Category: Infections

QUIZ FEEDBACK: Medication errors/Cough and cold in children from ‘best practice’ July 2010 Feedback on the responses to the Medication errors/Cough and cold in children quiz.
Do cough and cold medicines work in children? from ‘best practice’ July 2010 The short answer is no. There is little evidence that cough and cold preparations have any clinically significant effect on reducing the symptoms or duration of the common cold in children. Most of these preparations contain medicines that are not recommended for use in children aged under six years. Recommended care of a child with the common cold includes simple analgesia, saline spray for nasal congestion in younger children and symptomatic care including maintaining a “healthy home environment”.
Identifying the risk of serious illness in children with fever from ‘best practice’ July 2010 A “traffic light” approach to assessing the risk of a serious illness in a child with fever.
Immunisation in children by age two years from ‘best practice’ July 2010 An important focus of the PHO Performance Programme is to ensure that all children in New Zealand are receiving their necessary immunisations, by the recommended age milestones. A small proportion of children are not currently being immunised and it is important to identify the reasons for this and to find solutions to address this disparity. Barriers include healthcare system factors e.g. access to appropriate services, healthcare provider factors e.g. inadequate communication and perhaps most importantly, parent/carer factors e.g. fears and misconceptions.
Quinolone prescribing July 2010 Data report on quinolone prescribing
Influenza immunisation programme from ‘best practice’ April 2010 Important changes to the 2010 influenza immunisation programme
Correspondence from ‘best practice’ March 2010 Use of hand rubs with norovirus
Assessment and management of infectious gastroenteritis from ‘best practice’ December 2009 Every year around 200,000 New Zealanders acquire a food associated illness. Gastrointestinal diseases account for the majority of all disease notifications in New Zealand. The majority of cases of infectious gastroenteritis are self-limiting and most people do not seek medical attention. When people do present, the key clinical issue is the prevention of dehydration. Empirical use of antibiotics is not usually indicated.
Non-occupational exposure to Human Immunodeficiency Virus from ‘best practice’ December 2009 Rates of HIV infection are increasing in New Zealand, especially among men who have sex with other men. GPs are often the first point of contact for people who have been exposed to HIV. Referral to an infectious disease specialist for post exposure prophylaxis may be appropriate in some cases. Regular HIV testing should be considered as a routine aspect of healthcare for people at risk of HIV exposure.
Snippets from ‘best practice’ December 2009 Should aspirin still be used for primary prevention of cardiovascular desease? Reconsider paracetamol use post-vaccination