Team and service structure of ambulatory antimicrobial therapy programs

Important members of an ambulatory antimicrobial therapy team includeChapman, 2019:

• a medically qualified clinician (eg infectious diseases physician, general physician or other doctor with expertise in the management of infection and ambulatory antimicrobial therapy)
• a specialist nurse (hospital- or community-based) with expertise in parenteral drug administration and intravascular device management
• a clinical pharmacist with ambulatory antimicrobial therapy expertise.

Medical responsibility for ongoing care of patients receiving parenteral or complex oral antimicrobials in the community lies with the treating doctor, who must be clearly identified in the patient’s records.

Effective communication is essential between the ambulatory antimicrobial therapy team and other healthcare professionals involved in the patient’s care (eg general practitioner, medical team that referred the patient for ambulatory therapy)Chapman, 2019.