Effectiveness of Pediatric Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT), a Four-Year Experience in a Single Study Center, Saudi Arabia

Background: The outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy (OPAT) service is becoming increasingly popular worldwide due to its efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness. It is considered as an alternative to hospital treatment. However, these services have not yet become an integral part of the healthcare system in Saudi Arabia. The present study is intended to estimate the 30-day readmission rate of OPAT patients, estimate healthcare costs in OPAT services, evaluate patient and family satisfaction, and evaluate catheter-related complications. Methods: In this retrospective study, at the Prince Sultan Military Medical City (PSMMC), 80 patients aged ≥3 months to <14 years, stable and kept only for the completion of IV antibiotics were recruited between the period of November 2020 to October 2023. Data on demographic characteristics, antibiotics used, improvement rate, patient satisfaction and cost-effectiveness were collected. Results: Significant variations in medical cases are observed, with notable fluctuations in UTI cases and consistent reporting of other medical conditions across the years. Antibiotic usage patterns also vary, with some antibiotics increasing in usage over time. Cost-saving analyses reveal substantial saving associated with outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy (OPAT) compared to inpatient care, highlighting OPAT's cost-effectiveness. Inferential findings confirm significant differences in the distribution of medical cases and antibiotic usage across the years. The study highlighted the importance of OPAT in providing patient-centered care and managing healthcare expenses efficiently. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that OPAT is a reliable and cost-effective service. It can reduce the direct cost of life-threatening infections compared to completing the course as an in-patient case. We have saved 93.48% of the overall estimated hospital expense through providing OPAT service.