title: Providing outpatient antibiotic therapy for cellulitis in primary care.
abstract: Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) is becoming more widespread. OPAT therapy can be used to treat certain patients who have cellulitis. The decision as to which patients to treat at home must be based on local PCT guidelines--not all patients are suitable for OPAT. OPAT improves patient quality of life by delivering care in the patient's home. This is highly skilled work and the community nurse must have appropriate training and support in order to gain the skills required.
authors.affiliation: Ealing PCT. linda.nazarko@nhs.net
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nazarko
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods*; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000451:nursing; D018718:Home Infusion Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing*; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D018579:Patient Selection; D010689:Phlebitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents