Strep A alternative antibiotics are now available at pharmacy

• The prevalence of strep A infections is increasing earlier than usual.
• This is presumably related to the Covid pandemic and increased social mixing.
• Under the new plan, patients won’t need to see their GP for a new prescription.

To help treat strep A infections in the face of temporary penicillin supply shortages, pharmacists will now be authorized to administer other versions of the antibiotic directly to patients.

It comes after a spike in demand for the drug due to an out-of-season increase in strep infections. a disease.

With uncommon, invasive strep A infections, there have been 18 confirmed child deaths in the UK.

Anyone concerned about their symptoms should promptly seek medical treatment, according to experts.

The prevalence of Strep A infections typically rises in the winter and peaks in the spring, but this year cases are increasing earlier than usual. This is likely due to alterations in the normal cycle of diseases brought on by the Covid epidemic and greater social mixing.

lots of strep A infections are typically minor, resulting in a sore throat or skin infection, but on rare, invasive group A strep infection (iGAS), which is extremely dangerous, can occur.

Mild infections can be treated at home with penicillin antibiotics, but serious infections require hospital care.

Ordinarily, pharmacists are required by law to only dispense the precise medication listed on the prescriptions when patients bring them in. Patients must return to their doctors for new prescriptions if the medications are not available.

Some pharmacists have experienced difficulties dispensing the precise recommended medication.

Patients no longer need to visit their general practitioners again for a different prescription under the new strategy.

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