Antibiotic and anti-infective agent use and administration in homecare.

Homecare administration of intravenous antibiotics and anti-infectives is a rapidly growing service of the healthcare system. Knowledge of disease states that are amenable to homecare intravenous antibiotics includes those of long-term duration or deep-seated infections not suitable for oral therapy. Consideration of patient populations that are identified as appropriate for homecare intravenous antibiotic therapy includes the very young and old patients, pregnant patients, and patients with HIV. Awareness of a patient's medication history relating to allergic reactions allows guided monitoring before, during, and after intravenous antibiotic administration. Recognition of potential adverse drug reactions associated with each class of anti-infectives, as well as those related to the dose or infusion process, is another important part of safe and effective intravenous antibiotic administration.