Loading doses are to be undertaken in an acute setting Legal authorisation is required to administer medication.
A valid direction to administer is a prescription, that clearly identifies the patient and prescriber, and details the date of issue, the medicine name, strength, form, route/method of administration and dosing regimen (dose, time/frequency of administration, and duration of treatment if applicable) authorised by the prescriber.
The OPAT Team will contact the referrer to provide the prescription if the referral is accepted.
Please note equipment that will be required to be provided for each administration
- Drug - for the entirety of the required treatment length, this can be sent weekly or altogether Diluent Sodium chloride 0.9% for injection flushes or Posi flush. • 2 x 10ml per administration via a CVAD, 2 x 5ml per administration via a cannula Sodium chloride 0.9% infusion bags (if required)
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- Gravity administration set Luerlock syringes, enough for drawing up the drug and the flushes, the smallest possible syringe with the necessary graduations should be selected; however, please note syringes less than 10ml are not suitable for accessing cvads and cannulas.
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- Filter needles, enough for drawing up the drug and the flushes 2% chlorhexidine and gluconate 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes for medical devices
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- 2 wipes per administration Cannula and cannula packs (if patient managed with a cannula) including 2% chlorhexidine and gluconate 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes for skin CVAD maintenance equipment required weekly (if patient managed with a CVAD)– securement device, transparent semi permeable dressing, Chloraprep, and needle free device.
The OPAT Service provide their own personal protective equipment, sharps bins, and medication preparation trays.
