Best practices, implementation and challenges of outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy: results of a worldwide survey among healthcare providers.

BACKGROUND: Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) is considered a patient-friendly and cost-effective practice. Patients in the OPAT service can be at risk for developing adverse events. Due to extensive variations in practice, guidelines have been developed to minimize the risks.

OBJECTIVES: In this first worldwide survey on OPAT, we explored the current OPAT services around the world, adherence to recommendations and identified best practices and challenges from different perspectives.

METHODS: An e-survey was conducted and consisted of questions about demographics, characteristics of the OPAT service, role of pharmacy, future developments, and respondents' views on improvements as well as best practices.

RESULTS: A total of 126 responses from 28 countries were included. Seventy-eight percent (78%) of the respondents stated that their facility provides antimicrobial therapy in the outpatient setting, whereas 22% did not. Forty-two percent (42%) of the hospitals with OPAT services had a specialized OPAT service, while 14% lacked specialized services and 22% had a partially specialized team in place. In facilities with a specialized OPAT service, the number of mandatory infectious disease (ID) consultations before discharge and clinical monitoring by an ID specialist or OPAT team member, the frequency of monitoring, and the availability of an OPAT registry were higher. A multidisciplinary team's presence was commonly noted as best practices. On the other hand, respondents experienced difficulties with reimbursement and lack of standardization in the screening, follow-up and monitoring of patients.

CONCLUSION: This survey provides a better understanding of the implementation and practices of OPAT services globally and describes best practices and the challenges from different professionals.