Aim:

• To improve the diagnosis of infectious disease in primary care
• To improve use of the microbiology laboratory in primary care
• To target the use of antibiotics and antifungals in primary care

Implication:

• The guidance should lead to more appropriate antibiotic use.
• Use of this guidance may increase or decrease laboratory workload.
• Change in laboratory workload may have financial implications for laboratories and primary care commissioners.

Production:

• The templates have been produced in consultation with GPs and specialists in the field.
• They are in agreement with other guidance, including CKS, SIGN and NICE .
• The guidance is fully referenced and graded.
• The guidance is not all-encompassing, as it is meant to be ‘quick reference’.
• If more detail is required we suggest referral to the websites and references quoted.
• The guidance is updated every two years; or more frequently if there are significant developments in the field.

Local adaptation:

• We would discourage major changes to the guidance but the Word format allows minor changes to suit local service delivery and sampling protocols.
• To create ownership agreement on the guidance locally, dissemination should be taken forward in close collaboration between primary care clinicians, laboratories and secondary care providers.

Your feedback:

• We welcome, in fact encourage, opinions on the advice given and future topics we should cover.

Comments should be submitted to Dr Cliodna McNulty, Head, HPA Primary Care Unit, Microbiology Laboratory, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Great Western Road, Gloucester GL1 3NN. Email: jill.whiting@hpa.org.uk

Guidelines for primary care (including diagnosis - quick reference guides)

Antibiotic Guidance and References
Extensively reviewed March-July 2010 with minor amendments to otitis media and pneumonia June 2011; C. difficile and PID August 2011; Influenza and UTI October 2011; COPD references January 2012. Next full review due January 2013.

• Management of infection guidance for primary care for consultation & local adaptation (Word Document, 416 KB)
• Management of infection guidance for primary care for consultation & local adaptation (PDF, 455 KB)

Chlamydia
Guidance first published 2002.
Latest reviewed: June 2011 following publication of the updated BASHH guidelines.

• Chlamydia diagnosis Quick Reference Guide (Word Document, 222 KB)
  Revised June 2011. Next review: May 2013
  
  
• Chlamydia diagnosis Quick Reference Guide (PDF, 190 KB)
  Revised June 2011. Next review: May 2013
  
  

The Chlamydia Problem – Increasing Awareness
Last reviewed: 9 February 2005

• Chlamydia Workshop: The Chlamydia Problem - Increasing Awareness (PowerPoint Presentation, 438 KB)
  
  

Fungal Skin & Nail Infections 
Guidance first published 21 April 2009
Reviewed June 2011 – no changes made

• Fungal Skin & Nail Infections - Diagnosis & Laboratory Investigation (Word Document, 212 KB)
• Fungal Skin & Nail Infections - Diagnosis & Laboratory Investigation (PDF, 152 KB)

Infectious Diarrhoea
The guidance was updated in July 2010 following the Griffin Report into the investigation of an outbreak of Escherichia coli O157.

• Infectious Diarrhoea - The Role of Microbiological Examination of Faeces (Word Document, 444 KB)
• Infectious Diarrhoea - The Role of Microbiological Examination of Faeces (PDF, 169 KB)

Helicobacter Pylori
Last reviewed: 4 September 2008

• Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori Quick Reference Guide for Primary Care (Word Document, 160 KB)
  
  
• Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori Quick Reference Guide for Primary Care (PDF, 80 KB)
  
  

Helicobacter business case
Last reviewed: 15 May 2007

• Test and Treat Helicobacter Management of Dyspepsia (PDF, 57 KB)
  
  

PVL-Staphylococcus aureus infections 
New guidance - first posted 18 May 2009
Last reviewed: 18 May 2009

• PVL-Staphylococcus Aureus infections - Quick Reference Guide for Primary Care (Word Document, 190 KB)
• PVL-Staphylococcus Aureus infections - Quick Reference Guide for Primary Care (PDF, 119 KB)

Meticillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
Last reviewed October 2009

• MRSA Screening and Suppression - Quick Reference Guide for Primary Care (Word Document, 165 KB)
  
  
• MRSA Screening and Suppression - Quick Reference Guide for Primary Care (PDF, 127 KB)
  
  

UTI (Urinary Tract Infection)
Reviewed and updated April 2011

• Diagnosis of UTI - Quick Reference Guide for Primary Care (Word Document, 198 KB)
  
  
• Diagnosis of UTI - Quick Reference Guide for Primary Care (PDF, 251 KB)
  
  

Vaginal Discharge
Reviewed and updated July 2011

• Vaginal Discharge Vaginitis - Quick Reference Guide (Word Document, 190 KB)
• Vaginal Discharge Vaginitis - Quick Reference Guide (PDF, 154 KB)

 

Venous Leg Ulcers: Infection Diagnosis & Microbiology Investigation
Last reviewed: 2 February 2009

• Venous Leg Ulcers: Infection Diagnosis & Microbiology Investigation - Quick Reference Guide (Word Document, 152 KB) 
• Venous Leg Ulcers: Infection Diagnosis & Microbiology Investigation - Quick Reference Guide (PDF, 104 KB)