OPAT
Medical abbreviation · Infectious Disease
| Stands for | Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
OPAT stands for Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy, an infectious disease abbreviation.
Delivery of intravenous antibiotics outside the hospital, at home, in infusion centers or skilled nursing facilities, typically through a PICC line. It allows patients with osteomyelitis, endocarditis or other prolonged infections to finish long courses safely after discharge.
Example: OPAT: cefazolin 2 g IV q8h via PICC for 6 weeks, weekly CBC and BMP, ID clinic in 2 weeks.
Usage notes
Programs require weekly laboratory monitoring and coordinated follow-up, guided by IDSA practice guidance published in 2018. The OVIVA trial (2019) showed oral antibiotics were noninferior to IV therapy for many bone and joint infections, shifting some patients away from OPAT. Pronounced "OH-pat".
Related abbreviations
More infectious disease abbreviations
- MSSA – Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus
- N95 – N95 filtering facepiece respirator
- NHSN – National Healthcare Safety Network
- NSTI – Necrotizing soft tissue infection
- NTM – Nontuberculous mycobacteria
- OI – Opportunistic infection
- PAPR – Powered air-purifying respirator
- PCP – Pneumocystis pneumonia
- PEP – Post-exposure prophylaxis
- PHN – Postherpetic neuralgia
- PLWH – People living with HIV
- PPD – Purified protein derivative (tuberculin skin test)
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This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.