Infusion vs Injection

You may be wondering what’s the difference between an infusion and injection. Here we explain what each one is, and how it may affect you.

What’s an Infusion?

An infusion is when fluids, medication, or blood is given through a catheter directly into a vein. A medical professional does this by using a needle to guide the catheter into a vein. The needle is then removed leaving the plastic catheter behind in the vein.

A lot of patients think that there’s a needle in their arm throughout the whole infusion but just the plastic catheter remains.

Please note, Specialty Infusion Centers only administers fluids and medications mixed in fluids.

What’s an Injection?

An injection refers to the administration of medication using a needle and syringe. For example, if you’ve been given a flu shot or a vaccine, it was an injection.

In fact, there are several types of injections:

• Intramuscularly- This is when an injection is done in the muscle.
• Subcutaneously- When an injection is administered into the fatty tissue.
• Intradermally- This is when injections are given in the top layer of the skin.

How are they Different?

The big difference between an infusion and injection is the period of administration. On the one hand, injections are often done within minutes. On the other hand, infusions can take anywhere between 30 minutes to several hours.

At Specialty Infusion Centers, we take pride in making the infusion experience as enjoyable as possible for our patients. We have iPads and flat screens TVs for Netflix for you to pass the time during your infusion. Also, we have snacks and drinks on-site for your enjoyment.

So, if your treatment plan includes infusions, consider your infusion options — like an infusion center compared to home infusion — and Specialty Infusion Centers.