In this issue
Insight
Time to halt the overprescribing of proton pump inhibitorsSubscription
Inappropriate use of proton pump inhibitors can cause a range of side effects and even harm to patients.
CPD article
Principles of initiating antimicrobial therapy and empiric prescribingSubscription
Healthcare professionals should be aware of the principles of antimicrobial treatment and the need to reduce inappropriate prescribing to retain the effectiveness of drugs currently available.
Review
Allergic rhinitis: impact, diagnosis, treatment and managementSubscription
Allergic rhinitis results from an immunological abnormality in which atopic individuals produce immunoglobulin E (IgE) to allergens (e.g. pollen, house dust mites, animal dander and moulds). IgE activates mast cells, which respond by releasing inflammatory mediators. Histamine stimulates the early symptoms, predominately mucus production, nasal itching and sneezing. Leukotrienes and cytokines attract and activate eosinophils to cause allergic inflammation, which is primarily responsible ...
Research Article
Integrating community pharmacy testing for hepatitis C with specialist careSubscription
Many patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection lie undiagnosed and a significant proportion of patients that have been identified are disengaged from specialist services. The Isle of Wight (IOW) typifies this issue, with an estimated 200 undiagnosed patients with HCV infection and a small number of known cases engaged with specialist services. Aim: To reduce the burden of undiagnosed HCV on the IOW and link new diagnoses directly ...
Short Communications
Why are hepatitis C patients treated differently by NHS England?Subscription
NHS England’s decision to cap access to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approved hepatitis C treatments has been attributed to their cost. These antiviral medicines have led to vast costs for national healthcare systems and huge profits for the pharmaceutical industry. So it is understandable that the mainstream media and general public assume that the cost to the NHS (either per patient or in absolute terms) is prohibitive.
Referral delays for arthritis patients could have devastating consequencesSubscription
I would like to highlight the devastating consequences that delayed referrals are having on people with inflammatory arthritis.
'Don’t wait to anticoagulate' projectSubscription
I was interested to read the news story ‘Many atrial fibrillation patients at risk of stroke treated with aspirin over anticoagulants’ (The Pharmaceutical Journal online, 24 June 2016), which outlines the finding that significant numbers of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are not being prescribed the most effective form of ...
