Welsh pharmacy sore throat test and treat service ‘should not be routinely adopted’, review finds The use of rapid antigen detection tests in community pharmacies for the diagnosis and management of people with group A streptococcal infections should not be routinely adopted, according to guidance from Health Technology Wales.…
Superdrug relaunches at-home COVID-19 antibody testing service High-street multiple Superdrug has relaunched its at-home COVID-19 antibody testing service, after it had been ”voluntarily and temporarily” withdrawn in May 2020.…
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: diagnosis and management Early diagnosis and medicines optimisation are fundamental to ensure timely and appropriate treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and improve a patient’s quality of life.…
Regulator ‘following up’ Boots’ provision of rapid point of care COVID-19 antigen test The General Pharmaceutical Council is to “follow up” Boots’ announcement that it plans to roll out a rapid point of care antigen test for COVID-19.…
Stuck in the 1950s: why UTI diagnosis badly needs an update Urinary tract infections are the second most common reason for prescribing an antibiotic and, with antimicrobial stewardship a priority for the government, the stakes for accurate diagnosis are being raised ever higher.…
Case-based learning: constipation in adults It is important that pharmacists understand how to appropriately and safely manage patients with constipation in light of new Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency guidance announced in August 2020.… Supported content
Phlebotomy services could be run from community pharmacies to cut hospital visits, report recommends Phlebotomy services should be run from community pharmacies to allow patients to give blood samples without having to go to hospital, an independent review of NHS diagnostic services has recommended.…
Cervical cancer prevention: advice and services With the uptake of cervical screening at 70–73% in the UK, it is important for pharmacy teams to recognise the symptoms of cervical cancer, as well as provide advice on prevention strategies.…
Clinical guidelines recommend dipstick tests for lower UTI diagnosis alongside two or more symptoms Accurate diagnosis of a lower urinary tract infection in women aged under 65 years should be based on a positive dipstick test result for nitrite, alongside two or more urinary symptoms, new guidelines from the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network say.…
Differential diagnosis: cold, flu or COVID-19? An overview of the main differences between the symptoms for colds, flu and COVID-19, to enable pharmacy teams to advise patients effectively on their management, including treatment and/or referral.…