antibiotic therapy programme, 1999.

OBJECTIVES
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.