Activity Description : Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) is one of the fastest-growing and most clinically complex services delivered in the home infusion setting. While OPAT offers patients the opportunity to complete intravenous antimicrobial therapy safely outside of the hospital, preventable therapy failures continue to contribute to medication toxicity, vascular access complications, treatment interruptions, emergency department visits, antimicrobial resistance concerns, and avoidable hospital readmissions. This session will explore how pharmacists and nurses can work together to identify early indicators of OPAT therapy failure before adverse outcomes occur. Through real-world OPAT case studies, participants will examine common gaps in patient monitoring, laboratory surveillance, communication, and escalation processes that place patients at increased risk. Attendees will learn practical strategies to improve interdisciplinary collaboration, optimize antimicrobial monitoring plans, strengthen vascular access oversight, and implement timely clinical interventions. The presentation will also examine how proactive pharmacist and nurse involvement supports antimicrobial stewardship goals, patient safety initiatives, accreditation expectations, and payer requirements related to medical necessity, quality outcomes, and avoidable utilization. Participants will leave with actionable tools, escalation frameworks, and evidence-based approaches that can be immediately implemented to improve OPAT outcomes, reduce preventable complications, and support the sustainability of home infusion programs.

Handouts/Tools: OPAT Monitoring Checklist