Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ertapenem in patients hospitalized at home.
Patients & methods: Retrospective analysis of data from Spanish Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) registry.
Results: Data from 1428 patients (median age 70 years; 5.4% institutionalized) and 1547 infectious processes (24% self-administration) were analyzed. Clinical cure or improvement was achieved in 93.8% of cases. Rate of related readmissions was 4.2%, of clinically important complications -3.9%, and of adverse drug reactions -3.2%. High comorbidity burden, contagion in nursing home and certain types of infection were associated with worse prognosis. Self-administration was effective and safe, except in case of nursing home-acquired infections.
Conclusion: Ertapenem OPAT was effective and safe. Caregivers in nursing homes should be better trained in OPAT-related procedures.
Keywords: OPAT; Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy; ertapenem; hospital-at-home; nursing homes; self-administration.