Hospital Discharge and Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) Sandy Nelson, M.D.

What is OPAT? Hospital stays have become shorter, and patients often do not complete their antibiotic courses as inpatients. Some patients will continue on IV antibiotic therapy after hospital discharge –OPAT = Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy Yet the antimicrobial treatment still carries risks –Drug related adverse effects –Superinfections (e.g. C difficile) –PICC line complications (thrombosis, infection, occlusion) –Antibiotic intolerances are common Points of transition are error-prone –Electronic and personal communications minimize errors

What is OPAT? At MGH, OPAT is a system that assists ID physicians in caring for their outpatients on IV antibiotic therapy –OPAT does not replace the care of ID and other physicians, but facilitates it Active lab tracking and communication of abnormal results Communication with home infusion services and VNAs Prompt access to care for problems (NP) Proactive followup coordination OPAT cares for approximately 700 patients yearly

Preparing for ID signoff Decide on antimicrobial plan Determine what care providers will be supervising antimicrobials after hospital discharge: ID (with OPAT) or other Considerations (see suggestions in handout and online): –duration of therapy, toxicity of antibiotic regimen, risk of antimicrobial failure, comorbidities, involvement of primary or specialist team Followup in ID is required if OPAT system involved

Preparing for ID signoff First, ask Karen Manning to schedule the followup ID appointment –Appointment will be scheduled preferentially with MGH fellow or any provider who can provide inpatient-to- outpatient continuity –In your appointment request, please also include the desired time frame for the appointment and the anticipated “antibiotic stop date” –Please note the ideal followup appointment is usually 1-2 weeks after hospital discharge (not at the end of a six week course) –Some patients may be scheduled to be seen by one of our clinic NPs

ID Discharge Form Any patient being discharged on IV antibiotic therapy needs an ID discharge note in the chart and in the electronic record Templates under “Fellow Resources” on ID Intranet –Two forms, depending on whether ID/OPAT will be following the patient after discharge –Be succinct but relay information relevant for decision making, particularly if you will not be following the patient after discharge –Include laboratory monitoring (and goal drug levels if relevant). Suggestions for laboratory monitoring are included in your orientation handouts and online. Be succinct – avoid requesting a BMP if all you want is a BUN and creatinine –Include studies that are still pending and need followup –Avoid cutting/pasting

Communicating the Plan Post the note electronically in LMR/CAS Print the note and put into the hospital chart Communicate the plan verbally and electronically to the primary inpatient team and case manager Discuss the plan with the patient. If possible provide the patient with your “team card” including the appointment information the note to the outpatient team (ID fellow and outpatient attending, and

Special Considerations OPAT does not take over antimicrobial supervision until after hospital discharge –If there are important pending results or monitoring after ID signoff but before hospital discharge, please ensure primary team is aware to follow, alternatively keep a “less active” list to check on periodically Patients going to SNF or rehab –OPAT will help with the care of these patients if otherwise appropriate for OPAT care Patients going home on oral antibiotics –With rare exceptions (e.g. high risk patients on linezolid) OPAT will not monitor patients going home on only oral meds

Special Considerations Patients who do not otherwise need ID followup –OPAT will only monitor patients who will be seen in ID followup Fellow does not have clinic availability in the time frame in which the patient needs to be seen –Discuss with your preceptor, move other patients, utilize NPs at a time you are in clinic Avoid conflicts over who will supervise antimicrobials –Involve your attending if you sense any issues Please page or me with any questions