[Translated article] Retrospective study of home antibiotic infusion therapy using elastomeric infusion pumps.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the experience of home antibiotic infusion therapy using elastomeric infusion pumps, administered to patients admitted to the Home Hospitalisation Unit of a tertiary hospital for 3 years and to analyse clinical evolution and mortality. METHOD: Retrospective observational study. The medical history of the patients included in the study was reviewed. Information was obtained on personal history, antimicrobial therapy received, and clinical evolution. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS® 19 software. RESULTS: 81 patients were included, 61.7% men, with a mean age of 73.5±17.5 years. The most frequent comorbidities were diabetes mellitus (30.9%) and chronic kidney disease (28.4%). Patients received a mean of 11.9±8.5 days of antibiotic treatment in an elastomeric infusion pump. The main focus of infection was respiratory (27.2%), followed by bacteremia (16%) and skin and soft tissue infections (12.3%). Of the infections, 65.4% were monomicrobial, with Pseudomonas aeruginosa being the main microorganism involved (39.6%). The most commonly used antimicrobial was piperacillin/tazobactam (33.3%). The clinical course was good in 85.2% of the patients, but the mortality rate in the 30 days following the end of treatment was 24.7%. In the univariate analysis, a history of neoplasia in the last 5 years (p=.01) and having received fewer days of antibiotic therapy prior to the start of outpatient antimicrobial therapy in infusion pump (p=.04) were associated with worse clinical outcome. Age over 80 years was associated with better outcome (p=.03). The diagnosis of heart failure was associated with higher mortality (p=.026) and patients from surgical services, with lower mortality (p=.047). In the multivariate analysis, the presence of neoplasia was associated with unfavourable evolution (p=.012) and heart failure with higher mortality (p=.027). CONCLUSIONS: Outpatient antimicrobial therapy in elastomeric infusion pumps is an alternative in patients requiring prolonged intravenous treatment, and age is not a conditioning factor for inclusion in these programs. However, the presence of certain comorbidities can negatively affect the clinical course and mortality of patients.

Retrospective study of home antibiotic infusion therapy in elastomeric infusion pumps. / Estudio retrospectivo de la terapia de infusión de antibióticos domiciliaria en bombas de infusión elastoméricas.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the experience of home antibiotic infusion therapy using elastomeric infusion pumps, administered to patients admitted to the Home Hospitalization Unit of a tertiary hospital for three years and to analyse clinical evolution and mortality. METHOD: Retrospective observational study. The medical history of the patients included in the study was reviewed. Information was obtained on personal history, antimicrobial therapy received and clinical evolution. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS® 19 software. RESULTS: Eighty-one patients were included, 61.7% men, with a mean age of 73.5 ± 17.5 years. The most frequent comorbidities were diabetes mellitus (30.9%) and chronic kidney disease (28.4%). Patients received a mean of 11.9 ± 8.5 days of antibiotic treatment in an elastomeric infusion pump. The main focus of infection was respiratory (27.2%), followed by bacteremia (16%) and skin and soft tissue infections (12.3%). Of the infections, 65.4% were monomicrobial, with Pseudomonas aeruginosa being the main microorganism involved (39.6%). The most commonly used antimicrobial was piperacillin/tazobactam (33.3%). The clinical course was good in 85.2% of the patients, but the mortality rate in the 30 days following the end of treatment was 24.7%. In the univariate analysis, a history of neoplasia in the last 5 years (p = 0.01) and having received fewer days of antibiotic therapy prior to the start of outpatient antimicrobial therapy in infusion pump (p = 0.04) were associated with worse clinical outcome. Age over 80 years was associated with better outcome (p = 0.03). The diagnosis of heart failure was associated with higher mortality (p = 0.026) and patients from surgical services, with lower mortality (p = 0.047). In the multivariate analysis, the presence of neoplasia was associated with unfavorable evolution (p = 0.012) and heart failure with higher mortality (p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: Outpatient antimicrobial therapy in elastomeric infusion pumps is an alternative in patients requiring prolonged intravenous treatment, and age is not a conditioning factor for inclusion in these programs. However, the presence of certain comorbidities can negatively affect the clinical course and mortality of patients.

