Primary Care Guidance

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 anti-fungals in primary care

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 annually.

Local adaptation:

• The guidance will need to be taken forward in collaboration between laboratories, PCTs and secondary care providers.
• Recommendations can be changed to suit local service delivery and sampling protocols.
• Change in laboratory use may increase or decrease laboratory workload and have financial implications for laboratories and Primary Care Trusts (PCTs).

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
Last reviewed: 25/03/09

• Management of Infection Guidance for Primary Care (Unknown filetype, 1.9 MB)
• Management of infection guidance for primary care for consultation & local adaptation (PDF, 312 KB)

Chlamydia
Last reviewed: 25/07/08

• Chlamydia diagnosis Quick Reference Guide (Word Document, 192 KB)
  
  
• Chlamydia diagnosis Quick Reference Guide (PDF, 89 KB)
  
  

The Chlamydia Problem - Increasing Awareness
Last reviewed on 09/02/05

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

Fungal Skin & Nail Infections - New guidance – first posted 21st April 2009

Last reviewed:21/04/09

• Fungal Skin & Nail Infections - Diagnosis & Laboratory Investigation (Word Document, 290 KB)
• Fungal Skin & Nail Infections - Diagnosis & Laboratory Investigation (PDF, 88 KB)

Infectious Diarrhoea

Last reviewed:13/12/07

• Infectious Diarrhoea - The Role of Microbiological Examination of Faeces (Word Document, 440 KB)
• Infectious Diarrhoea - The Role of Microbiological Examination of Faeces (PDF, 203 KB)

Helicobacter Pylori
Last reviewed: 04/09/08

• 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: 15/05/07

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

PVL-Staphylococcus aureus infections - New guidance - first posted 18th May 2009

Last reviewed: 18/05/09

• 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: 05/09/07

• MRSA Screening and Suppression - Quick Reference Guide for Primary Care (Rich text format, 1.7 MB)
  
  
• MRSA Screening and Suppression - Quick Reference Guide for Primary Care (PDF, 130 KB)
  
  

UTI (Urinary Tract Infection)
Amended April 2008 – for full review June 2009

• Diagnosis of UTI - Quick Reference Guide for Primary Care (Word Document, 162 KB)
  
  
• Diagnosis of UTI - Quick Reference Guide for Primary Care (PDF, 225 KB)
  
  

Vaginal Discharge
Last reviewed: 02/02/09

• Vaginal Discharge Vaginitis - Quick Reference Guide (Unknown filetype, 1.9 MB)
• Vaginal Discharge Vaginitis - Quick Reference Guide (PDF, 112 KB)

 

Venous Leg Ulcers: Infection Diagnosis & Microbiology Investigation
Last reviewed: 02/02/09

• 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)