Intravenous (IV) Antibiotic Treatment

Your child has an infection that must be treated with IV antibiotics. Giving the medication intravenously (IV) is the best way to treat this infection.

Antibiotics can cause minor side effects, like an upset stomach or diarrhea.

How will my child or teen get IV antibiotics?

Your child or teen will need several doses of the IV medication after leaving the Emergency Department (ED).

We'll use a saline lock on the IV so that your child or teen can go home without any IV tubing. When the next antibiotic dose is due, the IV tubing can be connected to the saline lock. This way, your child or teen won't need to be poked again.

You will need to come back to the ED for treatments, or we will arrange for a home care nurse to give the antibiotics in your home.

We'll make a plan based on the services available and what is best for your child or teen.

Return to the Emergency Department if you notice:

• Increasing redness around the infected area, extending more than 2 cm past the marking made by the doctor or nurse.
• A new, high fever.
• Red streaks moving away from the infected area.
• Increasing pain, pus or drainage.

How do I know if the infection is getting better?

It can take up to 48 hours (2 days) for the medications to start working.

You should notice that your child or teen has less pain, redness and swelling as the treatments continue. Children and youth will gradually return to their usual selves as treatment progresses.

To monitor the infection, the doctor or nurse may outline the area of redness with a pen.

How do I care for the saline lock at home?

To protect the saline lock:

• Keep it dry.
• Keep it covered with the dressing from the ED.
• Do not let your child play with or pull on the dressing.

If the IV catheter accidentally comes out, don't worry.

Press firmly on the site for 2 to 3 minutes until the bleeding stops, and then apply a bandage.

Come to the ED 30 to 60 minutes before the next medication dose to have the IV restarted, or call your home care nurse if your child has been receiving treatments at home.

Pain and fever

Medicines for fever and pain come in different concentrations (the number of mg of medicine in each mL, tablet or suppository).

Check the concentration on the bottle and read the package directions carefully.

If you're unsure, contact your pharmacist or primary care provider so they can help you.

Numbers to know

If you have any questions about the treatment or the saline lock, please call the Emergency Department.

• CHEO Emergency Department: 613-737-2328
• Community Care Access Centre (CCAC): 613-310-2222