Switching from intravenous vancomycin to oral antibiotics reduces adverse events in a retrospective cohort of outpatients with orthopedic infections.

INTRODUCTION: Vancomycin is frequently used for prolonged courses in treating osteoarticular infections despite a high rate of adverse drug events (ADE). The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of transitioning to oral therapy compared to continuing parenteral vancomycin in patients with orthopedic infections. METHODS: We conducted a single-center, retrospective cohort study of patients with orthopedic infections discharged on parenteral vancomycin with a planned duration of at least 4 weeks. We compared rates of ADE while on vancomycin to rates of ADE after switching to an oral regimen. As a secondary analysis, we compared unplanned hospital readmission within 60 days and treatment failure at 1 year between patients who were transitioned to oral antibiotics within 4 weeks of vancomycin initiation and those that were not. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-eight patients met the inclusion criteria. Vancomycin was associated with significantly greater toxicity compared to oral regimens. Fifty-one patients had an adverse event while on vancomycin (5.87 ADE per 1000 patient-days) while 9 patients had an adverse event on oral therapy (1.49 ADE per 1000 patient-days) (Rate difference 4.39 per 1000 patient days, 95% CI: 2.52 to 6.26 events per 1000 patient-days). In proportional hazards analysis, transition to an oral antibiotic regimen was independently associated with a lower rate of ADE (aHR 0.12, 95% CI: 0.02-0.86). Forty-one patients (18%) were transitioned to oral therapy within 4 weeks; these patients did not have an increased rate of unplanned readmission (12.2% vs 17.1%) or treatment failure (17.1% vs 21.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Patients transitioned to oral therapy within 4 weeks of discharge had significantly fewer adverse events and similar incidences of 1-year treatment failure compared to patients maintained on parenteral vancomycin. Substituting oral antibiotics for parenteral vancomycin is a potential strategy to minimize vancomycin toxicity during the treatment of orthopedic infections.

Patient safety outcomes for continuous infusion vancomycin as outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy.

BACKGROUND: Administration of vancomycin as a continuous infusion has been associated with reduced nephrotoxicity. Given limited published experience with continuous infusion vancomycin in outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) programs, we reviewed outcomes from our center. METHODS: This was a retrospective, single-center study of adult patients receiving vancomycin OPAT as continuous or intermittent infusion for an intended treatment duration of at least 7 days. The primary outcome was time to nephrotoxicity with continuous versus intermittent infusion vancomycin while on OPAT; additional outcomes included time to any vancomycin-associated adverse event, time to 60-day death or readmission, and time to 60-day emergency department encounter. Proportional hazards modeling was used to identify variables independently associated with outcomes, as well as assess the strength of association of continuous infusion with each outcome. RESULTS: Four-hundred ninety-two patients were included: 118 treated with continuous and 374 with intermittent vancomycin infusion. Continuous infusion was not associated with lower rates of nephrotoxicity compared to intermittent infusion (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 0.72, 95% CI: 0.35-1.50). There were no advantages of continuous over intermittent infusion in the rates of any adverse event (aHR 0.93, 95% CI: 0.56-1.53), 60-day death or readmission (aHR 1.04, 95% CI: 0.68-1.61), or 60-day emergency department encounter (aHR 1.17, 95% CI: 0.68-1.99). Vancomycin area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) at discharge was the only modifiable factor identified that was independently associated with patient safety outcomes. CONCLUSION: There was no appreciable benefit of continuous infusion vancomycin on outpatient safety outcomes. AUC-centered dosing approaches warrant further investigation as strategies to improve vancomycin safety in OPAT programs.

