Children’s Community Intravenous Antibiotics Therapy

The Children’s Nursing Team provides nurses that can visit you in your home and administer your child’s antibiotics. You will receive a supply of your child’s IV antibiotics and other supplies needed when your child is discharged from hospital. Not all antibiotics are suitable to be given at home, the decision will be made by a Doctor in Leeds Children’s Hospital.

What is Intravenous Antibiotic Therapy?

Antibiotics are used to fight against infections caused by bacteria. When antibiotics are injected into a vein, it is called intravenous (IV) therapy.
 IV antibiotics are usually given to children in hospital but they can be given safely at home. If it has been decided that IV antibiotics are the best course of treatment for your child, your local Children’s Nursing Team will give the daily doses.

How is the antibiotic given?

The antibiotic is given into your child’s vein through a small narrow flexible tube called a cannula or IV line. The cannula is inserted into a vein using a needle at the hospital. The needle is removed and the plastic cannula is left in place and secured by a dressing. The cannula chosen for your child’s treatment will depend on your child’s veins and how long your child needs antibiotics for.

What are the risks?

Your child will receive at least one dose of their antibiotic in hospital to ensure that they do not develop a severe reaction. Allergic reactions can occur with any medicine and you should seek immediate medical attention if your child develops any symptoms while at home such as a rash, facial swelling or difficulty in breathing.

Occasionally the cannula can become blocked or an infection can develop. Symptoms of this can include pain, redness and swelling around the cannula, fever (temperature over 38°C, feeling hot/cold.

If there are any problems then contact the Children’s Nursing Team and your child will be assessed, and if necessary readmitted back into hospital and/or have a new cannula placed. Please inform your ward nurse, before discharge, if returning to hospital within two hours would be a problem. If the cannula or IV line falls out, press a tissue or gauze pad on the site to stop the bleeding before contacting Children’s Community Nursing Team to inform that the device is out. Disposal of the cannula in a sharps bin is recommended or place in a plastic lidded box until the team can safely dispose of it.

Who will give my child their IV antibiotics?

The Children’s Nursing Team provides nurses that can visit you in your home and administer your child’s antibiotics. You will receive a supply of your child’s IV antibiotics and other supplies needed when your child is discharged from hospital.

If you are concerned at all about your line, please speak to the nurse visiting, or call the team straight away.

How long will my child’s treatment last?

Your child may require only a few days or several weeks of IV antibiotics, depending on the nature of the infection. This may be followed by a further course of oral antibiotics. This will be explained by the Consultant/Doctor looking after your child if required.

What should I do if my child is unwell or I am concerned?

Please do not hesitate to contact the Children’s Nursing Team if you have any concerns. Complications are rare but it is important to look after your child’s cannula as directed. Very occasionally children can get problems directly related to the antibiotic they are taking. This can occur whether you are at home or in hospital.
Some common things to look out for include the following:

• Rash
• Diarrhoea
• Fever (temperature over 38°C), feeling hot/cold
• Pain, redness and swelling around the cannula or IV line

If your child feels unwell while at home with any of the above symptoms please contact the Children's Nursing Team or the CAT unit if out of hours. We will then be able to advise you and treat your child. In the event of an emergency, please call 999 for an ambulance or go to your local emergency department.