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Formulary Notes (BNF Chapter)

NICE Guidance (5)

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Important Local Documents (1)

Notes for: Infections
Last edited [04/02/2026 10:34:31]

Management of infection

Management of infection guidelines for primary and community services V8.2 (December 2025)

RCHT Adult Antimicrobial Guide

Cornwall Clostridioides difficile guidance

Cornwall AcuteGP Website - Infections Section

Scabies

Pathway for Cornwall and Isles of Scilly (CIOS) Integrated Care System (ICS) care setting scabies notifications

Fluoroquinolone

Fluoroquinolone antibiotics: must now only be prescribed when other commonly recommended antibiotics are inappropriate

Patient leaflet: Fluoroquinolone antibiotics (-oxacins): what you need to know about tendons, muscles, joints, nervous system, and psychological side effects

COVID-19

NICE Technology appraisal guidance (TA878): Nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir, sotrovimab and tocilizumab for treating COVID-19

Last edited [04/02/2026 10:34:38]

Antimicrobial Prescribing Measures

OpenPrescribing Prescribing measures including AMR

PrescQIPP: NHS Oversight Framework 2025-2026 - ICB performance dashboard: Children prescribed antibiotics in primary care

Cornwall Joint Formulary Recommended Choices (...Top)

Displaying 139 Drugs

Key:

