Benefits of outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy: to the individual, the institution, third-party payers and society.

The cost of outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy is outweighed by the benefits to all involved: provider, payer, patient and society. Simple comparisons of inpatient and outpatient charges are not a true measure of costs. Recent in-depth cost-benefit analyses reveal a significant saving when indirect benefits, such as increased productivity and quality of life, are included. Even so, financial issues remain to be addressed.