Other considerations

Medicines safety

As with all antibiotics, extended or recurrent use of topical fusidic acid may increase the risk of developing antimicrobial resistance. See the BNF for more information.

About 10% of the general population claim to have a penicillin allergy. This is often because of a skin rash that occurred while taking a course of penicillin as a child. Fewer than 10% of people who think they are allergic to penicillin are truly allergic. See the NICE guideline on drug allergy for more information.

Cholestatic jaundice and hepatitis can occur with flucloxacillin up to 2 months after stopping treatment, with risk factors being increasing age and use for more than 14 days (BNF information on flucloxacillin).

Macrolides should be used with caution in people with a predisposition to QT‑interval prolongation (BNF information on erythromycin).

See the summaries of product characteristics for information on contraindications, cautions, drug interactions and adverse effects of individual medicines.

Medicines adherence

Medicines adherence may be a problem for some people taking antibiotics that need frequent dosing or longer treatment duration (see the NICE guideline on medicines adherence).

Resource implications

Recommended antibiotics are available as generic formulations. See the NHS Drug Tariff for costs.

See the evidence review for more information.

  • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)