Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy.

Outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy enables patients to receive intravenous antibiotics without having to be an inpatient. Outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy can be delivered in an outpatient setting or in the patient's own home by a visiting nurse or the patient can be trained to self-administer antibiotic treatment. The advantages and limitations of each of these methods are discussed in this article. Common clinical situations in which outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy is used are described. The article also considers the advantages of outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy, how to ensure that care is safe and effective and how to obtain funding to set up a service.