Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) in Germany: insights and clinical outcomes from the K-APAT cohort study

Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) offers several key advantages, including enhanced patient quality of life, reduced healthcare costs, and a potential reduction of nosocomial infections. It is acknowledged for its safety and effectiveness. This study provides the first systematic clinical data for Germany, where OPAT has not yet been widely adopted. The aim is to establish a foundational reference point for further research and integration of OPAT into the German healthcare system. This prospective observational study descriptively analyses data obtained from a cohort of patients receiving OPAT. Both in- and outpatients from all medical specialties could be recruited. Patients administered the anti-infective medications themselves at home using elastomeric pumps. 77 patients received OPAT, with a median duration of 15 days and saving 1782 inpatient days. The most frequently treated entities were orthopaedic infections (n = 20, 26