Clinical Practice
Rational Use of Antibiotics in Primary Health Care
Antibiotics have transformed modern medicine by reducing illness and death from bacterial infections. However, inappropriate prescribing, unnecessary antibiotic use, incorrect dosing, poor adherence and increasing antimicrobial resistance threaten these gains. This CPD course equips allied health professionals with practical skills to prescribe antibiotics responsibly, distinguish bacterial infections from conditions that do not require antibiotics, select appropriate empirical therapy, recognise treatment failure, counsel patients effectively and promote antimicrobial stewardship in primary healthcare using the Uganda Clinical Guidelines.
1.0 CPD credit hour · 0 modules · 74 minutes · 80% to pass · UGX 25,000
Course aim
To strengthen the capacity of allied health professionals to prescribe, dispense, monitor and counsel patients on antibiotic therapy safely and responsibly, improving patient outcomes while reducing antimicrobial resistance.
What you will be able to do
- Define rational antibiotic use
- Explain the causes and consequences of antimicrobial resistance
- Differentiate bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic infections
- Apply evidence-based principles when selecting empirical antibiotic therapy
- Prescribe the correct antibiotic, dose, route, frequency and duration
- Recognise treatment failure and adverse drug reactions
- Counsel patients on adherence and safe antibiotic use
- Promote antimicrobial stewardship in primary healthcare
- Apply the Uganda Clinical Guidelines in common infectious diseases
Who it is for
- Medical Clinical Officers
- Registered Nurses
- Registered Midwives
- Anaesthesia Officers
- Clinical Dental Personnel
- Pharmacists
- Pharmacy Technicians
- Laboratory Professionals
- Public Health Professionals
- Other Allied Health Professionals involved in prescribing, dispensing or monitoring antimicrobial therapy
Competencies
- Appropriate clinical assessment before prescribing antibiotics.
- Evidence-based antibiotic selection.
- Safe prescribing for special populations.
- Recognition of treatment failure and referral indications.
- Patient counselling and documentation.
- Participation in antimicrobial stewardship programmes.