Antibiotics Medicines Management Team October 2008

Antibiotics – Good news Trafford 4 th lowest frequency prescriber of antibiotics in the NW SHA

Antibiotics – Bad news Trafford is expensive - 3 rd highest costs for antibiotics in the NWSHA

TSC – Main Culprits Azithromycin Quinolones Minocycline Clindamycin Cefalexin

Azithromycin - NWSHA

Azithromycin - TSC

Azithromycin On Trafford guidelines as treatment for Chlamydia only Although, recommended by SMUHT respiratory physicians for some patients with Bronchiectasis Need to ensure appropriate indications

Quinolones - NWSHA

Quinolones - TSC

Quinolones On Trafford guidelines for; 1 st line – Acute prostatitis 2 nd line with Metronidazole – Acute or chronic rhinosinusitis Only if patient allergic to penicillin – Acute pyelonephritis Only if patient allergic to penicillin with Metronidazole – Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Quinolones Trafford are the No 1 prescribers in NWSHA! Associated with the virulent 027 strain of C Difficile Need to ensure used for appropriate indications only

Minocycline - NWSHA

Minocycline - TSC

Minocycline No longer recommended in Trafford guidelines Minocycline can cause hepatotoxicity and pigmentation (sometimes irreversible) when used long term. If it is to be used for more than six months then three-monthly monitoring for hepatotoxicity, pigmentation and systemic lupus erythematosus is recommended.

Minocycline A meta-analysis of tetracycline efficacy in the treatment of acne showed no difference in efficacy between first generation tetracyclines, Doxycycline, Minocycline and Lymecycline. Using a tetracycline with a low acquisition cost first line would therefore appear to be a reasonable strategy for treatment of acne – Lymecycline now considered tetracycline of choice for acne Review any person currently taking Minocycline and change to a more appropriate therapy

Clindamycin - NWSHA

Clindamycin - TSC

Clindamycin Only recommended as a second line therapy or if patient has spreading cellulitis If Clindamycin is prescribed please ensure that patient is counselled that if they experience any abdominal pain or diarrhoea that they should stop treatment and seek advice immediately Seek microbiology advice if needed

Clindamycin However, clindamycin is strongly associated with antibiotic ‑ associated colitis (C. difficile) infections and therefore high prescribing rates of clindamycin may be associated with C. difficile rates. Information on local (hospital) MRSA and C. difficile rates can be found on the Health Protection Agency website. (

Cefalexin - NWSHA

Cefalexin - TSC

Cephalosporins - TSC

On Trafford guidelines only for; 2 nd line – Uncomplicated UTI, depending on susceptibility 2 nd line – UTI in pregnancy or men After Trimethoprim or Nitrofurantion in UTIs in children The HPA has recommended that broad spectrum antibiotics, including co-amoxiclav, quinolones and cephalosporins, are best avoided when narrow spectrum antibiotics remain effective, because they increase the risk of C. difficile, MRSA and resistant urinary tract infections. Hospital lab no longer reporting on Cefalexin