title: Delivering outpatient antibiotic therapy (OPAT) in an Acute Medical Unit.
abstract: Outpatient antibiotic therapy (OPAT) is being developed and practised in an increasing number of acute hospitals within the United Kingdom. This article is a review of the OPAT service delivered by a large inner city hospital over the last two years. The service demonstrates the key elements of OPAT demonstrating different delivery models, aspects of patient selection, spectrum of infections treated, choice and delivery of antimicrobials, efficacy, patient safety, outcomes, and the cost-effectiveness of this programme.
authors.affiliation: Consultant in Acute Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, City Hospital, Dudley Road, Birmingham B18 7QH.
authors.forename: Yin May
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Manjit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tonks
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kavi
authors.forename: Nigel J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Langford
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010045:Outpatients; D018579:Patient Selection; D012449:Safety; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents