Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Objectives
To compare the efficacy, safety, and acceptability of treatment with intravenous antibiotics for cellulitis at home and in hospital.Design
Prospective randomised controlled trial.Setting
Christchurch, New Zealand.Participants
200 patients presenting or referred to the only emergency department in Christchurch who were thought to require intravenous antibiotic treatment for cellulitis and who did not have any contraindications to home care were randomly assigned to receive treatment either at home or in hospital.Main outcome measures
Days to no advancement of cellulitis was the primary outcome measure. Days on intravenous and oral antibiotics, days in hospital or in the home care programme, complications, degree of functioning and pain, and satisfaction with site of care were also recorded.Results
The two treatment groups did not differ significantly for the primary outcome of days to no advancement of cellulitis, with a mean of 1.50 days (SD 0.11) for the group receiving treatment at home and 1.49 days (SD 0.10) for the group receiving treatment in hospital (mean difference 0.01 days, 95% confidence interval -0.3 to 0.28). None of the other outcome measures differed significantly except for patients' satisfaction, which was greater in patients treated at home.Conclusions
Treatment of cellulitis requiring intravenous antibiotics can be safely delivered at home. Patients prefer home treatment, but in this study only about one third of patients presenting at hospital for intravenous treatment of cellulitis were considered suitable for home treatment.
SUBMITTER: Corwin P
PROVIDER: S-EPMC544431 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Jan
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Corwin Paul P Toop Les L McGeoch Graham G Than Martin M Wynn-Thomas Simon S Wells J Elisabeth JE Dawson Robin R Abernethy Paul P Pithie Alan A Chambers Stephen S Fletcher Lynn L Richards Dee D
BMJ (Clinical research ed.) 20041216 7483
<h4>Objectives</h4>To compare the efficacy, safety, and acceptability of treatment with intravenous antibiotics for cellulitis at home and in hospital.<h4>Design</h4>Prospective randomised controlled trial.<h4>Setting</h4>Christchurch, New Zealand.<h4>Participants</h4>200 patients presenting or referred to the only emergency department in Christchurch who were thought to require intravenous antibiotic treatment for cellulitis and who did not have any contraindications to home care were randomly ...[more]