Abstract
Objectives
To describe the rationale for subcutaneous (SC) administration of antibiotics from
available published data and to make propositions to help clinicians in daily practice.
Design
Narrative review.
Setting and Participants
Hospitalized patients, persons in long-term care facilities and ambulatory care.
Methods
We searched the MEDLINE/PubMed electronic database for evidence supporting SC administration
of antibiotics up to September 2019; the results of this primary search were supplemented
by searching the references of the identified articles, as well as by searching in
Google Scholar.
Results
Regarding tolerability, efficacy, and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic profiles, most
studies suggest that the SC route could be an alternative to the intravenous route,
particularly for time-dependent antibiotics and among certain patient populations,
such as patients with poor venous access, swallowing disorders, or behavioral disturbance.
However, clinical evidence of the benefits and risks of SC antibiotic administration
is still scarce and of low level.
Conclusions and Implications
SC administration of antibiotics may be useful in various settings such as in hospitalized
patients and among those in long-term care facilities or being cared for at home.
However, further clinical studies are needed to assess the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic
properties, as well as the risks and benefits of SC administration of antibiotics.
In this review, we highlight the potential benefits of SC administration of antibiotics
and address practical recommendations for its use. This information will enable improvement
of treatment strategies and present the SC route as a potential option in specific
situations.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 14, 2020
Footnotes
This research did not receive any funding from agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 AMDA - The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine.
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