Take swabs prior to antibiotic therapy. Check previous microbiology results, allergies and drug interactions.Penicillin Allergy:
• Penicillin allergy is documented in over10% of patients but the nature of allergy is often uncertain (not a true allergy).
• True allergy (anaphylaxis) occurs in under 1% of patients and is a barrier to all beta-lactam antibiotics.
• History of a rash or mild symptoms could still allow the use of cephalosporins or carbapenem antibiotics.

Consider delayed antibiotic prescriptions.

Intra-abdominal infection

  • Where hospital admission not felt necessary

PO Co-trimoxazole and PO Metronidazole

Duration: 5-7 days (total PO and IV)

Acute gastroenteritis

  • Does not usually require treatment.
  • Take stool cultures.

Clostridioides difficile infection

First line treatment (regardless of severity)

  • Vancomycin 125mg QID

Duration: 10 days

Patients who fail to improve or worsen with oral vancomycin should be discussed with an infection specialist. Treatment will depend on severity and clinical setting.

Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 18/12/2023

Next review date: 18/12/2024

Reviewer name(s): J. Van Aartsen.