Switching from natalizumab administration at the day hospital to administration at home. A 1 year prospective study of patient experience and quality of life in 30 consecutive patients with multiple sclerosis (TYSAD-35).

BACKGROUND: In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, French health authorities allowed the home administration of natalizumab by a healthcare-at-home service. We evaluated the patients' perception of care quality following the transition from day-hospital to home natalizumab administration. METHODS: Thirty relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) patients treated with natalizumab were prospectively evaluated for one year after changing onto a home treatment procedure, using MusiCare, the first MS-specific questionnaire to evaluate patient experience and MusiQol. A numerical rating scale score for satisfaction and a dedicated questionnaire concerning patient experience were completed after each infusion. The primary endpoint was the mean difference in MusiCare score between baseline and 12 months. RESULTS: From June 2020 to November 2021, 306 infusions were performed at home. Three patients withdrew from the study (one lost to follow-up and two preferred to return at the day hospital). No worsening of patient experience or quality of life was observed. The mean scores of the Musicare dimensions were higher at 12 months than at baseline, significantly for the "relationship with healthcare professionals" (p = 0.0203). The MusiQol global score remained stable but the coping and friendship dimensions were significantly better at M12 than at baseline (p = 0.0491 and p = 0.0478, respectively). The satisfaction questionnaire highlighted some pain during the infusions (21.8%) and contradictions between healthcare professionals (17.2%). The mean score for satisfaction with care was 9.1/10. No safety concerns were identified. CONCLUSION: The positive experience of patients with home natalizumab administration provides an important opportunity to improve the quality of patient care.

The significance of home-based portable pump chemotherapy for family caregivers to newly diagnosed patients with acute myeloid leukemia: A qualitative thematic analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Life as a family caregiver of patients with cancer can be emotionally and practically challenging. Little is known of whether home-based chemotherapy of patients with acute myeloid leukemia places excessive pressure on family caregivers or decreases their burden. To explore the significance of home-based portable pump chemotherapy for family caregivers of patients newly diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. METHODS: An explorative qualitative design using dyadic and individual semi-structured interviews with family caregivers and patients were followed by thematic analysis. Purposive sampling was used regarding gender, age, and distance to the hospital. At each interview, we were teams of one researcher and one clinical nurse specialist from the hematology department. The derived themes were predominately descriptive, based on patterns in the data. RESULTS: Five couples participated, (aged 39-72 years). Three themes were identified: 1) Going home. 2) Responsibilities due to the pump and leukopenia. 3) The shadow of the life-threatening disease. The pump was a minor concern to the family caregivers seen in the light of the life-threatening disease. Home-based treatment was a relief but the responsibilities due to leukopenia demanded the caregivers' resources. CONCLUSION: The fear of losing the patient and the burdens of dealing with leukopenia suppressed the family caregivers' sense of load due to the portable pump treatment. The findings underline the importance of healthcare professionals recognizing family caregivers' sense of burden and prioritizing sufficient support and education in order to enhance the everyday life of both patient and family caregiver.

Current Practices and Opportunities for Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy in Hospitals: A National Cross-Sectional Survey.

This nationwide study assessed how outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) is organised by Dutch acute care hospitals, the barriers experienced, and how an OPAT program affects the way hospitals organised OPAT care. We systematically developed and administered a survey to all 71 Dutch acute care hospitals between November 2021 and February 2022. Analyses were primarily descriptive and included a comparison between hospitals with and without an OPAT program. Sixty of the 71 hospitals (84.5%) responded. Fifty-five (91.7%) performed OPAT, with a median number of 20.8 (interquartile range [IQR] 10.3-29.7) patients per 100 hospital beds per year. Of these 55 hospitals, 31 (56.4%) had selection criteria for OPAT and 34 (61.8%) had a protocol for laboratory follow-up. Sixteen hospitals (29.1%) offered self-administered OPAT (S-OPAT), with a median percentage of 5.0% of patients (IQR: 2.3%-10.0%) actually performing self-administration. Twenty-five hospitals (45.5%) had an OPAT-related outcome registration. The presence of an OPAT program (22 hospitals, 40.0%) was significantly associated with aspects of well-organised OPAT care. The most commonly experienced barriers to OPAT implementation were a lack of financial, administrative, and IT support and insufficient time of healthcare staff. Concluding, hospital-initiated OPAT is widely available in the Netherlands, but various aspects of well-organised OPAT care can be improved. Implementation of a team-based OPAT program can contribute to such improvements. The observed variation provides leads for further scientific research, guidelines, and practical implementation programs.

