For consumers
(1300 633 424)
Mon-Fri | 9am-5pm AEST
Your call will be answered by healthdirect Australia
For health professionals
Find out the active ingredient and other brand names of your medicines with the NPS Medicine Name Finder
For a medicinewise Australia
Independent. Not-for-profit. Evidence based.
Latest independent drug information about antibacterials and treatments, written and reviewed by experts in Australia.
Antibacterials are also known as antibiotics.
| Filter by audience: | |
|---|---|
| All | |
| Consumer | |
| Health professional | |
| Researchers & evaluators | |
| Members & stakeholders | |
| Other | |
| Title | Description | Type | Audience ![]() |
Date* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy outreach workshop | The Outreach Pharmacists in Remote Aboriginal Health services (OPRAH) project aims for optimal treatment and prevention of disease by quality use of medicines | Professional activity - Pharmacist outreach | Health Professionals | 2012-01-01 00:00:00 |
| Antibiotics - controlling resistance | We review the latest evidence about individual antibiotic resistance and using patient-centred communication to improve prescribing | Professional publication - NPS News | Health Professionals | 2012-02-01 00:00:00 |
| New NPS campaign to help combat antibiotic resistance | On 1 February 2012 NPS will launch a health professional education program as part of its new five-year campaign addressing the critical issue of antibiotic resistance | Media release | Others | 2012-01-23 19:00:00 |
| Case study 72: Management of rhinosinusitis | Jessica, a 26-year-old student, presents to you complaining of a 4 day history of coloured nasal discharge, headache, lethargy and sneezing. | Professional activity - Case study | Health Professionals | 2012-02-01 00:00:00 |
| Clinical audit: Antibiotics for specific respiratory tract infections: Enrolment | Clinical audit to assist general practitioners to review their prescribing of antibiotics in respiratory tract infection against therapeutic guidelines. | Professional activity - Clinical audit | Health Professionals | 2009-07-01 00:00:00 |
| Clinical audit: Antibiotics for specific respiratory tract infections | Clinical audit to assist general practitioners to review their prescribing of antibiotics in respiratory tract infection against therapeutic guidelines. | Professional activity - Clinical audit | Health Professionals | 2009-07-01 00:00:00 |
| Indicators of Quality Prescribing: 11 | Indicators of Quality Prescribing: Indicator 11 Antibiotics (Cephalexin). This indicator asks practices what percentage of prescriptions for cephalexin had as the indication non-specific URTI, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, acute otitis media, sinusitis or acute bronchitis. | Professional tool - Indicators of quality prescribing | Health Professionals | 2006-02-01 00:00:00 |
| Indicators of Quality Prescribing: 10 | Indicators of Quality Prescribing: Indicator 10 Antibiotics (Acute Otitis Media). This indicator asks practices what percentage of children are prescribed an antibiotic for acute otitis media). | Professional tool - Indicators of quality prescribing | Health Professionals | 2006-02-01 00:00:00 |
| Indicators of Quality Prescribing: 9 | ndicators of Quality Prescribing: Indicator 9 Antibiotics (Non-specific URTI). This indicator asks practices what percentage of patients are prescribed an antibiotic for a non-specific upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). | Professional tool - Indicators of quality prescribing | Health Professionals | 2006-02-01 00:00:00 |
| Indicators of Quality Prescribing: 1 | Indicators of Quality Prescribing: Indicator 1 Antibiotics. This indicator asks practices if they have recent copies of Therapeutic Guidelines: Antibiotics. | Professional tool - Indicators of quality prescribing | Health Professionals | 2006-02-01 00:00:00 |
| Case study 58: Report - Antibiotics and respiratory tract illness – thinking of patient-centred care | Brenda is a 25-year-old marketing executive. She presents today worried about her cough and hoarse voice as she has to give a presentation to her company board next week. | Professional activity - Case study report | Health Professionals | 2009-09-01 00:00:00 |
| Case study 58: Antibiotics and respiratory tract illness – thinking of patient-centred care | Brenda is a 25-year-old marketing executive. She presents today worried about her cough and hoarse voice as she has to give a presentation to her company board next week. | Professional activity - Case study | Health Professionals | 2009-06-01 00:00:00 |
