• R Andrew Seaton, E Bell, Y Gourlay, and L Semple.
• Outpatient and Home Parenteral Antibiotic Service, Brownlee Centre Infection Unit, Gartnavel General Hospital, 1053 Great Western Road, Glasgow G12 0YN, UK. andrew.seaton@northglasgow.scot.nhs.uk
• J. Antimicrob. Chemother. 2005 May 1;55(5):764-7.

Objectives And MethodsA management protocol for specialist nurses was developed for ambulatory management of uncomplicated cellulitis requiring initial intravenous (i.v.) antibiotic therapy. Patients were all managed through an outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy (OPAT) service. Those with cellulitis were compared pre- and post-intervention.ResultsOne hundred and fourteen patients were compared with 230 retrospective controls all managed through the OPAT service. Protocol management was associated with reduced duration of outpatient i.v. therapy from 4 to 3 days, P=0.02, and reduced need for physician review (100% to 19%). Outcomes, complications and readmissions were similar.ConclusionsSpecialist nurse-led management is safe and effective in the management of uncomplicated cellulitis in the context of an OPAT service and reduces the need for regular medical review without compromising clinical care.

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