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Published on: February 9, 2011

Complications associated with outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy in children

Jennifer Le1, Michael San Agustin, Elvin A Hernandez

  • 1University of California San Diego, La Jolla, USA. jenle@ucsd.edu

Clinical Pediatrics
|August 21, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Complications are common in children receiving outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT), often leading to unplanned medical visits. Osteomyelitis treatment with OPAT increased complication risk.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Antimicrobial Stewardship
  • Healthcare Quality and Safety

Background:

  • Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) is increasingly used in pediatric care.
  • Understanding complications is crucial for optimizing pediatric OPAT.
  • This study investigates complications in children undergoing OPAT.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of complications in pediatric OPAT.
  • To identify risk factors associated with OPAT complications in children.
  • To assess the clinical impact of these complications.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study of patients 18 years or younger receiving OPAT.
  • Evaluation of antibiotic-associated complications (AACs) and catheter-associated complications (CACs).
  • Tracking of unplanned medical care visits as a key outcome measure.

Main Results:

  • 36 complications (25 CACs, 11 AACs) occurred in 32 of 98 pediatric patients.
  • OPAT for osteomyelitis was linked to a higher risk of complications (OR=2.69).
  • 17 patients experienced unplanned medical visits, primarily due to CACs.

Conclusions:

  • Complications are frequent in children receiving OPAT.
  • These complications commonly necessitate unplanned medical interventions.
  • OPAT requires careful monitoring in pediatric populations, especially for osteomyelitis.
Abstract

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