NI Antimicrobial Guidelines for Primary Care (November 2008)

The aim of this guidance is: - to provide a simple best guess approach to the treatment of common infections - to promote the safe, effective and economic use of antibiotics - to minimise the emergence of bacterial resistance in the community These guidelines are based on the best available evidence but the decision to prescribe an antibiotic rests with individual practitioners and is informed by clinical judgement. These guidelines are empiric and do not take away from local decisions on prescribing to address local circumstances. In particular, where a microbiologist is aware of an infection with a local emerging pattern of resistance to a first line therapy an appropriate second line therapy may be used. Microbiologists can issue guidance to local prescribers on the most appropriate antibiotic in this case. For review by November 2009