Practice guidelines for community-based parenteral anti-infective therapy (
CoPAT) have recently been formulated in several countries. These guidelines
emphasize the importance of teamwork and the interdisciplinary nature of C
oPAT, and they use similar criteria for patient selection and evaluation, a
nti-infective agent selection and administration, and clinical monitoring.
There are now guidelines or standards addressing the roles and responsibili
ties of the physician, nurse, and pharmacist in the delivery of CoPAT, and
home care standards that address issues such as drug storage and preparatio
n, treatment planning, and monitoring of ongoing care.