Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy: updated recommendations from the UK

Abstract

Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) offers safe, effective and patient-centred care for adults and children. The OPAT UK good practice recommendations for adults and children have recently been updated through a process of literature review, expert consensus and extensive stakeholder consultation. Here we discuss the key changes in the updated recommendations in the context of recent developments, including novel antimicrobial agents and delivery devices, the place of oral antimicrobials as an alternative to intravenous therapy, new OPAT service models and the broader antimicrobial stewardship agenda.