If you've been diagnosed with a stubborn, serious internal infection that oral antibiotics just can't kick, you may have been prescribed a regimen of intravenous antibiotics, or infusion therapy. These antibiotics are strong and deposited directly into your bloodstream, so they can go right to work eradicating your infection and restoring you to health. This therapy is available in a hospital, but if you're otherwise healthy, it can also be performed at a rehab center or even in your home. How can you know which is the best location for you to have infusion therapy (such as Idaho Arthritis Center)? Read on to learn more about this treatment and which option may be right for you. 

How does infusion therapy work?

Most medications are available in oral liquid or pill form or a transdermal patch. Each of these methods causes the drug to lose some effectiveness, and for drugs like antibiotics (which are often naturally very bitter) it can be difficult to make a palatable drug that is also effective. Pills and liquids must also be broken down and digested by your stomach acids, and only then released into your bloodstream. When these drugs are created in an intravenous form, they can be made much stronger and more effective than other forms. Most infusion therapies are prescribed when an issue is serious enough that other types of medication won't be strong enough to eradicate the illness in time.

When should you have infusion therapy at home?

There are some situations in which at-home infusion therapy may be preferable. If you already have a home health nurse coming to care for you once or more per day, incorporating your infusion treatment into this routine can be fairly seamless. And if you don't have the funds for a potentially lengthy stay in a hospital or rehab facility, at-home infusion therapy is your best (and least expensive) option.

On the other hand, there are some situations in which being at home could pose potential danger. If you're unable to provide for certain aspects of your personal and health care (like cooking, feeding, or bathing yourself) and don't have family support or a home health nurse to assist you, you may be safer and more comfortable in a rehab facility where you'll have access to a full nursing staff. And if you have a compromised immune system, you can also benefit from the sterile environment provided by a medical facility.