Brigent Specialty Pharmacy offers a range of prescription antibiotics to address a variety of conditions. We use proven formulas to create safe and effective antibiotics.
What Are Intravenous Antibiotics?
Intravenous (IV) antibiotics are administered directly into a vein so that they can enter the bloodstream immediately and bypass gut absorption. Many patients in the US receive outpatient IV antibiotics to treat bacterial infections. Typically, they are prescribed by a physician specializing in infectious disease.
The 7 Types of IV Antibiotics
The main classes of antibiotics are:
- Cephalosporins. such as cefazolin (Ancef), cefepime (maxipime), and ceftriaxone (Rocephin)
- Fluoroquinolones, such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), moxifloxacin (Avelox), and levofloxacin (Levaquin)
- Penicillin, such as piperacillin/tazobactam (Zosyn)
- Glycopeptides, such as Vancomycin, Dalbavancin (Dalvance), Daptomycin, Telavancin (Vibativ), and Oritavancin (Orbactiv)
- Nitroimidazoles, such as metronidazole (Flagyl)
- Oxazolidinone, such as Linezolid (Zyvox)
- Carbapenems, such as Meropenum (Merrem)
Antibiotic Delivery Through IVs
IV antibiotics are commonly prescribed to treat bacterial infections in the lungs, hearts, bones, soft tissue, and brain. They can also be used to treat bacterial infections that are resistant to traditional oral medications. Multidrug-resistant bacterial infections may be treated with a combination of different antibiotics.
Whereas antibiotics fight infection caused by bacteria, intravenous antibiotics fight infections that:
- Are resistant to oral antibiotics
- Require very high doses of antibiotics that cannot be taken orally
Receiving Antibiotic Treatment Through IVs
Typically, intravenous (IV) antibiotic treatment is administered in a hospital setting. However, when it is safe and appropriate, antibiotic therapy can be provided at home or at another healthcare facility.
The antibiotic is administered through a small, narrow, and flexible tube called a catheter or IV line, which is inserted into a vein using a needle. After the antibiotics have been delivered, the needle is removed and the IV line is left in place and secured by a dressing. Since there are multiple types of IV lines available, the one chosen for a patient’s treatment will depend on the characteristics of their veins and how long the patient will need the antibiotics.
For example, patients with small peripheral veins are often given PICC lines (Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters), in which medication is administered directly to the heart. Because PICC lines must be flushed daily, and the dressings need to be routinely inspected and changed, patients with PICC lines must avoid getting them wet or dirty.
Common Concerns and Complaints Regarding IV Antibiotics
One common complaint patients have when receiving IV antibiotics is the pain and irritation around the IV site. In some cases, the medication can cause a burning sensation as it runs through the veins.
If a patient experiences pain at the IV site, they need to specify what type of pain they are experiencing. A poorly inserted IV can lead to a leakage of medication to the adjacent tissue, causing serious damage. If this occurs, the injection site can appear swollen and red, and experience extreme pain.