To analyse the effectiveness of using outpatient management of paediatric bone and joint infections with parenteral antibiotic therapy in terms of its efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness compared to prolonged inpatient treatment. Paediatric cases of septic arthritis or osteomyelitis were identified over a seven year (2004–2011) period in a regional teaching hospital. This included patients either treated as long-term inpatients or given outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy. The outcome measures recorded included: whether treatment was successful, complications, and length of hospital stay. A cost analysis was also calculated.Purpose
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