Identifying the potential impact of a multidisciplinary outpatient antimicrobial therapy program in an area of high social vulnerability

BACKGROUND: Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) and complex outpatient antimicrobial therapy (COpAT) are common practice in the management of infectious diseases (IDs). However, providing OPAT/COpAT can pose significant challenges pre- and post-discharge, particularly in vulnerable patient populations. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to assess outpatient complications related to OPAT/COpAT in patients discharged with a home health services referral and to identify pre- and post-discharge intervention opportunities and the associated cost-savings that could be achieved with a multidisciplinary ID team-run OPAT/COpAT program. DESIGN/METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of patients who were discharged with OPAT/COpAT through home health services over a 3-month study period. Data on potential pre-discharge interventions and post-discharge complications were recorded. RESULTS: Medication-related issues were the most common pre-discharge complications, accounting for more than 50% of identified intervention opportunities. More than half of the included patients experienced at least one documented outpatient complication post-discharge with peripherally inserted central catheter-line-related complication (20.7%) being the most common issue. Using previously published cost-estimates, the implementation of a designated pre- and post-discharge OPAT/COpAT program could have saved over $100,000 over the 3-month study period. CONCLUSION: A multidisciplinary OPAT/COpAT program located in a high social vulnerable area can help reduce complications related to a patient’s antimicrobial therapy. Medication-related issues represent a major area for potential intervention. Our findings suggest that a multidisciplinary ID team will have ample opportunities to improve the transition of care, at both pre- and post-discharge, for patients requiring antimicrobial therapy.