Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT)
Some infections need treatment with long courses of intravenous antibiotics or complex oral antimicrobial therapy. OPAT can help patients to get the treatment they need without having to stay in hospital. For suitable patients it can prevent admission to hospital or support early discharge. It can be provided in different setting for example in an outpatient clinic or in a person's own home.
The Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing OPAT Group are working to support the safe and effective delivery of OPAT across Scotland.
Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group (SAPG) OPAT guidance
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SAPG has developed an OPAT pathway for the management of patients with antibiotic resistant lower urinary tract infection (LUTI). This will support reduced hospital admissions for patients with antibiotic resistant lower urinary tract infection.
- SAPG has developed an OPAT good practice prescribing guide which shares practical experience of the use of antimicrobials in an OPAT setting.
- SAPG has developed an OPAT pathway for the management of adults with complicated skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) affecting their upper or lower limb(s) or face (erysipelas). This will support reduced hospital admissions and promote early discharge for patients with complicated skin and soft tissue infections.
- SAPG agreed OPAT key performance indicators (KPIs) for the management of patients in an OPAT setting which are based on the 2019 British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy OPAT Good Practice Recommendations. These KPIs support optimum care for patients in Scotland accessing OPAT services.
- OPAT August 2022 update on progress and developments in OPAT from the SAPG OPAT group and Scottish Government OPAT clinical network, including data on national clinical activity.
Resources
Scottish Health Technology Group (SHTG) Recommendation
British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (BSAC) Good Practice Recommendations
British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (BSAC) 2022-2025 Strategy
Scottish Government "Delivering the right care in the right setting"
Media articles
Interview with Dr Andrew Seaton for the The Herald newspaper. Read the full article here
Interview with a patient about their experience in receiving OPAT by Scottish Television. See full interview here
Content updated : 02 May 2024
