L’uso appropriato di antibiotici iniettivi a domicilio: criteri epidemiologici, clinici e farmacoeconomici

Abstract

Outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy (OPAT) has become an increasingly used therapeutic modality during the last 20 years. Reasons for this rapid growth include OPAT’s many patient benefits as well as the development of new technologies and well-documented cost savings. Recently the Italian Drug Agency (AIFA) has revised the list of drug’s limitations and indications; particularly two notes about OPAT (n. 55- n.56) have been modified. These new notes can assume at least a double significance: if on the one hand they try to put a check on the overuse and misuse of OPAT, steering physicians towards a better utilization of parenteral antibiotics, on the other they allow to prescribe OPAT also in case of non-ordinary infections, promoting development of more structured OPAT programmes. Prescribing physicians should be aware of a number of aspects of OPAT which distinguish it from other forms of therapy: multiple factors must be taken into account, including the probable infecting organism, the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of candidate drugs, the capabilities of patients who will receive OPAT and of their caregivers. The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) Guidelines have been elaborated to help physicians thorough assessment of OPAT suitability, even if they need to be adapted to many variables in each treatment setting. Aim of the present study is to re-consider the main microbiologic, clinical and pharmacoeconomic criteria supporting the prescription of an outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy after the publication of the new AIFA notes.