Infection Management
Antibiotic resistance remains one of the biggest threats facing us today. On this page you will find our guidance for managing common infections, patient resources and prescriber / practice resources to support you in protecting antibiotics.
Prescribing
Our aim is to provide a simple, empirical approach to the treatment of common infections, promote the safe use of antibiotics and minimise the emergence of bacterial resistance in the community.
Somerset Infection Management Guidance
The Quick Reference Guide has been intentionally removed. Prescribers are asked to refer to the more comprehensive guidance instead.
You can jump to relevant sections of the document using the links on page 1, or alternatively press ‘ctrl + f’ to open the search bar to search using key words.
Antimicrobial Resistance
Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future
Antibiotic resistance remains one of the biggest threats facing us today.
Health Education England has developed resources to help raise awareness of antimicrobial resistance. There are videos for Primary and Secondary care to help make informed decisions regarding the prescription, dispensing and use of antibiotics.
Please expand the topics below for more information around what you can do in your practice to help protect antibiotics.
We urge every health and social care professional in Somerset and beyond to become an Antibiotic Guardian.
Please share the Antibiotic Guardian Leaflet for Health and Social Care Professionals with staff in your practice.
The World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) is a global campaign to raise awareness and understanding of AMR and promote best practices among One Health stakeholders to reduce the emergence and spread of drug-resistant infections. WAAW is celebrated from 18th to 24th November every year.
The theme for the World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) 2025 is “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future.”
We encourage you to promote WAAW within your practice.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have published guidance and a toolkit with suggested actions and many useful resources for awareness campaigns, including digital resources to share.
Campaign materials can be also found on the World Health Organization (WHO) website, along with a campaign guide.
European Antibiotic Awareness Day (EAAD), held annually on 18th November, is organised in partnership with the World AMR Awareness Week, organised annually by the World Health Organization from 18 to 24 November. Last year's campaign focused on actions needed to hit the EU's 2030 AMR targets. This year's campaign is coming soon!
Plan a Campaign within your practice. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have published guidance and a toolkit with suggested actions and many useful resources for awareness campaigns, including digital resources to share.
Key messages for Primary Care Prescribers
Patient Dialogue - A model for a patient dialogue on the basis of available evidence provides guidance and support for primary care prescribers who encounter patient pressure for antibiotics, and promotes appropriate antibiotic use by patients. It can be used as a fact sheet or as a desk reminder during consultations.
Patient Brochure - A patient leaflet for primary care prescribers to hand out to patients: it explains to patients what antibiotic resistance is and why appropriate use of antibiotics is important.
Communication Toolkit to promote prudent antibiotic use with focus on self-medication with antibiotics.
Additional Resources including key messages, factsheets, infographics, posters, videos and patient stories.
A shorter antibiotic course can sometimes be as effective at treating a bacterial infection as compared to a longer course
Shorter courses of antibiotics have been associated with less adverse drug events
Shorter courses of antibiotics have been associated with less bacterial resistance to antimicrobials
There are many available resources and frameworks to help promote rational antibiotic prescribing, including avoiding unnecessarily long courses
One minute video: Why shorter is better with antibiotics
Antibiotic course lengths: 5 days for 5 infections (adults)
Antibiotic course lengths: Shorter is safer - Avoiding prolonged durations of antibiotic therapy
Research has shown a number of infographics with the main messages on appropriate antibiotics use in children with coughs and sore throats to be effective. These have been produced by the University of Oxford in collaboration with the National Institute for Health and Care Research and families with children.
Patient Information and Leaflets
TARGET Antibiotics Toolkit Hub provides a wealth of resources including a number of helpful 'Treating Your Infection' leaflets which are also available in pictorial format and translated into many languages.
The leaflets can be printed during consultations or patients can be sent the link to the online leaflet using accuRx. 
The Caring for Babies and Children with Cough website provides useful information for parents and carers of children and includes easy links to the NHS.uk web content for common respiratory infections
Caring for Children with Cough Leaflet
Resources for families, early years and education settings:
Infographics and leaflets: A number of infographics with the main messages on appropriate antibiotics use in children with coughs and sore throats have been produced by the University of Oxford in collaboration with the National Institute for Health and Care Research and families with children.
Health protection in children and young people settings, including education
Prescriber Resources
NICE advise that prescribers in primary care can use back up (delayed) antimicrobial prescribing when there is clinical uncertainty about whether a condition is self limiting or is likely to deteriorate.
A back-up antibiotic prescription is a prescription provided to a patient or carer, with the assumption that it will not be dispensed immediately, but in a few days if symptoms of infection worsen. When used appropriately it can be a useful antimicrobial stewardship tool, encouraging self-care in the first instance however allowing patient’s access to an antibiotic without another appointment if their condition worsens.
For further information, access the guidance South West Region Back-Up antibiotic prescription guidance for primary care - Somerset - September 2025
Practices wishing to replenish emergency bag/ cupboard stocks of benzylpenicillin injection may be unable to do so because of ongoing supply issues. A shortage is expected until May 2026 – see Specialist Pharmacy Service Supply Tool Information.
NICE meningitis guidance (NG240) advises to transfer all patients with suspected bacterial meningitis or meningococcal disease to hospital as an emergency.
If time before admission to acute hospital, guidance suggests IV or IM benzylpenicillin as soon as possible, but do not delay transfer.
Do not give IV antibiotics if there is a definite history of anaphylaxis.
Cefotaxime or ceftriaxone injections are alternatives – see Primary Care Infection management guidance.
Last updated : December 2025
THE UK SEPSIS TRUST - SCREENING AND ACTION TOOLS - See link for the most up to date versions
GENERAL PRACTICE FOR UNDER 5'S
GENERAL PRACTICE FOR CHILDREN AGED 5-11
GENERAL PRACTICE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE AGED 12-15
GENERAL PRACTICE FOR ADULTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE AGED 16+
GENERAL PRACTICE FOR USE IN WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT OR UP TO FOUR WEEKS POSTPARTUM
TELEPHONE TRIAGE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 5
TELEPHONE TRIAGE FOR CHILDREN AGED 5-11
TELEPHONE TRIAGE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE AGED 12-15
TELEPHONE TRIAGE FOR ADULTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE AGED 16+
TELEPHONE TRIAGE FOR USE IN WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT OR UP TO FOUR WEEKS POSTPARTUM
Patient Dialogue - A model for a patient dialogue on the basis of available evidence provides guidance and support for primary care prescribers who encounter patient pressure for antibiotics, and promotes appropriate antibiotic use by patients. It can be used as a fact sheet or as a desk reminder during consultations.
Dental Prescribing
Notifiable Diseases
Check which diseases are notifiable by law:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/notifiable-diseases-and-how-to-report-them#list-diseases
