Sepsis risk factors
You should ‘Think Sepsis’ if a patient has one or more risk factor(s) for sepsis, and looks unwell Risk factors for sepsis include extremes of age under one year, particularly...
NEWS2 scoring system for assessing acutely ill patients in hospital including sepsis
This is a tool used to assess sepsis risk. A score is allocated to six simple physiological measurements respiration rate oxygen saturation systolic blood pressure pulse rate level of...
Emergency supplies
The criteria for an emergency supply at a patient’s request are; Interview the patient Must be an immediate need Must have been previously prescribed by a UK, EEA or...
DOAC contra-indications
DOACs (apixaban, edoxaban, dabigatrin, rivaroxaban) are contraindicated in antiphospholipid syndrome and in patients with prosthetic heart valves. For these patients warfarin is the oral anticoagulant of choice. https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/rivaroxaban.html#contraIndications...
Diabetic ketoacidosis causes/risk factors
Causes of DKA Infection, injury, surgery: Patient should follow ‘Sick Day Rules” Gastroenteritis Prolonged exercise Missed doses of insulin Treatment with steroids Excessive alcohol Use of illegal drugs Corticosteroids...
Newly Qualified Pharmacist Programme open for applications
Are you recently qualified? (Since 2020) CPPE/HEE have opened applications for their Newly Qualified Pharmacist programme. It’s aimed towards any pharmacist who has qualified since 2020, or pharmacists switching...
Extremely useful NICE antimicrobial prescribing summary
Want to know the antibiotic recommendations for each type of infection, and how long the treatment course should be? It’s all here! Love it! https://www.bnf.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/summary-antimicrobial-prescribing-guidance_july-21-for-BNF.pdf...
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)-signs and symptoms
DKA, is when there is severe lack of insulin in the body. The body can’t use sugar for energy, and starts to use fat instead. When this happens, ketones...
Treatment of Alzheimer’s disease
Mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease: first-line options for monotherapy are donepezil, galantamine, or rivastigmine (acetylcholinesterase inhibitors) Moderate Alzheimer’s: If acetylcholinesterase inhibitors are not tolerated or contra-indicated, memantine is a suitable alternative Severe...
PPI doses used in H.pylori triple therapy
Proton pump inhibitor Dose Esomeprazole 20 mg Lansoprazole 30 mg Omeprazole 20–40 mg Pantoprazole 40 mg Rabeprazole 20 mg All given twice daily for 7 days https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg184/chapter/1-Recommendations#helicobacter-pylori-testing-and-eradication ...