First Line Drugs

Second Line Drugs

Specialist advised

Specialist Initiated Drugs

Hospital Only Drugs

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	Name	Tariff	BNF Sub Paragraph
	Doxycycline 100 mg caps Pack of 8	£0.69	Tetracyclines Primary Care - Upper Respiratory Tract Infections Primary Care - Lower Respiratory Tract Infections
	Azithromycin Tablet 250 mg tab Pack of 4	£0.73	Macrolides
	Azithromycin Tablet 500 mg tab Pack of 3	£0.77	Macrolides
	Amoxicillin Suspension (amoxycillin) 125 mg / 5ml SF Pack of 100	£0.82	Broad-Spectrum Penicillins Primary Care - Upper Respiratory Tract Infections
	Penicillin V (Phenoxymethylpenicillin) 250 mg tab Pack of 28	£0.91	Benzylpenicillin&Phenoxymethylpenicillin Primary Care - Upper Respiratory Tract Infections
	Aciclovir Tabs 200 mg tab Pack of 25	£0.92	Herpes Simplex and Varicella-Zoster
	Amoxicillin Cap (Amoxycillin) 250 mg cap Pack of 21	£0.97	Broad-Spectrum Penicillins Primary Care - Upper Respiratory Tract Infections
	Flucloxacillin 250 mg caps Pack of 28	£1.06	Penicillinase-Resistant Penicillins
	Amoxicillin Cap (Amoxycillin) 500 mg cap Pack of 21	£1.11	Broad-Spectrum Penicillins Primary Care - Upper Respiratory Tract Infections Primary Care - Lower Respiratory Tract Infections
	Metronidazole 400 mg tab Pack of 21	£1.11	Metronidazole, Tinidazole & Ornidazole Primary Care - Gastro-intestinal Infections
	Amoxicillin Suspension (amoxycillin) 250 mg / 5ml SF Pack of 100	£1.12	Broad-Spectrum Penicillins Primary Care - Upper Respiratory Tract Infections
	Amoxicillin Suspension (amoxycillin) 125 mg / 5ml Pack of 100	£1.15	Broad-Spectrum Penicillins Primary Care - Upper Respiratory Tract Infections
	Clarithromycin 250 mg tab Pack of 14	£1.20	Macrolides
	Aciclovir Dispersible 200 mg Disp tab Pack of 25	£1.21	Herpes Simplex and Varicella-Zoster
	Azithromycin Caps 250 mg cap Pack of 6	£1.23	Macrolides
	Amoxicillin Suspension (amoxycillin) 250 mg / 5ml Pack of 100	£1.32	Broad-Spectrum Penicillins Primary Care - Upper Respiratory Tract Infections
	Mebendazole (Vermox) 100 mg tab Pack of 6	£1.34	Drugs For Threadworms
	Co-amoxiclav 375 mg tab (250/125mg) Pack of 21	£1.40	Broad-Spectrum Penicillins
	Nitrofurantoin 50 mg capsules Pack of 30	£1.45	Urinary-Tract Infections
	Metronidazole 200 mg tab Pack of 21	£1.47	Metronidazole, Tinidazole & Ornidazole
	Penicillin V (Phenoxymethylpenicillin) 125 mg/5ml Pack of 100	£1.52	Benzylpenicillin&Phenoxymethylpenicillin
	Mebendazole Suspn (Vermox Suspn) 100 mg/5mls Pack of 30	£1.55	Drugs For Threadworms
	Doxycycline 50 mg caps Pack of 28	£1.59	Tetracyclines Primary Care - Upper Respiratory Tract Infections
	Cephalexin/ Cefalexin Capsules 250 mg cap Pack of 28	£1.63	Cephalosporins and other Beta-Lactams
	Co-amoxiclav 625 mg tab (500/125mg) Pack of 21	£1.64	Broad-Spectrum Penicillins Primary Care - Lower Respiratory Tract Infections
	Terbinafine Cream 1 % cream Pack of 15	£1.79	Antifungal Drugs
	Flucloxacillin Solution 125 mg/5mls Pack of 100	£1.84	Penicillinase-Resistant Penicillins
	Clarithromycin 500 mg tab Pack of 14	£1.97	Macrolides
	Erythromycin Tablets 250 mg tab Pack of 28	£2.00	Macrolides
	Cephalexin/ Cefalexin Capsules 500 mg cap Pack of 21	£2.02	Cephalosporins and other Beta-Lactams
	Penicillin V (Phenoxymethylpenicillin) 250 mg/5ml Pack of 100	£2.02	Benzylpenicillin&Phenoxymethylpenicillin
	Flucloxacillin Solution 250 mg/5mls Pack of 100	£2.08	Penicillinase-Resistant Penicillins
	Aciclovir Tabs 400 mg tab Pack of 56	£2.11	Herpes Simplex and Varicella-Zoster
	Co-amoxiclav suspension 125 /31 per 5mls (SF) Pack of 100	£2.15	Broad-Spectrum Penicillins
	Flucloxacillin 500 mg caps Pack of 28	£2.16	Penicillinase-Resistant Penicillins
