Antimicrobial administration via an OPAT service

These include:

1. Self administration (following training and availability of the appropriate drug delivery system)

2. Administration by a carer or relative

3. Daily attendance at OPAT clinic or ambulatory care clinic

4. Primary care based community nurses

Self administration is becoming more popular as patients want to take more control over their healthcare management. Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust have developed some antibiotic self administration videos which have been successfully used in the training of patients in their OPAT service and these can be accessed here.

If you are in the process of starting up an OPAT service, which model are you thinking of using and why?

The most successful OPAT service deploy a variety of administration modes which increases the scope and reach of the service. However attention must be paid to appropriate clinical governance arrangements.