| Case study PH2 report: For pharmacists. Symptomatic management of URTIs | Patient presents with rhinosinusitis, sore throat and cough. GP has diagnosed viral illness and recommended symptomatic management saying no benefit from antibiotic therapy. | Professional activity - Case study report | Health Professionals | 2000-06-01 00:00:00 |
| Case study 46 report: Antibiotic therapy for animal bites | Child presents with puncture wounds and scratches to his arm and hand after being bitten by a cat. | Professional activity - Case study report | Health Professionals | 2007-04-01 00:00:00 |
| Case study 37 report: Antibiotic use in urinary tract infection | A child presents with a history of fever, irritability, urinary frequency and dysuria. | Professional activity - Case study report | Health Professionals | 2005-09-01 00:00:00 |
| Case study 26 report: Management of sore throat | Teenager presents with sore throat and lethargy for 3 days. Her temperature is 37.8C and she has tonsillar swelling and exudate. | Professional activity - Case study report | Health Professionals | 2003-04-01 00:00:00 |
| Case study 14 report: Management of sinusitis | Patient presents with lethargy, sore throat, facial pain and rhinorrhoea. Paracetamol and a topical decongestant have provided partial symptom relief. | Professional activity - Case study report | Health Professionals | 2008-04-30 00:00 |
| Case study PH2: For pharmacists: Symptomatic management of URTIs | Patient presents with rhinosinusitis, acute sore throat and cough, and requests an antibiotic. GP recommends symptomatic management. | Professional activity - Pharmacy Practice Review | Health Professionals | 2000-07-31 00:00:00 |
| Case study 46: Antibiotic therapy for animal bites | Child presents with puncture wounds and scratches to his arm and hand after being bitten by a cat. | Professional activity - Case study | Health Professionals | 2007-02-01 00:00:00 |
| Case study 37: Antibiotic use in urinary tract infection | A child presents with a history of fever, irritability, urinary frequency and dysuria. | Professional activity - Case study | Health Professionals | 2005-06-01 00:00:00 |
| Case study 2: Otitis media | Child presents with bilateral earache, a cold for three days and a slight fever. | Professional activity - Case study | Health Professionals | 1999-04-01 00:00:00 |
| Case study 26: Management of sore throat | Teenager presents with sore throat and lethargy for 3 days. Her temperature is 37.8C and she has tonsillar swelling and exudate. | Professional activity - Case study | Health Professionals | 2003-04-01 00:00:00 |
| Case study 14: Management of sinusitis | Patient presents with lethargy, sore throat, facial pain and rhinorrhoea. Paracetamol and a topical decongestant have provided partial symptom relief. | Professional activity - Case study | Health Professionals | 2001-04-01 00:00:00 |
| Cough and role of antibiotics | An information leaflet answering important questions that patients may have on the management of troublesome coughs and why antibiotics may not be needed. | Professional tool - Patient leaflet | Health Professionals,Consumers | 2002-04-01 00:00:00 |
| Upper respiratory tract infection - managing symptoms | A patient information leaflet that doctors can use to reinforce verbal instructions regarding symptomatic management for respiratory tract infections where antibiotics may not be required. | Professional tool - Patient leaflet | Consumers,Health Professionals | 2006-01-01 00:00:00 |
| Otitis media and the role of antibiotics | An information leaflet answering important questions that parents or carers may have on the management of middle ear infections in children. | Professional tool - Patient leaflet | Health Professionals,Consumers | 2005-05-01 00:00:00 |
| Managing the common cold | Pharmacy letter on managing the common cold including symptom management, the benefits and risks of medicines and when to refer. Includes self-audit information. | Professional publication - Pharmacy Letter | Health Professionals | 2002-06-01 00:00:00 |
| Antibiotics in sore throats, coughs and colds | Explores the limited role of antibiotics in respiratory tract infections and provides strategies that may help convince patients that antibiotics are unnecessary. | Professional publication - NPS News | Health Professionals | 2009-06-01 00:00:00 |
| Antibiotics - resistance a concern | Effective antibiotic use minimises the development of drug resistance. | Professional publication - NPS News | Health Professionals | 2007-02-01 00:00:00 |
