Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy: a report of three years experience.
Although outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) is practiced internationally, there is a paucity of data regarding outcomes of paediatric OPAT. A retrospective analysis, of 3 years experience (January 2010 to 2013) was performed at a tertiary paediatric Respiratory unit. There were 362 OPAT courses administered to 32 children, of which 30 had cystic fibrosis and the remaining two had recurrent pneumonia. A total of 3,688 days of antibiotics were administered. The median age was 8.8 years (range 2.75 - 17.8 years). Sixteen (50%) were male. Each child received an average of 11 courses and median duration of OPAT was 10 days (range 2-21 days). Tobramycin was the commonest antimicrobial prescribed, with ceftazidime second. During this period, there was one readmission (0.3%) post discharge and 3 (2%) portocath infections. All patients attended for weekly review and laboratory monitoring. OPAT appears safe, effective and reduces the need for inpatient beds.
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Flanagan
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Healy
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Slattery
D000293:Adolescent; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010045:Outpatients; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents