OutPatient Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT)

Infectious diseases
NHS Lothian

OPAT (Out Patient Antimicrobial Therapy) is a 7 days a week service that offers the delivery of IV antimicrobial therapy and monitoring of complex oral antibiotics for patients across the Lothians​

This is a service for patients who require long or short term IV therapy, or monitoring whilst on oral antibiotics and who are otherwise well enough not to require hospital

Indications for referral

Infections commonly managed via OPAT are listed below but any patient with requirement for ongoing treatment for an infection can be discussed and ​considered for OPAT

  • Osteomyelitis​
  • Septic arthritis​
  • Discitis​
  • Diabetic foot infections​
  • Intra-abdominal infection​
  • Infective endocarditis​
  • CNS infections​
  • Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) – nurse led service

 

Oral antibiotics requiring monitoring include (but are not limited to):​

  • Co-trimoxazole
  • Ciprofloxacin (or any fluoroquinolone)
  • Linezolid
  • Pristinamycin

 

WGH and East Lothian referrals and contact details

Location

  • WGH OPAT is based in ward 41 Infectious Diseases Unit within the Western General Hospital (WGH). This is on the ground floor of the Regional Infectious Diseases Unit, located at the Telford Road side of the Western General Hospital.
  • We are currently piloting a base within East Lothian community hospital (ELCH), all patients will attend WGH prior to being accepted for ELCH.

 

Skin & Soft Tissue Infection referrals​

  • If you require to refer a patient with SSTI during the hours of 0800 – 1700 please call 0131 537 2844 (32844) and discuss with OPAT nurses. 
  • A referral form is not always required as information can be taken from TRAK. 
  • If there is no answer please leave a voicemail and a nurse will get back to you that day. 
  • If it is outwith the above hours, leave a voice message with patient details, including where the patient is being referred from, and a nurse will contact the patient the following day to offer an appointment.

 

Complex infection referrals​

  • Please complete the WGH referral form and email to loth.wghopat@nhs.scot. The OPAT team will then contact the referring team with the next available appointment. Do not discharge the patient until OPAT have confirmed acceptance of the referral.

​

Contact details​

    • 0131 537 2844 (x32844)​
    • loth.wghopat@nhs.scot​
    • If your patient requires Patient Transport Service (PTS) it is the responsibility of the referring ward/patient to book this prior to coming to OPAT – 0300 123 1236.

 

SJH referrals and contact details

Location

  • OPAT for patients across West Lothian is based in the Medical Day Unit, Ground Floor St John's Hospital (SJH).

​Skin Soft Tissue Infection referrals​

    • If you require to refer a patient with SSTI during the hours of 0800 – 1700 please call 01506 522215 (52215) and discuss with OPAT nurses. 
    • A referral form is not always required as information can be taken from TRAK.
    • If there is no answer please leave a voicemail and a nurse will get back to you that day. 
    • If it is outwith the above hours leave a voice message with patient details, including where the patient is being referred from, and a nurse will contact the patient the following day to offer an appointment.​

Complex infection referrals​

    • Please complete the SJH referral form and email to loth.sjhopat@nhs.scot. The OPAT team will then contact the referring team with the next available appointment. Do not discharge the patient until OPAT have confirmed acceptance of the referral.

​Contact details​

    • 01506 522215 (52215) ​
    • loth.sjhopat@nhs.scot ​
    • If your patient requires Patient Transport Service (PTS) it is the responsibility of the referring ward/patient to book this prior to coming to OPAT – 0300 123 1236.

​

Referral forms

These are only accessible on an NHS Lothian Device

Referral form WGH​

Referral form SJH 

 

The OPAT Team

  • Consultants: Dr Claire Mackintosh, Dr Meghan Perry, Dr Sarah Clifford​
  • Charge nurse: SCN Katie McIntyre (WGH)​
  • Specialist nurses
  • Physician Associate: Kate Stephen​
  • GP: Dr Elaine Griffon

 

OPAT guidelines

Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 31/07/2024

Next review date: 31/07/2025

Author(s): Dr Callum Mutch, Katie McIntyre - OPAT Charge Nurse.

Version: 1.0

Reviewer name(s): Katie McIntyre, Dr Meghan Perry, Dr Sarah Clifford, Dr Claire Mackintosh.