The following is based on current BNF

guidelines:
Respiratory system

Condition Recommended treatment

Exacerbations Amoxicillin or tetracycline or

of chronic clarithromycin
bronchitis

Uncomplicate Amoxicillin (Doxycycline or

d community- clarithromycin in penicillin allergic,
acquired add flucloxacillin if staphylococci
pneumonia suspected e.g. In influenza)

Pneumonia Clarithromycin
possibly
caused by
atypical
pathogens

Hospital- Within 5 days of admission: co-

acquired amoxiclav or cefuroxime
pneumonia More than 5 days after admission:
piperacillin with tazobactam OR a
broad-spectrum cephalosporin (e.g.
ceftazidime) OR a quinolone (e.g.
 Condition Recommended treatment

ciprofloxacin)

Urinary tract

Condition Recommended treatment

Lower urinary tract Trimethoprim or

infection nitrofurantoin. Alternative:
amoxicillin or cephalosporin

Acute pyelonephritis Broad-spectrum

cephalosporin or quinolone

Acute prostatitis Quinolone or trimethoprim

Skin

Condition Recommended treatment

Impetigo Topical fusidic acid, oral

flucloxacillin or
erythromycin if widespread

Cellulitis Flucloxacillin
(clarithromycin or
 Condition Recommended treatment

clindomycin if penicillin-
allergic)

Erysipelas Phenoxymethylpenicillin
(erythromycin if penicillin-
allergic)

Animal or human bite Co-amoxiclav (doxycycline

+ metronidazole if
penicillin-allergic)

Mastitis during breast- Flucloxacillin

feeding

Ear, nose & throat ( a combined topical antibiotic and

corticosteroid is generally used for mild/moderate cases of
otitis externa)

Condition Recommended treatment

Throat infections Phenoxymethylpenicillin

(erythromycin alone if
penicillin-allergic)

Sinusitis Amoxicillin or doxycycline

 Condition Recommended treatment

or erythromycin

Otitis media Amoxicillin (erythromycin

if penicillin-allergic)

Otitis externa* Flucloxacillin (erythromycin

if penicillin-allergic)

Periapical or Amoxicillin
periodontal abscess

Gingivitis: acute Metronidazole

necrotising ulcerative

Genital system
Condition Recommended treatment

Gonorrhoea Intramuscular ceftriaxone +

oral azithromycin

Chlamydia Doxycycline or
azithromycin
 Condition Recommended treatment

Pelvic inflammatory Oral ofloxacin + oral

disease metronidazole or
intramuscular ceftriaxone +
oral doxycycline + oral
metronidazole

Syphilis Benzathine benzylpenicillin

or doxycycline or
erythromycin

Bacterial vaginosis Oral or topical

metronidazole or topical
clindamycin

Gastrointestinal

Condition Recommended treatment

Clostridium difficile First episode: metronidazole

Second or subsequent
episode of infection:
vancomycin

Campylobacter enteritis Clarithromycin

 Condition Recommended treatment

Salmonella (non- Ciprofloxacin

typhoid)

Shigellosis Ciprofloxacin