Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy in Older Adults

Nora T Oliver; Marion J Skalweit

doi:10.1016/j.idc.2022.09.002

Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy in Older Adults

Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2023 Mar;37(1):123-137. doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2022.09.002.

Authors

Nora T Oliver¹, Marion J Skalweit²

Affiliations

¹ Section of Infectious Diseases, Atlanta VA Medical Center, 1670 Clairmont Road, RIM 111, Decatur, GA 30033, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Medicine and Biochemistry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland OH 44106, USA.

PMID: 36805009
DOI: 10.1016/j.idc.2022.09.002

Abstract

Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) for older adults is a complex process that involves multiple stakeholders and care coordination, but it is a useful and patient-centered tool with opportunities for the treatment of complicated infections, improved patient satisfaction, and reduced health-care costs. Older age should not be an exclusion for OPAT but rather prompt the OPAT provider to thoroughly evaluate candidacy and safety. Amid the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, innovations in OPAT are needed to shepherd OPAT care into a more patient-centered, thoughtful practice, whereas minimizing harm to older patients from unnecessary health-care exposure and thus health-care associated infections.

Keywords: Adverse drug events; Intravenous antibiotics; Older adults; Outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Aged
Ambulatory Care
Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
Anti-Infective Agents*
COVID-19*
Humans
Outpatients
Pandemics

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Anti-Infective Agents