Home Delivery: Transfusion Services When and Where They Are Needed.

Home blood product transfusion has been utilized around the world in various forms over the past few decades. There is current interest in decentralizing hospital care to improve patient independence and convenience, minimize cost to the health service, and to prevent nosocomial infection, especially with the recent COVID-19 pandemic. The transition to "hospital in the home" is occurring across the healthcare sector driven by aims to improve patient outcomes and patient satisfaction, capacity pressures in the acute care sector, and most recently due to concerns regarding infectious disease transmission in hospital settings. This review explores the published literature on home red cell and platelet transfusions, and where the literature is limited, also considered data from subcutaneous immunoglobulin studies. Current published experience on red cell and platelet transfusion at home has identified benefits to the patient and health service, with further studies needed to quantify improvement in quality of life and health-related outcomes. Safety concerns may be a perceived barrier to implementation of home transfusion, however current published data suggests serious adverse reactions are rare. Cost-effectiveness data for home transfusion are very limited and a key area for future research. Home transfusion has the potential to benefit from newer technologies, such as portable/remote monitoring and electronic patient identifiers.

Experience in the use of midclavicular catheters: An inception cohort study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To describe the outcomes of midclavicular catheters related to first insertion success rate, catheter dwell time, rate of catheter survival until the end of the treatment, and complication rates, as well as identify risk factors associated with early catheter removal. BACKGROUND: Midclavicular catheters are peripheral venous catheters that are typically 20-25 cm in length. DESIGN: Inception cohort study. METHODS: We included all the midclavicular lines inserted in patients who met any of the following criteria: (a) difficult venous access; (b) administration of intravenous therapy expected to last between 6 and 30 days with non-irritant (pH=5-9) and/or non-vesicant drugs; or (c) contraindications to central venous catheter placement. The incidence of adverse events was calculated using percentages and episodes per 1,000 catheter days. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify significant risk factors for unexpected catheter removal by calculating odds ratios. Catheter survival was assessed using Cox regression analysis. The STROBE guidelines were followed. RESULTS: Overall, 2,275 midclavicular lines were placed in 1,841 participants. The insertion success rate was 99.4% and the mean catheter dwell time was 21.82 days. The rate of adverse events was .7 per 1,000 catheter days, the most common complications being thrombosis (.39) and catheter-associated bacteraemia (.14). No significant association was found between adverse events and the administration of irritant drugs. The incidence of unexpected removal was 6.7 per 1,000 catheter days. The multivariate analysis showed that both age ≤70 years and home therapy were associated with a lower likelihood of catheter failure. CONCLUSIONS: Midclavicular catheters are associated with a high rate of insertion success and low rates of adverse events and unplanned removal. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Midclavicular lines are a safe alternative for intravenous therapy lasting more than 6 days, even with irritant drugs.

Safety of Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy in Nonagenarians.

