Priority 16 from the Healthcare Associated Infections Project

UNCERTAINTY: Is outpatient antibiotic therapy better than inpatient antibiotic therapy in people requiring intravenous antibiotics? (Priority 16)
Overall ranking 16
JLA question ID 0088/16
Explanatory note Some people require intravenous antibiotics (i.e. antibiotics that have to be introduced into the blood directly for them to work). Traditionally, this has been done in the hospitals. This results in hospital beds occupied solely for the purpose of administering the antibiotics. Training GP nurses or community nurses to administer intravenous antibiotics and monitor patients at their home or GP surgery can allow earlier discharge of patients and allow the beds to be used for more unwell patients. There is uncertainty about whether this is beneficial or harmful to patients requiring intravenous antibiotics.
Evidence

None identified
Health Research Classification System category Infection
Extra information provided by this project
Original uncertainty examples What are the benefits of OutPatient Antibiotic Therapy?
Submitted by  1 x Healthcare Professional
Project information
Project unique ID 0088
Project name Healthcare Associated Infections
Total number of uncertainties identified by this project. 259  (To see a full list of all uncertainties identified, please see the detailed spreadsheet held on the JLA website)
Date of priority setting workshop 28 February 2019