A Dried Blood Spot Sampling Method for Vancomycin and Creatinine Monitoring for OPAT
The Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy (OPAT) service consists of providing antimicrobial therapy through parenteral infusion without hospitalization. This service is provided to stable patients otherwise ready for hospital discharge. Generally, the clinical monitoring for this patient population is minimal. However, clinical monitoring of vancomycin, an antibiotic widely used during OPAT, can be intensive primarily due to therapeutic drug monitoring. To ensure optimal treatment and minimize nephrotoxicity and microbial resistance, TDM and monitoring of serum creatinine levels are crucial during vancomycin therapy. TDM of vancomycin with OPAT presents a challenge for patients who must frequently travel to blood sampling facilities or the hospital for measurements. An alternative sampling method for TDM is the dried blood spot (DBS) method, which involves collecting a small drop of capillary blood from a finger prick onto filter paper. By implementing the DBS sampling method, the amount of outpatient visits regarding vancomycin treatment in OPAT can be reduced. Furthermore, the addition of measuring a biochemical parameter, such as renal function with serum creatinine, could lead to even less outpatient visits during OPAT. To date, studies investigating the effectiveness of DBS sampling of vancomycin and creatinine in terms of reducing outpatient visits have not yet been conducted in the OPAT population.
- EligibilityCriteria: Inclusion Criteria:  Aged 18 and over Able to understand written information and able to give informed consent Hospitalized Treated with intravenous vancomycin and to be discharged with vancomycin OPAT service with minimal 1 planned outpatient vancomycin TDM order Able and willing to perform finger pricks for dried blood spot sampling, or able and willing to undergo finger pricks performed by family members or other caregivers Able and willing to fill in questionnaires  Exclusion Criteria:  Former participation in this trial Cognitive dysfunction or other dysfunctionalities which makes the patient unable to draw blood by a finger prick or fill out questionnaires Unable to sample an adequate DBS after training in the hospital (this is also applicable for family members or other caregivers who are failing to perform adequate DBS sampling for the patient) - HealthyVolunteers: No - Gender: All - MinimumAge: 18 Years - MaximumAge: 120 Years - StdAgeList: Adult, Older Adult