	Aciclovir Tabs 800 mg tab Pack of 35	£2.43	Herpes Simplex and Varicella-Zoster
	Cephalexin/ Cefalexin Tablets 500 mg tab Pack of 21	£2.45	Cephalosporins and other Beta-Lactams
	Terbinafine Tabs 250 mg tab Pack of 28	£2.84	Antifungal Drugs
	Nystatin Oral Suspension 100000 units/ml Pack of 30	£3.05	Antifungal Drugs
	Aciclovir Dispersible 400 mg Disp tab Pack of 56	£3.74	Herpes Simplex and Varicella-Zoster
	Cephalexin/ Cefalexin Tablets 250 mg tab Pack of 28	£3.95	Cephalosporins and other Beta-Lactams
	Flucloxacillin Solution 125 mg/5mls sugar free Pack of 100	£4.00	Penicillinase-Resistant Penicillins
	Azithromycin Suspension (Zithromax) 200 mg / 5ml Pack of 15	£4.06	Macrolides
	Aciclovir Dispersible 800 mg Disp tab Pack of 35	£4.91	Herpes Simplex and Varicella-Zoster
	Clarithromycin Suspension 125 mg/5ml Pack of 70	£5.27	Macrolides
	Co-amoxiclav suspension 250 /62 per 5mls (SF) Pack of 100	£6.25	Broad-Spectrum Penicillins
	Cephalexin/ Cefalexin Susp 125 mg/5ml suspn Pack of 100	£6.44	Cephalosporins and other Beta-Lactams
	Trimethoprim Suspn 50 mg/5ml SF Suspension Pack of 100	£6.64	Sulphonamides And Trimethoprim
	Cephalexin/ Cefalexin Susp 250 mg/5ml suspn Pack of 100	£7.25	Cephalosporins and other Beta-Lactams
	Erythromycin Suspension (not SF) 125 mg/5mls Pack of 100	£7.45	Macrolides
	Flucloxacillin Solution 250 mg/5mls sugar free Pack of 100	£7.63	Penicillinase-Resistant Penicillins
	Nitrofurantoin 100 mg MR capsules Pack of 14	£9.50	Urinary-Tract Infections
	Nitrofurantoin 100 mg capsules Pack of 30	£9.80	Urinary-Tract Infections
	Clarithromycin Suspension 250 mg / 5ml Pack of 70	£10.07	Macrolides
	Erythromycin Suspension (not SF) 250 mg/5mls Pack of 100	£12.13	Macrolides
	Methenamine hippurate 1 g Tabs Pack of 60	£15.05	Urinary-Tract Infections
	Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) 75 mg cap Pack of 10	£15.41	Influenza
	Zanamivir (Relenza) 5 mg/blister (5disks each with 4 blisters) Pack of 5	£16.36	Influenza
	Aciclovir Suspension (sugar free) (Zovirax) 200 mg / 5ml Pack of 125	£28.64	Herpes Simplex and Varicella-Zoster
	Aciclovir Suspension (sugar free) (Zovirax) 400 mg / 5ml Pack of 100	£33.02	Herpes Simplex and Varicella-Zoster
	Tetracycline 250 mg tab Pack of 28	£33.72	Tetracyclines
	Amoxicillin 3g Sachet (Amoxycillin) 3 g Sachet Pack of 2	£43.53	Broad-Spectrum Penicillins Primary Care - Upper Respiratory Tract Infections
	Metronidazole Oral Suspension 200 mg/5mls Pack of 100	£49.16	Metronidazole, Tinidazole & Ornidazole
	Vancomycin Matrigel 125 mg cap Pack of 28	£88.31	Some Other Antibiotics
	Nirmatrelvir / Ritonavir (Paxlovid) 150 mg/100mg tablets Pack of 30	£829.00	Coronavirus
May 2025 national update: Withdrawal of recommendation to expand use of Paxlovid to additional patient groups (NICE TA878). Paxlovid is now recommended for use only in patients at increased risk of progression to severe COVID-19 (patient groups defined in TA878 - section 5).
	Molnupiravir 200 mg capsules No price on DM+D as of 4/3/2022 Pack of 40	£0.01	Coronavirus
Available to order Free of Charge from Alliance Healthcare 2023/2024 Where treatment with both Paxlovid and sotrovimab are both contraindicated or not clinically suitable AND treatment with remdesivir is contraindicated, not clinically suitable or not available, as per NHSE policy
	Ciprofloxacin 250 mg tab Pack of 10	£0.64	Quinolones
Fluoroquinolone antibiotics: must now only be prescribed when other commonly recommended antibiotics are inappropriate (Jan 2024 DSU) Please see Cornwall management of infection guidelines for indications.
	Fluconazole Capsules 150 mg Cap Pack of 1	£0.66	Antifungal Drugs