BACKGROUND: Although widely accepted for adults, the safety of outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) in very old patients has not been examined. METHODS: Nonagenarians (age ≥90 years) discharged from the hospital on OPAT over a 5-year period were identified from the Cleveland Clinic OPAT Registry. Three matched controls (<90 years) were selected for each nonagenarian. Times to OPAT-related emergency department (ED) visit and OPAT-related readmission were compared across the 2 groups in multivariable subdistribution proportional hazards competing risks regression models. Incidence of adverse drug events and vascular access complications were compared using negative binomial regression. RESULTS: Of 126 nonagenarians and 378 controls, 7 were excluded for various reasons. Among the remaining 497 subjects, 306 (62%) were male, 311 (63%) were treated for cardiovascular or osteoarticular infections, and 363 (73%) were discharged to a residential health care facility. The mean (SD) ages of nonagenarians and controls were 92 (2) and 62 (16) years, respectively. Compared with matched controls, being a nonagenarian was not associated with increased risk of OPAT-related ED visit (hazard ratio [HR], 0.77; 95% CI, 0.33-1.80; P = .55), OPAT-related readmission (HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.28-2.16; P = .63), adverse drug event from OPAT medications (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.00; 95% CI, 0.43-2.17; P = .99), or vascular access complications (IRR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.27-1.51; P = .32). Nonagenarians had a higher risk of death overall (HR, 2.64; 95% CI, 1.52-4.58; P < .001), but deaths were not from OPAT complications. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with younger patients, OPAT in nonagenarians is not associated with higher risk of OPAT-related complications. OPAT can be provided as safely to nonagenarians as to younger patients.

Home-Based Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy at an Urban Safety Net Hospital: Comparing Outcomes in Persons With and Without Noninjection Drug Use.

As stimulant use and infections among persons using drugs rise nationally, evidence remains limited on how best to deliver outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) to persons using noninjection drugs. In an urban safety net population including persons using noninjection drugs, home-based OPAT completion rates were similarly high as those of non-drug-using individuals.

Determinants of vancomycin nephrotoxicity when administered to outpatients as a continuous 24-hour infusion.

Vancomycin continuous infusion (VCI) is used to treat serious Gram-positive infections in outpatients. This study was conducted to retrospectively investigate the rate of nephrotoxicity and associated risk factors in out-patients on VCI between May 2013 and November 2018. Vancomycin concentration was monitored twice-weekly to ensure adequate concentrations while avoiding high concentrations linked to nephrotoxicity (a rise in serum creatinine of ≥50% or 44 µmol/L from baseline). The likelihood of developing nephrotoxicity was evaluated using multivariable logistic regression. The 223 patients treated had a mean (standard deviation) age of 61 (16.7) years, baseline serum creatinine of 83.9 (21.2) µmol/L and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 80.6 (20.1) mL/min/1.73m2. Most patients (66%) were treated for bone and joint infections. Eight patients (3.6%) developed nephrotoxicity. In the most parsimonious model, nephrotoxicity was independently associated with an increased median (interquartile range) weighted-average serum vancomycin concentration (28.0 [24.3-32.6] vs. 22.4 [20.2-24.5] mg/L; odds ratio [OR] 1.25; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.09-1.46; P<0.002) and Charlson co-morbidity index (OR 1.62; 95% CI 1.07-2.47; P=0.02). Post-hoc analysis identified 26 patients with a lower nephrotoxicity threshold (rise in serum creatinine of ≥30% or 27 µmol/L). Independent predictors of nephrotoxicity in this group were an increased weighted-average vancomycin concentration, diabetes, con-gestive heart failure and exposure to non-loop diuretics. The nephrotoxicity rate during VCI in this study was lower than previously reported (3.6% vs 15.0-17.0%).  Reducing the weighted-average serum vancomycin concentration may reduce nephrotoxicity while maintaining efficacy.

Reaching consensus on a home infusion central line-associated bloodstream infection surveillance definition via a modified Delphi approach.

