Cost comparison analysis of continuous versus intermittent antimicrobial therapy infusions in inpatient and outpatient care: real-world data from Finland.

Objective: This study compared the costs and nursing time associated with the delivery of continuous infusion of antibiotics via elastomeric infusion pumps (EIP) versus conventional intermittent infusion (CII) across different care pathways.

Design: Retrospective real-world data informed a cost comparison analysis that compared costs and nursing hours between infusion of antibiotics via EIP versus CII across eight care pathways in inpatient or outpatient care during infection episodes. Real-world data were obtained from patients treated within a year with parenteral antimicrobial therapy in Päijät-Häme Region, Finland.