Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT)

• Treatment charges and Medisafe claims 
  
• Follow-up visits 
  

• Often you will need to have a vascular access catheter- catheter/tube where antibiotics can be administered to you to avoid multiple injection into blood vessels 
  
• They are Peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) or Central Venous catheter (CVC) 
  
• These are plastic tubing/catheter that is inserted into patient’s vein by specialized doctors, that allow patient to use the same catheter for antibiotics injection for up to 3 months if there is no sign of catheter infection 
  

• Daily infusion - you need to attend OPAT clinic everyday, each time for 1-2 hours for antibiotics infusion by OPAT nurses 
  
• Pump infusion – antibiotics will be infused into patients via portable pumps. Patients or caregivers will need to change to new pumps at home every 24-48 hours, thus save the daily journey to hospital. These small and portable pumps allow patients to continue on their daily activities or return to work without much hindrance 
  

• The infection being treated for 
  
• The antibiotics administered – at times, rash or other side effects may happen. If that occurs you may require a change of antibiotics or readmission to hospital 
  
• The vascular catheter may become infected or blocked or accidentally dislodged 
  

• The first dose of OPAT antibiotics will be administered in the hospital, to ensure no immediate serious side effects. 
  
• Weekly blood test is necessary to monitor for any side effects you may encounter during OPAT treatment 
  
• Vascular catheter will be inspected each time you return for OPAT visit, to watch for early detection of possible infection
  

• Call OPAT clinic during weekdays and office hours, or visit the Emergency department during weekends if you encounter problems, 
  
• Fever 
• Rash 
• Pain, redness/swelling, discharge from the vascular catheter 
• Bring your OPAT case files whenever you visit a health care worker to inform them that you are receiving OPAT service 
  

• You will require to come to OPAT clinic either once a day (each session lasts for 1-2 hours) or once every 4-6 days for pump collection and blood tests 
  
• For daily injection – come to OPAT clinic once everyday, stay for 1-3 hours for injection 
  
• For infusion pump – come to OPAT clinic every 4-6 days for pump collection and blood tests 
  

• OPAT charges can be covered by MediSave 
  
• You will be informed of the estimated cost before treatment begins 
  

• You can inform your team doctor, and OPAT nurses will counsel of the necessary 
  
• Identify a main caregiver who will be home to manage your pump and vascular access device 
  

• You will receive your injection antibiotics (daily injection) 
  
• OPAT nurses draw blood for investigations 
  
• Management of your vascular catheter device (PICC/CVC) 
  
• Your antibiotics pumps will be collected in OPAT 
  

Location of service for nebulised medication

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