Drive to beat Clostridium difficile through improved prescribing

18 November 2008

The North West Medicines Information Centre, supported by the Health Protection Agency and others, is leading a drive to beat Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) through improved antibiotic prescribing.

The centre, which provides information about medicines to NHS healthcare professionals across the North West, has developed best practice guidance to help GPs prescribe antibiotics wisely.

Karoline Brennan, Medicines Information Pharmacist at the centre, said: "We aim to raise awareness of CDI as a problem associated with broad-spectrum antibiotic use and to promote responsible antibiotic prescribing in primary care.

"We have produced a series of documents for use by Primary Care Trusts' Medicines Management pharmacists who work with GPs to promote best prescribing practice.

"Our messages are: don't prescribe antibiotics when they're not needed, for example for sore throats, coughs and colds; When it is necessary to use an antibiotic, use a narrow-spectrum agent that is targeted on the specific infection that the patient is suffering from and prescribe a short course.

"Try to avoid prescribing broad-spectrum antibiotics that kill a wide range of bacteria, because these are more likely to cause Clostridium difficile infection, particularly in elderly patients. Once a patient has CDI, it can spread rapidly to others, particularly in the closed environment of a hospital or a residential care home."

The documents provide background information on Clostridium difficile infection, the risk posed by different antibiotics and other factors associated with the disease. An aide memoire for prescribers highlights the key messages and can be adapted by PCTs to reflect local guidelines.

Note to editors: Press release issued by Hugh Lamont, Communications Manager, HPA North West on 0151-482-5728 or 07764-906508

The guidance has been made available to PCT Heads of Medicines Management and Hospital Chief Pharmacists in the North West NHS area, which extends from Carlisle to Crewe.

The documents are available to NHS healthcare professionals via the National electronic Library for Medicines, www.nelm.nhs.uk.

Last reviewed: 17 November 2008