	Fluconazole Capsules 50 mg Cap Pack of 7	£0.70	Antifungal Drugs
	Ciprofloxacin 500 mg tab Pack of 10	£0.81	Quinolones
Fluoroquinolone antibiotics: must now only be prescribed when other commonly recommended antibiotics are inappropriate (Jan 2024 DSU) Please see Cornwall management of infection guidelines for indications.
	Co-Trimoxazole 480 mg tab Pack of 28	£1.16	Sulphonamides And Trimethoprim
	Quinine Sulphate 300 mg Pack of 28	£1.82	Antimalarials
	Penicillin V (Phenoxymethylpenicillin) 250 mg/5ml SF Pack of 100	£1.91	Benzylpenicillin&Phenoxymethylpenicillin
	Chloroquine (Nivaquine) 200 mg tab (=150mg chloroquine) Pack of 28	£2.01	Antimalarials
	Clindamycin Caps 150 mg caps Pack of 24	£2.12	Clindamycin and Lincomycin
	Quinine Sulphate 200 mg Pack of 28	£2.27	Antimalarials
	Fluconazole Capsules 200 mg Cap Pack of 7	£3.01	Antifungal Drugs
	Trimethoprim 100 mg tab Pack of 28	£3.43	Sulphonamides And Trimethoprim Primary Care - Urinary Tract Infections
	Valaciclovir 500 mg tab Pack of 10	£3.92	Herpes Simplex and Varicella-Zoster
	Trimethoprim 200 mg tab Pack of 14	£3.99	Sulphonamides And Trimethoprim Primary Care - Urinary Tract Infections
	Itraconazole Capsules 100 mg Cap Pack of 15	£4.16	Antifungal Drugs
	Penicillin V (Phenoxymethylpenicillin) 125 mg/5ml SF Pack of 100	£4.26	Benzylpenicillin&Phenoxymethylpenicillin
	Pivmecillinam Tablet (Selexid) 200 mg tab Pack of 10	£5.40	Mecillinams Primary Care - Urinary Tract Infections Urinary-Tract Infections
	Ofloxacin 400 mg tab Pack of 5	£9.69	Quinolones
Fluoroquinolone antibiotics: must now only be prescribed when other commonly recommended antibiotics are inappropriate (Jan 2024 DSU) Please see Cornwall management of infection guidelines for indications.
	Co-Trimoxazole 960 mg FORTE tab Pack of 100	£10.78	Sulphonamides And Trimethoprim
	Ofloxacin 200 mg tab Pack of 10	£12.80	Quinolones
Fluoroquinolone antibiotics: must now only be prescribed when other commonly recommended antibiotics are inappropriate (Jan 2024 DSU) Please see Cornwall management of infection guidelines for indications.
	Clindamycin (Dalacin C) 150 mg caps Pack of 24	£13.72	Clindamycin and Lincomycin
	Mefloquine (Lariam) 250 mg tab Pack of 8	£14.53	Antimalarials
	Fluconazole Oral Suspension (Diflucan) 50 mg / 5ml (35ml unit) Pack of 35	£16.61	Antifungal Drugs
	Co-Trimoxazole 240 mg / 5ml Oral Suspension S/F Pack of 100	£16.78	Sulphonamides And Trimethoprim
	Co-Trimoxazole 480 mg / 5ml Oral Suspension S/F Pack of 100	£18.36	Sulphonamides And Trimethoprim
	Proguanil / Atovaquone (Malarone) 100 mg / 250mg Tab Pack of 12	£25.21	Antimalarials
	Itraconazole Solution (Sporanox Liquid) 10 mg/ ml Pack of 150	£58.34	Antifungal Drugs
	Fluconazole Oral Suspension (Diflucan) 200 mg / 5ml (35ml unit) Pack of 35	£66.42	Antifungal Drugs
	Rifampicin (Rifadin) 150 mg Cap Pack of 100	£18.32	Antituberculosis Drugs Antituberculosis Drugs
Antituberculosis Drugs May be initiated in primary care for prevention of secondary cases of meningitis and only following advice from health protection unit. Otherwise, specialist initiated.
	Fidaxomicin (Dificlir) 200 mg fc tab Pack of 20	£1350.00	Some Other Antibiotics
For C.difficile on microbiology advice: Fidaxomicin 200mg BD for 10 days (note this is a high cost medication; please only prescribe on microbiology advice). Community pharmacies may obtain stock by calling Astrellas Pharma Ltd. 0203 379 8721. Stock is delivered by Alliance Healthcare.
	Levofloxacin 250 mg tablets Pack of 5	£4.12	Quinolones
Fluoroquinolone antibiotics: must now only be prescribed when other commonly recommended antibiotics are inappropriate (Jan 2024 DSU)
