Outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy in the management of community-acquired lower respiratory infections

Within the past several years, the decision to employ outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy (OPAT) is driven by adequacy of insurance, availability of appropriate resources within the community, and the clinical stability of the patient. Current dogma is that virtually any diagnosed disease can b e treated outside the hospital, provided the former criteria are met. The d ecision to utilize OPAT is complex and involves a number of decision points that relate to the patient, the disease and pathogen, the antibiotic, and the facilities available in the community. This article discusses the decis ion-making process to utilize OPAT or hospitalization for community-acquire d lower respiratory infections.