| COPD - management and preventing progression | Covers identification and diagnosis of patients at risk of COPD - focuses on smokers and smoking cessation interventions. Treatment plans for acute exacerbations | Professional publication - NPS News | Health Professionals | 2006-04-01 00:00:00 |
| Antibiotics in RTI and UTI | This NPS NEWS features antibiotic prescribing for community acquired pneumonia, the common colds project and role of antibiotics for urinary tract infections in the elderly. | Professional publication - NPS News | Health Professionals | 2005-06-01 00:00:00 |
| Antibiotic prescribing practices | Reports downward trends in antibiotic prescribing rates by GPs, and focuses on amoxycillin for sinusitis, patient education, and guidelines for treating URTIs | Professional publication - NPS News | Health Professionals | 2003-04-01 00:00:00 |
| Management of URTIs | Discusses management of upper respiratory tract infections, allergic reactions and side-effects of penicillin. Sinusitis management case study | Professional publication - NPS News | Health Professionals | 2001-04-01 00:00:00 |
| NPS News 10: Consumer expectations: antibiotics are not the be all and end all | Consumer attitudes towards antibiotics, the results of the 1999 Campbell National Health Monitor Survey. Clinical audit on antibiotic prescription, interpreting clinical trial results and resistance patterns. | Professional publication - NPS News | Health Professionals | 2000-06-01 00:00:00 |
| NPS News 3: Limited role of antibiotics in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections | Evidence indicates that antibiotics, zinc and vitamin C treatment for URTIs have limited effects on clinical outcome with the exception of amoxycillin for otitis media. | Professional publication - NPS News | Health Professionals | 1999-04-01 00:00:00 |
| NPS Prescribing Practice Review 33: COPD: interventions for better outcomes | Information on diagnosis and drug treatment plans for patients with stable COPD, along with advice on smoking cessation and an action plan for acute exacerbations. | Professional publication - Prescribing Practice Review | Health Professionals | 2006-05-01 00:00:00 |
| NPS Prescribing Practice Review 30: Antibiotics in primary care | Information on the judicious use of antibiotics in respiratory tract infections, community-acquired pneumonia and urinary tract infections. Sample feedback prescribing data is also provided. | Professional publication - Prescribing Practice Review | Health Professionals | 2005-06-24 00:00:00 |
| NPS Prescribing Practice Review 33: COPD: interventions for better outcomes | Information on diagnosis and drug treatment plans for patients with stable COPD, along with advice on smoking cessation and an action plan for acute exacerbations. | Professional publication - Prescribing Practice Review | Health Professionals | 2006-05-01 00:00:00 |
| NPS Prescribing Practice Review 30: Antibiotics in primary care | Information on the judicious use of antibiotics in respiratory tract infections, community-acquired pneumonia and urinary tract infections. Sample feedback prescribing data is also provided. | Professional publication - Prescribing Practice Review | Health Professionals | 2005-06-24 00:00:00 |
| NPS Prescribing Practice Review 21: Antibiotics in general practice | Information on explaining the duration of antibiotic therapy, along with antibiotic prescribing trends and the common cold campaign. Sample feedback prescribing data is also provided. | Professional publication - Prescribing Practice Review | Health Professionals | 2003-05-15 00:00:00 |
| NPS Prescribing Practice Review 18: Antibiotics in primary care | Information on strategies to help reduce antibiotic use in URTIs (includes two patient information leaflets) along with advice on antibiotic selection in UTIs. | Professional publication - Prescribing Practice Review | Health Professionals | 2002-05-01 00:00:00 |
| NPS Prescribing Practice Review 12: Are you under pressure to prescribe newer antibiotics? | Information on how to evaluate studies comparing antibiotics, along with advice on judicious use of these agents in respiratory tract infections and acute otitis media. | Professional publication - Prescribing Practice Review | Health Professionals | 2001-06-01 00:00:00 |
| NPS Prescribing Practice Review 9: Use of antibiotics in respiratory tract infection | Information questioning whether there is unnecessary use of antibiotics for respiratory tract infections, along with prescribing points to guide appropriate use in such conditions. | Professional publication - Prescribing Practice Review | Health Professionals | 2000-08-01 00:00:00 |