	Dapsone 50 mg tab Pack of 28	£4.95	Antileprotic Drugs
	Levofloxacin 500 mg tablets Pack of 5	£6.40	Quinolones
Fluoroquinolone antibiotics: must now only be prescribed when other commonly recommended antibiotics are inappropriate (Jan 2024 DSU)
	Dapsone 100 mg tab Pack of 28	£15.91	Antileprotic Drugs
	Rifampicin / Isoniazid (Rifinah) 150 mg/100mg tab Pack of 84	£19.09	Antituberculosis Drugs
	Rifater 120 mg tab Pack of 100	£26.34	Antituberculosis Drugs
	Colistimethate Sodium Injection (Colomycin Injection) 1 million unit vial Pack of 10	£33.98	Some Other Antibiotics
	Ethambutol 100 mg tab Pack of 56	£40.00	Antituberculosis Drugs
	Ethambutol 400 mg tab Pack of 56	£50.00	Antituberculosis Drugs
	Colistimethate Sodium Injection (Colomycin Injection) 2 million unit vial Pack of 10	£54.96	Some Other Antibiotics
	Isoniazid 100 mg tab Pack of 28	£75.11	Antituberculosis Drugs
	Rifampicin 300 mg Cap Pack of 100	£115.33	Antituberculosis Drugs
	Demeclocycline 150 mg cap Pack of 28	£238.41	Tetracyclines
	Rifaximin 550 mg tablets Pack of 56	£259.23	Some Other Antibiotics
	Rifaximin 550 mg tablets Pack of 98	£453.65	Some Other Antibiotics
	Cefepime 2 g Powder for Solution/Injection Pack of 1	-	Cephalosporins and other Beta-Lactams
	Dalbavancin 500 mg powder for concentrate for solution for infusion Pack of 1	-	Some Other Antibiotics
	Gentamicin Injection (Cidomycin) 80 mg / 2ml Amp Pack of 5	-	Aminoglycosides
	Ceftazidime (Fortum) 1 g injection Pack of 1	-	Cephalosporins and other Beta-Lactams
	Ceftriaxone IV Injection 1 g vial Pack of 1	-	Cephalosporins and other Beta-Lactams
	Ceftazidime (Fortum) 2 g monovial Pack of 1	-	Cephalosporins and other Beta-Lactams
	Voractiv 60 tablets Pack of 60	-	Antituberculosis Drugs
	Lamivudine (Zeffix) 100 mg tab Pack of 28	-	HIV Infection
	Efavirenz 600 mg tablets Pack of 30	-	HIV Infection
	Meropenem Injection (Meronem) 500 mg vial Pack of 10	-	Cephalosporins and other Beta-Lactams
	Lamivudine (Epivir) 150 mg tab Pack of 60	-	HIV Infection
	Tenofovir Disoproxil (Viread) 245 mg tabs Pack of 30	-	HIV Infection
	Voriconazole (Vfend) 50 mg tab Pack of 28	-	Antifungal Drugs
	Lamivudine / Zidovudine (Combivir) 150 / 300mg tab Pack of 60	-	HIV Infection
	Palivizumab Injection (Synagis) 50 mg unit Pack of 1	-	Respiratory Syncytial Virus
	Linezolid 600 mg tablets Pack of 10	-	Some Other Antibiotics
1. Linezolid should only be initiated in a hospital environment and after consultation with a relevant specialist such as a microbiologist. In exceptional circumstances it may be considered appropriate for a GP to commence treatment in a primary care setting (off-license use), only under the recommendation and supervision of a microbiologist. This should be discussed on an individual patient basis.
	Entecavir (Baraclude) 0.5 mg tab Pack of 30	-	Viral Hepatitis
	Entecavir (Baraclude) 1 mg tab Pack of 30	-	HIV Infection
	Linezolid 600 mg/300ml infusion bags Pack of 10	-	Some Other Antibiotics
	Posaconazole (Noxafil) 40 mg/ml oral suspension Pack of 105	-	Antifungal Drugs
	Palivizumab Injection (Synagis) 100 mg unit Pack of 1	-	Respiratory Syncytial Virus
	Posaconazole (Noxafil) 100 mg gastro-resistant tablets Pack of 24	-	Antifungal Drugs
	Colistimethate (Colobreathe) 1662500 unit inhalation powder capsules Pack of 56	-	Some Other Antibiotics
	Valganciclovir (Valcyte) 450 mg tab Pack of 60	-	Cytomegalovirus Infection
	Voriconazole (Vfend) 200 mg tab Pack of 28	-	Antifungal Drugs
	Boceprevir (Victrelis) 200 mg capsule Pack of 336	-	Viral Hepatitis
	Telaprevir (Incivo) 375 mg tablets Pack of 126	-	Viral Hepatitis
	Metronidazole 500 mg tab Pack of 21	£9.09	Metronidazole, Tinidazole & Ornidazole