Drugs, driving high and the risk of a crash
Alcohol, cannabis, opioids, stimulants and sedatives can all impair driving skills. In the latest edition of Australian Prescriber, Associate Professor Vanita Parekh, Director of the Clinical Forensic Medical Services at Canberra Hospital, looks at how psychoactive substances contribute to motor vehicle collisions.
Most recorded penicillin allergies are false
Over 90% of people recorded as having a penicillin allergy may not actually be allergic. Experts Misha Devchand and Dr Jason Trubiano from Austin Health in Melbourne review the new Australian guidelines on antibiotics. The article covers how to assess antibiotic allergic reactions, how to manage patients with a penicillin allergy and how to approach de-labelling.
Antimicrobials may be overused in aged care in Australia
On any given day, almost 10% of residents in aged-care homes in Australia are using an antibiotic but only around 3% have any signs or symptoms of infection. An article by Noleen Bennett from the National Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship in Melbourne and colleagues analyses the data from the latest Aged Care National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey and finds there is scope for improvement in the use of antibiotics.
Also in the December issue of Australian Prescriber:
•Medicines information: dwindling support in the age of information overload
•Atrial fibrillation: an update on management
New drugs: dupilumab for atopic dermatitis
