Treatment of common infections
Start Smart Then Focus recommends that hospital trusts should produce evidence-based antimicrobial prescribing guidelines taking into account national guidance such as from NICE, and local factors including patterns of antibiotic resistance. Therefore if you are asked about the empirical (‘blind’) choice of antimicrobial before sensitivities have been established, then consult your local guidelines first taking into account our Tailoring treatment advice. If your local guidelines do not cover the clinical scenario in question, then you may need to use national (or international) guidelines such as those produced by NICE or other sources. We have listed the current guidelines produced by NICE that give specific advice on antibiotic choice in the scenarios you are most likely to encounter below.
Respiratory
NICE guideline [NG139] Published date: 16 September 2019
NICE guideline [NG138] Published date: 16 September 2019
NICE guideline [NG114] Published date: 05 December 2018
Central nervous system
NICE guideline [NG240] Published date: 19 March 2024
Genitourinary
Urinary tract infection (catheter-associated): antimicrobial prescribing NICE guideline [NG113] Published date: 23 November 2018
Pyelonephritis (acute): antimicrobial prescribing NICE guideline [NG111] Published date: 31 October 2018
Urinary tract infection (lower): antimicrobial prescribing NICE guideline [NG109 Published date: 31 October 2018
Urinary tract infection (recurrent): antimicrobial prescribing NICE guideline [NG112]Published date: 31 October 2018. An update is expected in 2024.
Skin and soft tissue
Cellulitis and erysipelas: antimicrobial prescribing NICE guideline [NG141] Published date: 27 September 2019
Leg ulcer infection: antimicrobial prescribing NICE guideline [NG152] Published date: 11 February 2020