Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur (PHKL) has unveiled its new Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) service, a significant advancement in outpatient care designed to improve patient outcomes. This innovative treatment option aligns with the hospital’s commitment to delivering value-based care and addresses an increasing range of conditions and infections.

According to guidelines from the Malaysian Ministry of Health, OPAT is a service that allows stable patients, who are eligible for discharge but need continued intravenous antimicrobial therapy, to receive their treatment as outpatients. This approach ensures that patients benefit from high-quality care without the need for extended hospital stays.

Implementation and Benefits of OPAT

PHKL commenced the development of its OPAT services in 2023, focusing on refining operations in compliance with ministerial guidelines. Key aspects include ensuring accurate diagnosis, comprehensive treatment plans, and robust follow-up care.

Dr Anusha Shunmugarajoo, Infectious Diseases Consultant at PHKL, highlights the positive impacts of OPAT since its launch. “The OPAT service has notably reduced hospital stays, cut healthcare costs, and decreased the incidence of hospital-acquired infections,” she explains.

Patient eligibility for OPAT is determined based on their hemodynamic stability, willingness to attend daily treatments, and proximity to the hospital. Eligible patients receive care from Dr Anusha and her team, involving the insertion of a central catheter for safer antibiotic administration and reduced risk of complications such as thrombophlebitis.

Key Metrics and Outcomes

Before the introduction of OPAT, the median hospital stay for similar cases averaged 18 days. This has now been significantly reduced to just five days. Additionally, patient costs have decreased by 10% to 15%, depending on the type of antibiotics used and isolation requirements. The consistent and timely administration of medication under OPAT has resulted in low re-infection rates.

OPAT also plays a crucial role in PHKL’s antimicrobial stewardship programme. This initiative promotes the judicious use of antimicrobials, including antibiotics, in line with evidence-based guidelines. The service supports global efforts to combat antibiotic resistance and contributes to a more sustainable healthcare system by reducing the carbon footprint and overall costs without compromising care quality.

About Dr Anusha Shunmugarajoo

Dr Anusha Shunmugarajoo is a Consultant Infectious Diseases Physician at PHKL. She completed her MBBS at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College in 2001 and began her career at Hospital Kuala Lumpur. Dr Shunmugarajoo obtained her Master of Medicine in Internal Medicine from the University of Malaya in 2012 and underwent Infectious Diseases training at the Ministry of Health Malaysia and National University of Singapore in 2016.

She is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases by the National Specialist Registry. Her interests include tropical diseases, surgical infections, HIV medicine, travel medicine, and vaccines. Dr Shunmugarajoo is a former President of the Malaysian Society of Infection Control and Infectious Diseases Malaysia (MyICID) and a member of the Malaysian Society of HIV Medicine (MASHM). She has published numerous articles and presented at local and international conferences.

  Dr Anusha Shunmugarajoo, Infectious Diseases, Malaysia healthcare, Malaysian Ministry of Health, OPAT, Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy, Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur