Infusion Therapy

Infusion therapy is the term often used for the administration of medication through a needle or catheter. Infusion therapy can be used to treat diseases or conditions. It can also be used to counteract the side effects of treatments.

Infusion therapy can be used for:

• chemotherapy (Read about "Cancer Treatments")
• blood product transfusions (Read about "Blood Disorders Glossary")
• hydration (Read about "Dehydration")
• injectable anticoagulants
• intravenous antibiotics (Read about "Antibiotics")
• other types of intravenous therapies
• immunoglobulin

Other drugs, therapeutic agents and treatments can fall under infusion therapy as well.

An infusion therapy center can provide outpatient care for patients who need these types of services. Center staff members can include hematologists, oncologists, registered nurses, pharmacists and social workers. Staff members are generally trained and experienced in infusion care, and can provide education as well about intravenous (IV) therapy and site care. Centers may also provide catheter care, intramuscular and subcutaneous injection and/or other services. Some kinds of infusion therapy can also be delivered via home healthcare services.

Diseases for which infusion therapy may be used include:

• cancer (Read about "Cancer: What It Is")
• cardiomyopathy (Read about "Cardiomyopathy")
• infectious diseases such as sepsis or MRSA (Read about "Microorganisms" "Sepsis" "Staph and MRSA")
• chronic pain conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (Read about "Chronic Pain" "Rheumatoid Arthritis")
• hemophilia (Read about "Bleeding Disorders")
• other conditions requiring IV treatment

Infusion therapy may also be appropriate for someone with gastrointestinal diseases such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or Crohn's disease. (Read about "Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease" "Crohn's Disease")