[Intravenous antibiotic treatment in a hospital based home care unit. Predictors of hospital readmission]. / Antibioterapia intravenosa domiciliaria en una unidad de hospitalización a domicilio: factores pronósticos de reingreso hospitalario.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Intravenous antibiotic therapy at home has showed its efficacy as an alternative to hospitalization care in many infectious pathologies. The objectives of this study are a) to expose our experience, as hospital at home unit (HHU) integrated within a service of internal medicine, in the antibiotic treatment, and b) to define those parameters that can predict hospital readmissions. PATIENTS AND METHOD: This study included all patients with infectious pathology and intravenous antibiotic therapy who were admitted in our HHU from March 2006 to March 2007. RESULTS: 145 patients were included in this study. Successful treatment was observed in 92% of patients. Eleven patients were re-admitted at hospital during the episode by infectious disease, and only 2 of them showed adverse effects to treatment. Twenty-two patients were re-admitted at hospital 3 months after due to chronic pathology. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous antibiotic therapy at home is a good alternative in many infectious pathologies. Infectious pathology and baseline state can be predictors of hospital readmissions.