An employee was diagnosed with blood and kidney infections. he was given antibiotics and sent home. is this common practice? urinating straight blood. cant keep fluids or food down. 500 miles from home.

A : A kidney infection (pyelonephritis) can be treated with oral antibiotics, therefore this can be treated at home. Since the person in question can't keep fluids down, this would be a reason for hospitalization. In some cases the patient is starting on IV antibiotics in the hospital and when they are able to tolerate fluids and food they can be discharged home to complete the treatment with oral antibiotics. On the other hand a blood infection (sepsis) is treated in the hospital with IV antibiotics, and supportive care. Maybe there was a miscommunication at some point on the type of infection this "employee" was actually diagnosed with. Regardless, based on the symptoms described, it sounds like the person in question needs to be hospitalized if not so already.

Not sure: Without all the information it's difficult to say. With blood stream infections we typically prefer IV antibiotics. If they are unable to keep anything down, that may be an indication for hospital admission. I recommend they go back to physician for reevaluation.

Infection care: What you describe seems serious enough to require hospital level of care. Blood infection and kidney infection requires antibiotic coverage and Intravenous antibiotic is superior to oral antibiotic. Plus, his vomiting is a risk for him and he seems to require IV fluid, too.