Maximising the opportunity of a self-administration outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy pathway.

Background: The University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) service has expanded rapidly with more nurse-led direction.

Aims: A retrospective study between 1 July 2014 and 31 December 2019 was undertaken to assess the impact of OPAT expansion on beds released for further utilisation, clinical outcomes, adverse vascular access device (VAD) outcome, and self- and family-administered parenteral antimicrobial therapy.

Method: Data were extracted from the OPAT Patient Management System and from a patient questionnaire survey.