Universität zu Köln

Tometten, Lukas ORCID: 0000-0002-5968-8335, Trost, Ulrike, Jürgens, Linda, Achterberg, Stephan, Arenz, Lukas, Audebert, Franz, Bickel, Markus, Dolff, Sebastian, Draenert, Rika, Ewering, Silke, Fischer, Julia ORCID: 0000-0001-6138-7454, Friedrichs, Anette, Hagel, Stefan, Hennigs, Annette, Horn, Dagmar, Isner, Caroline, Khatamzas, Elham, Lanckohr, Christian, Lang, Henriette, Matthews, Hanna, Müller, Beate Sigrid ORCID: 0000-0002-6745-1047, Neubert, Jennifer, Schmiedel, Stefan, Simon, Arne, Tepasse, Phil-Robin, Waldeck, Frederike, Lehmann, Clara ORCID: 0000-0002-7042-1578 and Stegemann, Miriam (2025). Practice guidelines for outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) in Germany. Infection, 53 (6). pp. 2701-2715. Springer Nature. ISSN 0300-8126

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Abstract

Purpose: The practice guideline for outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) aims to encourage broader adoption of OPAT into routine clinical practice in Germany. Methods The guideline was developed according to the guideline development framework by the Association of the Sci- entific Medical Societies (AWMF) in Germany. Literature search was conducted, and expert recommendations were formu- lated through consensus and published as an AWMF S1 guideline (expert group recommendations with consensus develop- ment in an informal process). Results: OPAT is a safe and effective alternative to inpatient care for managing selected infectious diseases (ID) entities, which require intravenous antimicrobial therapy (AMT). ID specialists play a critical role in determining the indications for OPAT, the selection of suitable patients and the development of treatment plans. Specialist-led OPAT programs have been shown to enhance treatment efficacy, reduce hospital readmissions, and decrease healthcare costs. A structured, checklist- based approach is used to evaluate infection severity, available therapeutic options, patient comorbidities, and home care conditions. Adherence to antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) principles as well as regular clinical and laboratory monitoring are essential to ensure appropriate antimicrobial use and minimize adverse events, catheter-related complications and the risk of resistance. The selection of adequate vascular access is based on patient-specific factors, characteristics of the indicated antimicrobial and treatment duration, optimizing both safety and patient comfort. Conclusion: OPAT is a safe, cost-effective alternative to inpatient care, requiring specialists’ ID expertise and AMS. The guideline provides a framework for successful implementation in Germany.

Item Type:	Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Tometten, Lukas UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5968-8335 UNSPECIFIED Trost, Ulrike UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Jürgens, Linda UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Achterberg, Stephan UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Arenz, Lukas UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Audebert, Franz UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Bickel, Markus UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Dolff, Sebastian UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Draenert, Rika UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Ewering, Silke UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Fischer, Julia UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6138-7454 UNSPECIFIED Friedrichs, Anette UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Hagel, Stefan UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Hennigs, Annette UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Horn, Dagmar UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Isner, Caroline UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Khatamzas, Elham UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Lanckohr, Christian UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Lang, Henriette UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Matthews, Hanna UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Müller, Beate Sigrid UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6745-1047 UNSPECIFIED Neubert, Jennifer UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Schmiedel, Stefan UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Simon, Arne UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Tepasse, Phil-Robin UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Waldeck, Frederike UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Lehmann, Clara UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7042-1578 UNSPECIFIED Stegemann, Miriam UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-803396
Identification Number:	10.1007/s15010-025-02619-4
Journal or Publication Title:	Infection
Volume:	53
Number:	6
Page Range:	pp. 2701-2715
Number of Pages:	15
Date:	22 December 2025
Publisher:	Springer Nature
ISSN:	0300-8126
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Medicine
Divisions:	Faculty of Medicine > Innere Medizin > Klinik für Gastroenterologie und Hepatologie Zentrum für Molekulare Medizin
Subjects:	Medical sciences Medicine
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) ; Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) ; Antimicrobial treatment (AMT) ; Guideline ; Infectious diseases (ID) English
['eprint_fieldname_oa_funders' not defined]:	Publikationsfonds UzK
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/80339