title: Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy-treated bone and joint infections in a tropical setting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Osteoarticular infections are a primary indication for outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT). The climate and geographical diversity of tropical Australia, together with the prevalence of melioidosis, disseminated gonococcal disease and community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus renders this a challenging environment in which to manage such infections. We evaluated patients managed by the Royal Darwin Hospital Hospital in the Home service for bone and joint infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of the therapeutic outcomes at the end of intravenous therapy was carried out for patients treated between 1 January 2006 and 15 September 2007.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-five patients were treated, including 21 (38%) indigenous Australians and 18 (33%) from remote communities. Baseline characteristics were similar to other published data, but there were two cases each of gonococcal septic arthritis and melioidosis. During treatment, 39 (71%) lived at home, with five (9%) of these receiving treatment at community clinics. Thirteen (24%) resided in self-care units in the hospital grounds. Three (5%) were managed at hostels or in prison. Median duration of parenteral therapy was 42 days, with a median of 22 days outside hospital, providing a total saving of 1307 bed-days. Clinical success at end of therapy was 84%, with no significant difference between indigenous and non-indigenous cohorts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OPAT for osteoarticular infections is both feasible and effective in a tropical environment, including for indigenous patients. Extension of treatment to remote-dwelling patients is facilitated by the innovative use of self-care units and administration of treatment at remote clinics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. helenawhite@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kittler
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Currie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods*; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000382:microbiology; D001315:Australia / Q000208:ethnology; D001850:Bone Diseases, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D008297:Male; D008554:Melioidosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D044382:Population Groups / Q000208:ethnology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014329:Tropical Climate; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents