title: Good practice recommendations for paediatric outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy (p-OPAT) in the UK: a consensus statement.
abstract: There is compelling evidence to support the rationale for managing children on intravenous antimicrobial therapy at home whenever possible, including parent and patient satisfaction, psychological well-being, return to school/employment, reductions in healthcare-associated infection and cost savings. As a joint collaboration between the BSAC and the British Paediatric Allergy, Immunity and Infection Group, we have developed good practice recommendations to highlight good clinical practice and governance within paediatric outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy (p-OPAT) services across the UK. These guidelines provide a practical approach for safely delivering a p-OPAT service in both secondary care and tertiary care settings, in terms of the roles and responsibilities of members of the p-OPAT team, the structure required to deliver the service, identifying patients and pathologies that are suitable for p-OPAT, ensuring appropriate vascular access, antimicrobial choice and delivery and the clinical governance aspects of delivering a p-OPAT service. The process of writing a business case to support the introduction of a p-OPAT service is also addressed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases & Immunology, Southampton Children's Hospital, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK sanjay.patel@uhs.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Emergency Department, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Ed
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Abrahamson
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, The Hillingdon Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goldring
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases & Immunology, Southampton Children's Hospital, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Department, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK Department of Medicine, Imperial College, London, UK.
authors.forename: Hayley
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wickens
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, St George's Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laundy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019468:Disease Management; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: ambulatory; children; stewardship