COVID-19 and Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy
Authors: Yasir Hamad, Karen E. Joynt-Maddox, William G. Powderly
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2021)

LettersJanuary 2021COVID-19 and Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial TherapyYasir Hamad, MD, Karen E. Joynt-Maddox, MD, MPH, William G. Powderly, MDYasir Hamad, MDWashington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MissouriSearch for more papers by this author, Karen E. Joynt-Maddox, MD, MPHWashington University School of Medicine and Washington University Institute for Public Health, St. Louis, Missouri Search for more papers by this author, William G. Powderly, MDWashington University School of Medicine and Washington University Institute for Public Health, St. Louis, Missouri Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L20-1347 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:We agree with Dr. Mathur that there is a need for a change in Medicare policy to allow for comprehensive coverage for OPAT at home. The current coverage is both fragmented and inadequate. It also forces many patients to receive care at outpatient infusion centers and nursing homes that could have been provided at home if such services were covered. Given that most Medicare beneficiaries are older than 65 years, they are at particularly high risk for COVID-19 morbidity and mortality (1). In addition, exposure to COVID-19 at nursing facilities has potentially catastrophic consequences. Indeed, there have been ...References1. Zhou F, Yu T, Du R, et al. Clinical course and risk factors for mortality of adult inpatients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: a retrospective cohort study. Lancet. 2020;395:1054-62. [PMID: 32171076] doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30566-3 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Chidambaram P. Kaiser Family Foundation Issue Brief: state reporting of cases and deaths due to COVID-19 in long-term care facilities. Kaiser Family Foundation. 23 April 2020. Accessed at www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/state-reporting-of-cases-and-deaths-due-to-covid-19-in-long-term-care-facilities on 4 November 2020. Google Scholar3. Burnett Y, Hamad Y. Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy readmissions from post-acute care facilities due to coronavirus disease 2019 [Abstract]. Presented at IDWeek, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 21–25 October 2020. Abstract no. 537. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Yasir Hamad, MD; Karen E. Joynt-Maddox, MD, MPH; William G. Powderly, MDAffiliations: Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MissouriWashington University School of Medicine and Washington University Institute for Public Health, St. Louis, Missouri Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M20-1774. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoCOVID-19 and Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy: The Need to Protect Vulnerable Medicare Beneficiaries Yasir Hamad , Karen E. Joynt Maddox , and William G. Powderly COVID-19 and Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy Pankaj Mathur Metrics January 2021Volume 174, Issue 1 Page: 142 Keywords Antimicrobials COVID-19 Disclosure Medicare Morbidity Mortality Nursing homes Outpatients ePublished: 19 January 2021 Issue Published: January 2021 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2021 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...