The following antibiotic guidelines have been updated:
- Acute cough/Bronchitis: The antibiotic treatment table has been removed to reflect international best practice. Acute cough / Bronchitis is caused mainly by viruses and is a self-limiting condition. In the majority of cases, antibiotics are not indicated.
- Sinusitis: Addition of dosing table for intranasal steroids to be considered for people with symptoms of around 10 days or more. A note was added regarding the duration of treatment for severe / worsening infection.
- Pharyngitis, Sore Throat and Tonsillitis: Note added that Fever/Pain tool has not been assessed in children under 3 years. The recommended dose of cefalexin for adults has been amended.
- COPD: Updates to expert advisory comments and removal of levofloxacin from the empiric treatment table.
- Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP): Updates to expert advisory comments and removal of levofloxacin from the empiric treatment table.
- Pneumonia in residential care facilities: Updates to expert advisory comments and removal of levofloxacin from the empiric treatment table.
Updates on the HSE antibiotic prescribing are available on the ‘What’s new’ tab of the HSE antibiotic prescribing webpage.