Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy in Pediatric Patients

Objective: Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) has been developed as an alternative approach to hospital stay for the effective treatment of infections requiring long-term therapy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical outcomes and hospital readmission rates of pediatric patients receiving OPAT. Method: Pediatric patients aged between 1 month and 18 years who received antimicrobial treatment under the OPAT program were included in this retrospective study. The duration of OPAT, the antimicrobial treatments used, bed-days saved by OPAT, OPAT-related complications, and readmission rates were examined. Results: A total of 21 patients were included in the study, and the median age of these patients was 85 months. The most common diagnosis was leishmaniasis, observed in 33.3% of cases. OPAT shortened hospital stays for a median of 6 days (interquartile range: 2-12.5) per case. However, 14.3% (n=3) of the patients required readmissions to the hospital. No infusion-related side effects were observed in any patients receiving OPAT. Conclusion: Our data suggest that OPAT could be a good option for selected pediatric patients. However, further research and increased awareness are needed to promote the widespread use of OPAT for pediatric patients.