BACKGROUND: A consensus on a central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) surveillance definition in home infusion is needed to standardize measurement and benchmark CLABSI to provide data to drive improvement initiatives METHODS: Experts across fields including home infusion therapy, infectious diseases, and healthcare epidemiology convened to perform a 3-step modified Delphi approach to obtain input and achieve consensus on a candidate home infusion CLABSI definition. RESULTS: The numerator criterion was identified by participants as involving one of the 2 following: (1) recognized pathogen isolated from blood culture and pathogen is not related to infection at another site, or (2) one of the following signs or symptoms: fever of 38°C (100.4°F), chills, or hypotension (systolic blood pressure ≤90 mm Hg), and one of the 2 following: (A) common skin contaminant isolated from 2 blood cultures drawn on separate occasions and organism is not related to infection at another site, or (B) common skin contaminant isolated from blood culture from patient with intravascular access device and provider institutes appropriate antimicrobial therapy. The criteria for a denominator included days from the day of admission with a central venous catheter to day of removal of central venous catheter. In addition, 11 inclusion criteria and 4 exclusion criteria were included. DISCUSSION: Home infusion therapy and healthcare epidemiology experts developed candidate criteria for a home infusion CLABSI surveillance definition. CONCLUSIONS: Home care and home infusion agencies can use this definition to monitor their own CLABSI rates and implement preventative strategies.

It's Complicated: Patient and Informal Caregiver Performance of Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy-Related Tasks.

Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) requires patients and caregivers to infuse antimicrobials through venous catheters (VCs) in the home. The objective of this study was to perform a patient-centered goal-directed task analysis to identify what is required for successful completion of OPAT. The authors performed 40 semi-structured patient interviews and 20 observations of patients and caregivers performing OPAT-related tasks. Six overall goals were identified: (1) understanding and developing skills in OPAT, (2) receiving supplies, (3) medication administration and VC maintenance, (4) preventing VC harm while performing activities of daily living, (5) managing when hazards lead to failures, and (6) monitoring status. The authors suggest that patients and caregivers use teach-back, take formal OPAT classes, receive visual and verbal instructions, use cognitive aids, learn how to troubleshoot, and receive clear instructions to address areas of uncertainty. Addressing these goals is essential to ensuring the safety of and positive experiences for our patients.

Assessing burden of central line-associated bloodstream infections present on hospital admission.

Few data exist on the incidence of central line-associated bloodstream infection present on hospital admission (CLABSI-POA), although the practice of patients maintaining central lines outside of hospitals is increasing. We describe patients presenting to an academic medical center with CLABSI-POA over 1 year. Of the 130 admissions, half presented from home infusion (47%), followed by oncology clinic (22%), hemodialysis (14%), and skilled nursing facility (8%). Efforts to reduce CLABSIs should address patients across the entire health care system.

The Impact of Home Infusion Therapies on Caregivers.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the scope of home infusion therapy in cancer care, expectations related to caregiver involvement in home infusion therapy, literature addressing the impact upon caregivers, and nursing implications. DATA SOURCES: Published data on cancer care and home infusion therapy. CONCLUSION: While the administration of home infusion therapy is not uncommon practice for patients with cancer and is generally well-accepted, there is scant research focused specifically on the impact upon caregivers. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Caregiver support not only includes providing instruction in infusion-related tasks but also recognizing the potential impact on the caregiver's life and offering supportive interventions.

Navigating the Challenges of Home Parenteral Nutrition.

Providing parenteral nutrition at home has significant challenges for both patients and providers alike. Some of these challenges are systemic and are secondary to the way the healthcare system is designed to deliver care. Others are more practical and require educating patients and their families to ensure success at home. Overall, the nutrition support team was designed to help deal with these challenges in an effective way. The changing realities of the modern health system are challenging the nutrition support team to adapt to new obstacles. Providing patients with the tools to succeed at home requires a significant amount of time and investment but will pay dividends in the future as patients thrive for years to come.

Hazards from physical attributes of the home environment among patients on outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy.

