Abstract:
Objective: The aim of this study is to guide other investigators in designing and implementing an appropriate pediatric outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy program in healthcare settings.
Methods: A systematic review of studies that included a description of outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy in children was conducted. A register of the review protocol was carried out in PROSPERO (registration number: CRD420251054490), which followed PRISMA guidelines. The literature search was performed in four healthcare databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and CINAHL) with no publication date or language restrictions.
Results: A total of 1,764 articles were identified, of which only 37 met the inclusion criteria. Most outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy programs were home-based and mainly involved pediatricians and nurses. In terms of clinical results, most programs demonstrated a hospital readmission rate of 0-10% and full antimicrobial therapy completion. In regard to safety, catheter-related infections and neutropenia were the most common complications identified.
Conclusion: Home-based therapy treatment appears to be the most frequently implemented model, associated with reduced healthcare costs and high patient and caregiver satisfaction. This systematic review advances current knowledge by synthesising available evidence on paediatric OPAT program organisation, clinical outcomes, and safety, and by identifying key gaps to inform future program development and standardisation.
Reference:Ciudad-Gutiérrez P, Suárez-Casillas P, Herrera-Hidalgo L, Mejías-Trueba M, Muñoz-Vilches MJ, Neth O, Moleón-Ruiz M, López-González F, Gil-Navarro MV, Guisado-Gil AB. Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) programs for pediatric patients: a systematic review. Int J Infect Dis. 2026 Mar 19:108554. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2026.108554. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41864267.