HOME CARE IN CYSTIC-FIBROSIS PATIENTS

Intravenous antibiotics and enteral tube feeding at home for the treat ment of pulmonary exacerbations and underweight condition in cystic fi brosis (CF) patients have become tools that are used in many cystic fi brosis centres, The experience with home care programmes from differen t countries is quite conclusive, If the necessary preparations are mad e, such as training of staff and patients, and financial support is ar ranged, home care is easy to put into practice. Optimal patient compli ance is also necessary. Home care is as effective as hospital treatmen t for selected patients, and less expensive. Experience has increased during many treatment periods in different cystic fibrosis centres, an d only a few adverse events have been recorded, indicating that home c are is safe, However, the most important gain for cystic fibrosis pati ents is the reduction of hospital admission time, which means a defini te improvement in the quality of life.