Intravenous push medications in the home.

Professional Services for Option Care, Inc., Bannockburn, IL, USA.

The intravenous push method for drug administration is not a new idea. In an era of quality, good patient outcomes, and cost efficiency it is important to look at economical and safe methods of drug delivery. This article reviews different methods of drug delivery and compares outcomes. The focus of the study was a comparison of minibag versus i.v. push drug delivery for anti-infective self-administration in the home setting. Case reports totalling 1116 from 50 sites were analyzed. The most frequently used drugs were ceftriaxone, cefazolin, and ceftazidime. Rates for all complications were 1.89/1000 catheter days for i.v. push and 1.69/1000 days for minibag delivery method. The phlebitis rate was 0.6/1000 catheter days for i.v. push and 0.79/1000 catheter days for minibag delivery method. Client satisfaction rates were comparable for all types of drug-delivery methods.

PMID: 10476138 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]