Wirral OPAT Service Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy Wirral : Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) Service: A collaboration between Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Wirral Community NHS Trust and Wirral Clinical Commissioning Group #PROUD TO CARE FOR YOU wuth.nhs.uk @wuthnhs #proud
OPAT Service Leads: Sharon Bamber Healthcare Scientist OPAT Service Lead Dr. John Cunniffe Consultant Microbiologist WUTH OPAT Clinical Lead Dr. Paula Cowan GP Partner Eastham Grp. Practice Community OPAT Clinical Lead
What is OPAT? Antibiotics (or antimicrobials) are medicines active against bugs or germs that can cause a significant infection. They can be given orally (by mouth) or injected into a vein this is called intravenous (IV) or parenteral therapy. IV/parenteral antibiotics are usually given to patients in hospital but they can be given safely in an outpatient clinic or at home. When given in a clinic or at home, this is called OPAT (Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy). If you are receiving OPAT arrangements will be made for a nurse to visit your home daily to give the doses to you. How is the antimicrobial given? The antibiotic is given into your vein through a small narrow flexible tube called a catheter. The catheter is inserted into a vein using a needle. The needle is removed and the catheter is left in place and secured by a dressing. There are different types of catheters available and the one chosen for your treatment will depend on your veins and how long you will need the antibiotics for. You will be given further information about the catheter used in your treatment and how to care for it.
Access to the OPAT service Who decides if I should receive OPAT? You may be referred by: Your GP Accident and Emergency Department Hospital doctor (if you are an inpatient) If the team looking after you think that you are suitable for treatment at home they will refer you to the OPAT team. The OPAT team consists of: Consultant Microbiologist Clinical Scientist Specialist OPAT nurses/iv access specialist Pharmacist Your doctor and the Consultant Microbiologist will assess if you are eligible for treatment at home and discuss arrangements for your treatment. Do I have to go onto the OPAT service? The OPAT process will be fully explained to you and you can decide whether it is something that you would like to consider. You will not be entered onto the OPAT service if you do not wish it. You will not be discharged onto the OPAT service if you do not wish to be. If you choose not to go onto the OPAT service, alternative options for your treatment plan will be discussed with you. Who will give me the IV antibiotics? The community team will provide a nurse who can visit you in
your home and administer your antibiotics. An OPAT specialist nurse will also accompany the community nurse on occasion during your treatment. Benefits and risks What are the benefits of the OPAT service? You will be able to be at home in a comfortable and familiar setting rather than staying in hospital. OPAT is not always the right choice for everyone but feedback from previous OPAT patients has shown that they would prefer it to a prolonged hospital stay. It can also allow you to maintain your independence, be back with your family and friends or even return to work. What are the risks? Allergic reactions can occur with any medicine and therefore you should seek immediate medical attention if you develop any symptoms whilst at home such as a rash, facial swelling or difficulty in breathing. Occasionally the IV catheter can become blocked or an infection can develop. In general, some common things to look out for include the following: Rash Diarrhoea Fever, feeling hot/cold, high temperature Pain, redness and swelling around IV line Blocked IV line For any concerns or questions please refer to contact details at the back of this leaflet.
Your views are important to us. In order to provide the best quality service to our patients, you will be asked a few survey questions by our team about your treatment experience. You will be under no obligation to complete the survey, however we would appreciate your participation so that we can continue to develop and improve the service. Contact Details For any concerns or questions please contact your community nursing team. The contact details are on your home health care records or for out of hours: 0151 514 2222 If the treatment has been commenced in hospital your own doctor will be informed of your treatment via a discharge letter.
This leaflet is available in large print, Braille and on tape. Please contact Geoff Pennock on 0151 604 7289. Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust operates a No Smoking Policy. Please refrain from smoking on site. Author: Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy Date of Publication: March 2015 Date for Review: March 2017 PL/5023/Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy/What is OPAT? Do Not Copy. For further copies contact Medical Illustration Department quoting the title