BACKGROUND: Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) requires that patients and their caregivers administer antimicrobial medications in the home via venous catheters. Hazards from physical attributes of the home environment may impede safe performance of OPAT tasks. METHODS: We performed a qualitative study, including semistructured telephone interviews and contextual inquiries, of patients performing OPAT tasks inside the home. Eligible participants were discharged from 2 academic medical centers in Baltimore, Maryland, on OPAT. We coded interview transcripts and contextual inquiry forms based on a model of healthcare work systems. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients underwent semistructured telephone interviews, and 14 patients underwent contextual inquiry. We identified hazards including bathing, animal or pets, extremes in temperature, household clutter, indoor soil and food exposures, outdoor soil, and travel. Patients often developed strategies to mitigate these hazards. DISCUSSION: Multiple hazards related to the home environment could have led to harm, and in the absence of specific guidance, patients developed strategies to mitigate these hazards. CONCLUSIONS: Educational interventions to improve OPAT should incorporate an understanding of hazards that may occur in the home environment.

Home-Based Treatment with Immunoglobulins: an Evaluation from the Perspective of Patients and Healthcare Professionals.

PURPOSE: This study aims to evaluate home-based treatment with immunoglobulin (IgG) by assessing and comparing the experiences and perceived value of patients and healthcare professionals, and potential differences in experiences between subcutaneous (SCIg) and intravenous (IVIg) modes of administration. As choices on the location and type of treatment are determined in a shared decision-making process, we evaluated the home-based treatment from the perspectives of both patients and professionals. METHODS: A questionnaire study was conducted among 205 patients, 44 informal caregivers, 43 hospital professionals, and 21 nurses of the Sanquin Home Service (SHS) that provides home treatment with immunoglobulins in the Netherlands. Experiences, perceived benefits, and effects on the patients' quality of life and overall ratings were assessed. RESULTS: Both patients and professionals were predominantly positive about the home treatment, irrespective of the administration mode. The home-based treatment with Ig contributed to the patients' autonomy, participation, and perceived health. Patients and informal caregivers valued the treatment with a global rating of 8.84, and professionals with 8.32 (on a scale from 0 "worst" to 10 "best possible care"). SCIg and IVIg patient groups differed in their experiences regarding the accessibility and communication of the home treatment service. Furthermore, hospital professionals reported lower effects on quality of life than patients themselves. CONCLUSIONS: Home-based treatment with immunoglobulins is highly valued because of its personalized and effective character, meeting the needs and preferences of patients. Nonetheless, patients and professionals do have different perspectives on the value of this type of care.

Home infusion teaching practices at federally funded hemophilia treatment centers in the United States of America.

BACKGROUND: Home management of hemophilia is standard of care in many countries. This study examined current nursing practices in teaching home infusion (HI) at hemophilia treatment centers (HTC) in the USA. OBJECTIVES: The aims were to identify and compare tools and resources used, areas of unmet needs, and to discuss implications for nurses in practice. METHODS: An anonymous electronic survey was distributed to 574 HTC nurses; 156 responses were analyzed. RESULTS: The data demonstrated that nurses, more specifically nurse coordinators, were most responsible for teaching HI. However, many nurses lack the knowledge and confidence to do so: 23.0% responded feeling somewhat or not very confident with teaching. Of those 36.4% were staff nurses, 11.9% nurse coordinators, and 41.7% advanced practice registered nurses. The majority of nurses have worked more than 5 years as a nurse, with a mean length of time of 23.7 years (SD=11.12, range 3-47) and a mean of 12.9 years (SD=10.29, range 1-42) in a HTC. Thirty-eight and a half percent of nurses have worked less than 5 years in a HTC. Most nurses appeared to follow the Infusion Nurses Society standards when performing venipunctures. Many centers reported using a formal tool or curriculum to teach HI. Nonetheless, these curricula are not uniform and their use is inconsistent between centers and regions. CONCLUSION: There are currently no national guidelines or standards to assist nurses in this task. The data confirmed the need to develop guidelines and a standardized curriculum to teach HI.