| NPS Prescribing Practice Review 3: Role of antibiotics in treating acute bronchitis and acute upper respiratory tract infections | Information questioning whether there is unnecessary use of antibiotics for respiratory tract infections, along with prescribing points to guide appropriate use in such conditions. | Professional publication - Prescribing Practice Review | Health Professionals | 1999-04-01 00:00:00 |
| Antibiotics in general practice | Covers safe and appropriate use of antibiotics for specific respiratory tract infections and ways to exclude viral infections and avoid X-rays | Professional publication - Prescribing Practice Review | Health Professionals | 2009-07-01 00:00:00 |
| Antibiotics in general practice | Information on the judicious use of antibiotics in respiratory tract infections and advice on illness prevention through immunisation. Sample feedback prescribing data is also provided. | Professional publication - Prescribing Practice Review | Health Professionals | 2007-03-01 00:00:00 |
| Articles on antibiotics from NPS RADAR | Get independent, accurate, evidence-based info on antibiotics and antibacterials for bacterial infections. Written for doctors, pharmacists & other health professionals | Topic overview | Health Professionals | 2009-10-28 00:00:00 |
| Artist, M. Poster NMS 2006 | Artist M. Debunking the myths on antibiotics for common colds in children, National Medicines Symposium, 7–9 June 2006, Canberra, Australia | Event - Conference poster | Health Professionals,Research & Evaluation community | 2006-06-09 00:00:00 |
| Common colds need common sense, especially for our children, Poster NMS 2010 | The NPS antbiotics program is the only national strategy aimed at reducung the use of antibiotics for viral respiratory tract infections. Travers-Mason P, Artist M, Vajda J, Trinh L, Azam R. National Medicine Symposium, 26-28 May 2010, Melbourne, Australia | Event - Conference poster | Health Professionals,Research & Evaluation community | 2010-05-28 00:00:00 |
| Ear infections in children don't always need antibiotics | Ear infections are common in children under the age of six, but they will often clear up on their own without antibiotics, say Dr Peter Morris and Dr Amanda Leach of the Menzies School of Health Research in Darwin, writing in the December edition of Australian Prescriber. | Media release | Others | 2009-12-02 19:00:00 |
| Managing patient expectations of antibiotics | Health professionals are being given clear guidelines for prescribing particular antibiotics in different diagnostic scenarios in the latest National Prescribing Service (NPS) education program, Management of Specific Respiratory Tract Infections. | Media release | Others | 2009-06-29 19:00:00 |
| Help prevent global antibiotic resistance: only take it if you need it | It's that time of year again when it seems everyone around you has a cough or cold. While many people go to see their GP expecting to be prescribed antibiotics, the National Prescribing Service Ltd (NPS) urges people to try other remedies first. | Media release | Others | 2009-06-29 19:00:00 |
| Whooping cough boosters to protect all | Booster immunisation against whooping cough (pertussis) is necessary to protect adolescents and adults against the disease especially during epidemics, according to respiratory experts. | Media release | Others | 2009-04-01 00:00:00 |
| Biting the URTI: helping GPs target the use of antibiotics. Poster NMS 2008 | A clinical audit cycle to improve appropriate use of antibiotics in commom respiratory and skin conditions presenting to general practice. Travers-Mason P, Parsons H, O’Riordan S, Mackson J, Mulligan K. National Medicines Symposium, 14-16 May 2008, Canberra, Australia. | Event - Conference poster | Health Professionals,Research & Evaluation community | 2008-05-16 00:00:00 |
| Harvey says no to antibiotics | Harvey the wombat promotes the message that common colds in children and others can't be treated using antibiotics. | Consumer publication - MedicinesTalk | Consumers | 2005-06-01 00:00:00 |
| Common colds need common sense, they don’t need antibiotics | The NPS 'Common colds need common sense, not antibiotics' campaign aims to raise community awareness of ways to treat common colds and the flu without the use of antibiotics. | Consumer publication - MedicinesTalk | Consumers | 2004-06-01 00:00:00 |
| Why all the fuss about antibiotic overuse? | Antibiotics are effective against bacterial infections, and if wrongly used to treat viral infections they are ineffective. Antibiotic resistance can then occur, meaning the antibiotics might not work when they are really needed. | Consumer publication - MedicinesTalk | Consumers | 2003-08-01 00:00:00 |
