The indications to parenteral antibiotic treatment in paediatrics are frequent. Antibiotic agents with antimicrobial spectrums and pharmacodynamic properties allowing effective and secure outpatient parenteral therapy are now widely available. Outpatient treatment has a number of advantages including important economic benefits. The physician responsible for conducting such treatment should select patients according to strict criteria and never neglect security and quality issues. In this article, the authors discuss different aspects (general, medical, psychosocial, economic and practical) related to outpatient parenteral antibiotic treatment of severe paediatric infections.