FADIC Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT): A practical antimicrobial stewardship guide for safe outpatient intravenous therapy

Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) enables selected patients to receive intravenous antimicrobial treatment in outpatient or community settings without the need for prolonged hospitalisation. This book provides a structured, stewardship-focused guide to the safe and effective implementation of OPAT programmes. It covers patient selection and education, infection types suitable for OPAT, antimicrobial selection, monitoring and follow-up, service delivery models, and quality assurance outcomes. Emphasis is placed on patient safety, antimicrobial optimisation, and health-system efficiency, positioning OPAT as a cost-effective and patient-centred approach aligned with modern antimicrobial stewardship principles.