Infectious diseases
Despite the success of vaccines and antimicrobial treatments, infectious diseases are estimated to be responsible for 7% of UK hospital admissions and are one of the most common reasons for attending primary care.
Pharmacists can help stop the spread of infectious diseases by recognising their signs and symptoms and providing information on infection control. They can also advise on best practice for the duration, use and selection of antimicrobials to ensure patients receive appropriate treatment in a timely manner, while accounting for antimicrobial resistance factors.
Our collection of infectious diseases content has been organised into six categories that can be accessed via the icons above or the subject collections below. These cover the most common conditions, medicines and vaccine use, and antimicrobial resistance and stewardship. You can also take the self-assessment quiz to test your knowledge and help identify areas of interest.
If you have further topics that you would like to see included in the infectious diseases collection, please contact the research and learning team.
Antimicrobial resistance and stewardship
MRSA: diagnosis, screening and management
How pharmacists can contribute to effective antimicrobial reviews
Cystic fibrosis: management and monitoring of respiratory manifestations
Switching patients from IV to oral antimicrobials
Clostridioides difficile infection: management
How to evaluate the clinical appropriateness of an antimicrobial
Bacterial infections
Sepsis: diagnosis and management
MRSA: diagnosis, screening and management
Cellulitis: recognition and management
Bacterial conjunctivitis: diagnosis and management
Skin and soft tissue infections: risk factors and presentations
Bacterial vaginosis: diagnosis and management
Urinary tract infection in adults: diagnosis, management and prevention
Cold, flu and minor ailments
How to identify and manage prolonged acute and chronic cough in pre-school children
Rhinosinusitis: symptoms, diagnosis and management in community pharmacy
Case-based learning: acute diarrhoea
The impact of a community pharmacy cough, cold and flu service on antibiotic prescribing and its acceptability
Evaluation of a community pharmacy service for uncomplicated urinary tract infection
Implementing a cold and flu training programme in the community pharmacy
Supported content
Reconsidering community pharmacy’s role in cold and flu
Supported contentMedicines use and vaccination
Dose adjustments of antimicrobials in patients with renal impairment
Dose adjustments of antimicrobials in patients with hepatic impairment
Understanding mRNA vaccine technologies
How to address vaccine hesitancy
Tetanus: symptoms, treatment and vaccination
Discussing the MMR vaccine with patients
Sexually transmitted diseases
Genital herpes: diagnosis and treatment
How to diagnose and manage Trichomonas vaginalis
Chlamydia: screening, diagnosis and management
Gonorrhoea infection: diagnosis and treatment
Antibiotic treatment of Mycoplasma genitalium infection
Viral infections
Sepsis: diagnosis and management
Chickenpox: symptoms, treatment and potential complications
Managing the long-term effects of COVID-19
Evaluating clinical pharmacist involvement in a COVID-19 intensive care recovery clinic
Differential diagnosis: cold, flu or COVID-19?
Investigational treatments for COVID-19