| New NPS patient resource on infective endocarditis | The National Prescribing Service Ltd (NPS) has produced a new patient information leaflet for people at risk of developing infective endocarditis, an infection of the heart. | Media release | Others | 2008-12-01 01:30:00 |
| NPS Case Study goes Live! | First online case study on antibiotic therapy for animal bites. | Media release | Others | 2007-02-09 00:00:00 |
| The problem with antibiotics and common colds | Explains why antibiotics will not treat the common cold and how inappropriate use could lead to antibiotic resistance. | Media factsheet | Consumers,Others | 2005-05-01 00:00:00 |
| Cold hard facts: antibiotics and the common cold | Lists facts about common colds, discouraging use of antibiotics. | Media factsheet | Consumers,Others | 2005-05-01 00:00:00 |
| I've got a cold! | Educates adult ESL patients on home care for the common cold, including appropriate use of antibiotics and prevention of disease transmission. | Consumer resource - Kit - ESL teaching resource | Consumers | 2010-11-17 00:00:00 |
| I've got a cold! activity book | Provides activities for teaching adult ESL patients about home care for the common cold, including appropriate use of antibiotics and prevention of disease transmission. | Consumer resource - Kit - ESL teaching resource | Consumers | 2010-11-17 00:00:00 |
| NPS Evaluation Report No. 5: Progress of a national program for QUM, October 2002 | Evaluation of NPS including a national program for QUM (Quality Use of Medicines), intervention programs, process evaluation, impact evaluation, outcome evaluation, and questions that remain. | Corporate publication - Evaluation report | Research & Evaluation community | 2002-10-01 00:00:00 |
| NPS Evaluation Report No. 4: NPS programs for QUM in the community, February 2002 | Evaluation of NPS programs including the common colds campaign. Also discusses local services from divisional facilitators and priorities for future services to consumers. | Corporate publication - Evaluation report | Research & Evaluation community | 2002-02-01 00:00:00 |
| NPS Evaluation Report No. 2: November 2000 | Evaluation of NPS including current priorities, antibiotics for URTIs as a target therapeutic area, evaluation of divisional case studies, and methodological challenges in evaluation. | Corporate publication - Evaluation report | Research & Evaluation community | 2000-11-01 00:00:00 |
| National Consumer Survey No. 5: Executive summary | Summary of the fifth national survey of drugs and consumers undertaken by the National Prescribing Service. | Corporate publication - Evaluation report | Research & Evaluation community | 2006-01-01 00:00:00 |
| Caring for kids with colds | Advice on preventing the spread of colds, and managing colds without the use of antibiotics. | Consumer publication - MedicinesTalk | Consumers | 2006-06-01 00:00:00 |
| Be medicinewise with antibiotics – save the pill for the really ill as it won’t kill viruses | Australians are being warned to be medicinewise with antibiotics this winter or risk not having antibiotics that work in the future. | Media release | Others | 2011-04-06 19:00:00 |
| Be medicinewise with antibiotics | In the wake of reports from a summit of infectious disease experts that antibiotic-resistant superbugs are becoming increasingly common around the world, NPS Medicinewise is reminding consumers antibiotics should only be used to treat bacterial infections, not viruses | Media release | Others | 2011-02-08 19:00:00 |
Information on this website is published by NPS — an independent, evidence based, not-for-profit organisation funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
NPS develops its information under the guidance of experts in their field, editorial panels, expert reviewers and consumers. Find out more about how we develop our content.
Date published: 2010-12-17 00:00:00
Reasonable care is taken to provide accurate information at the date of creation. This information is not intended as a substitute for medical advice from a qualified health professional. Health professionals should rely on their own expertise and enquiries when providing medical advice or treatment. Where permitted by law, NPS disclaims all liability (including for negligence) for any loss, damage or injury resulting from reliance on or use of this information. Read our full disclaimer.
References to brands should not be taken as an endorsement by NPS.