![A GP examining boy's ear with otoscope](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/pharmacyfirst-343x194.jpg)
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
![A GP examining boy's ear with otoscope](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/pharmacyfirst-343x194.jpg)
![Illustration of a letterbox receiving money in the back and firing out new antimicrobial tablets from the front](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Antimicrobial_Subscription-1-343x194.jpg)
Everything you need to know about the NHS antibiotic subscription model
![Antimicrobial resistance, conceptual illustration](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Antimicrobial-perspective-343x194.jpg)
Advantages and disadvantages of shorter antimicrobial courses
![Bacterial skin infection on a child's right lower leg](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/shutterstock_518895595-343x194.jpg)
Sepsis: diagnosis and management
![petri dish with bacteria growth](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/MRSA-diagnosis-screening-and-management-1-343x194.jpg)
MRSA: diagnosis, screening and management
![Photo illustration of a cascade of pills calling into a system, with antibiotic resistant bacteria untouched](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Lead-343x194.jpg)
How pharmacists can contribute to effective antimicrobial reviews
![Young woman inhaling from nebuliser as part of cystic fibrosis treatment.](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/shutterstock_1478860316-e1684247654515-343x194.jpg)
Cystic fibrosis: management and monitoring of respiratory manifestations
Bacterial infections
![Collage of rashes from the article below](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Lead-343x194.jpg)
Rashes in children
![Photo of an armpit of someone with hidradenitis suppurativa](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/3-343x194.jpg)
Hidradenitis suppurativa: identification, symptoms and management
![Bacterial skin infection on a child's right lower leg](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/shutterstock_518895595-343x194.jpg)
Sepsis: diagnosis and management
![petri dish with bacteria growth](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/MRSA-diagnosis-screening-and-management-1-343x194.jpg)
MRSA: diagnosis, screening and management
![Photo of a pink and red inflamed lower leg](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/M1300283-Inflammation_due_to_cellulitis_on_the_lower_leg-e1696329391828-343x194.jpg)
Cellulitis: recognition and management
![Gloved hand holding eye-lid open](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Bacterial-conjunctivitis-343x194.jpg)
Bacterial conjunctivitis: diagnosis and management
![Close up image of an abscess on an elbow](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/shutterstock_1239004558-1-e1690885440193-343x194.jpg)
Skin and soft tissue infections: risk factors and presentations
Cold, flu and minor ailments
![Young boy with nebuliser](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/boy-with-oxygen-mask-343x194.jpg)
Croup: diagnosis and management
![Young boy lying on the couch and coughing](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2BJJ331-343x194.jpg)
How to identify and manage prolonged acute and chronic cough in pre-school children
![Man blowing his nose](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Rhinosinusitis-symptoms-diagnosis-and-management-in-community-pharmacy--343x194.jpg)
Rhinosinusitis: symptoms, diagnosis and management in community pharmacy
![Woman experiencing intestinal pain](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/CBL_Diarrheoa-lead-343x194.jpg)
Case-based learning: acute diarrhoea
![Assessment of the impact of a community pharmacy cough, cold and flu service on antibiotic prescribing and its acceptability by patients, pharmacists and GPs](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Research_Assessment-of-the-impact-343x194.jpg)
The impact of a community pharmacy cough, cold and flu service on antibiotic prescribing and its acceptability
![GP consultation](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Evaluation-of-a-community-pharmacy-service-for-uncomplicated-urinary-tract-infection-343x194.jpg)
Evaluation of a community pharmacy service for uncomplicated urinary tract infection
![One person training another](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/learning-3-343x194.png)
Implementing a cold and flu training programme in the community pharmacy
Supported contentMedicines use and vaccination
![Illustration of a pharmacy delivery van vaulting over a hill, with the numbers 2024 shaking out of the front cab](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Eoy_Lead-343x194.jpg)
A bumpy road for pharmacy in 2024
![Pregnant woman getting vaccination jab](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Lead-343x194.jpg)
Maternal vaccination: rationale, recommendations and role of pharmacists
![Person having dialysis in hospital](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/person-on-dialysis-343x194.jpg)
Dose adjustments of antimicrobials in patients with renal impairment
![Jaundice patient with yellowish discoloration of skin in comparison](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/hepatic-amr-343x194.jpg)
Dose adjustments of antimicrobials in patients with hepatic impairment
![woman drawing vaccine from vial](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/understanding-mrna-vaccine-tech-lead-343x194.jpg)
Understanding mRNA vaccine technologies
![Person administering COVID-19 vaccine](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/vaccine-hesitancy-343x194.jpg)
How to address vaccine hesitancy
![Tetanus vaccination](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Tetanus-vaccination-SPL20-343x194.jpg)
Tetanus: symptoms, treatment and vaccination
Sexually transmitted diseases
![PrEP pill in the palm of a person's hand](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PrePpilot-1-343x194.jpg)
PrEP pilot underway in five community pharmacies across south west England
![Coloured transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of herpes virus particles in infected tissue](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Lead-343x194.jpg)
Genital herpes: diagnosis and treatment
![Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of Trichomonas vaginalis parasite](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/trichomonas-vaginalis-micrograph-spl-17-343x194.png)
How to diagnose and manage Trichomonas vaginalis
![A Chlamydia self testing kit](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/chlamydia-test-343x194.jpg)
Chlamydia: screening, diagnosis and management
![Gonorrhoea infection: diagnosis and treatment](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Gonorrhoea-infection-diagnosis-and-treatment-SPL20-343x194.jpg)
Gonorrhoea infection: diagnosis and treatment
![Mycoplasma genitalium bacteria](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Mycoplasma_genitalium_bacteria_TEM-SPL-343x194.png)
Antibiotic treatment of Mycoplasma genitalium infection
Viral infections
![Bacterial skin infection on a child's right lower leg](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/shutterstock_518895595-343x194.jpg)
Sepsis: diagnosis and management
![Photo of a young child scratching chicken pox.](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/shutterstock_2094882088-scaled-e1686046249134-343x194.jpg)
Chickenpox: symptoms, treatment and potential complications
![Woman in PPE mask helping older man with his breathing](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/long-covid-1024px-343x194.jpg)
Managing the long-term effects of COVID-19
![Evaluating clinical pharmacist involvement in a COVID-19 intensive care recovery clinic](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Evaluating-clinical-pharmacist-involvement-343x194.jpg)
Evaluating clinical pharmacist involvement in a COVID-19 intensive care recovery clinic
![Differential diagnosis: cold, flu or COVID-19?](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Differential-diagnosis-SS20-343x194.jpg)
Differential diagnosis: cold, flu or COVID-19?
![Rapid review of treatments for novel coronavirus SARS CoV 2 infection](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Rapid-review-of-treatments-for-novel-coronavirus-SARS-CoV-2-infection-343x194.jpg)
Investigational treatments for COVID-19
![Twinrix vaccine for Hepatitis A and B](https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Twinrix-vaccine-for-Hepatitis-A-and-B-SPL19-343x194.png)