Intravenous (IV) Antibiotics

Intravenous antibiotics are medications that are given directly into a person's bloodstream through a vein. They are used to treat bacterial infections that are severe or difficult to treat with oral antibiotics. IV antibiotics are often given in a hospital setting, but they can also be administered in the outpatient setting. 

 

IV antibiotics work by circulating throughout the body and attacking the bacteria causing the infection. Because they are delivered directly into the bloodstream, they can quickly reach the site of infection and achieve high levels in the affected tissues. This is especially important in cases where the infection is located in deep tissues, such as bone, joint infections or central nervous system infections.

 

The duration of treatment with IV antibiotics varies depending on the type and severity of the infection. Treatment may last from several days to several weeks.