Anti-infective agents

Serious shortage protocols issued for three penicillin oral solutions

Under the protocols, pharmacists are able to supply alternative strengths or tablets with immediate effect.…

Competition regulator investigates ‘real concerns’ over antibiotic overpricing

The Competition and Markets Authority is looking into the pricing of antibiotics as cases of Strep A infection rise.…

GP leader calls for pharmacists to be able to substitute antibiotics where there are shortages

Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said that pharmacists need to be able to dispense a different formulation of an antibiotic or an alternative if it is not available.…

Children can be given oral solid dose antibiotics amid supply problems, NHS guidance says

NHS guidance says whole doses of solid oral dosage forms can be used 'off label' in place of oral suspensions.…

Antibiotics cut the risk of stomach bleeding caused by using aspirin in the long term, study results show

The researchers said the benefits of antibiotic treatment were strongest in the time period immediately after treatment.…

Antibiotic prescribing target hit one year early in England

The 'English surveillance programme for antimicrobial utilisation and resistance' report showed that total antibiotic consumption in England declined by 15.1% between 2017 and 2021.…

Probiotics should be considered when prescribing antibiotics, finds systematic review

The review considered papers that looked at the effect on the composition of bacteria in the gut of antibiotics, probiotics, and the two combined.…

No difference between length of antibiotic course for treatment of pneumonia in children, meta-analysis finds 

Researchers concluded that shorter courses of antibiotics were not inferior to longer courses in the treatment of non-severe community-acquired pneumonia in children.…

MHRA approves first vaccine in ten years to protect children against pneumococcal diseases

The drugs regulator has approved an extension for Vaxneuvance (PCV15) to cover children as well as adults.…

Community pharmacies may be locally commissioned to dispense COVID-19 antivirals

Exclusive: Draft guidance from NHS England says community pharmacies may assist in "establishing and maintaining timely access to COVID-19 therapeutics".…