Pharmacies can now give alternative antibiotics for Strep A

As reported by the BBC, pharmacists will now be able to give alternative forms of penicillin directly to patients to help treat strep A infections, amid temporary supply issues of the antibiotic

It follows a rise in demand for the medicine because of an out-of-season increase in strep A illnesses.

There have been 18 confirmed deaths of children in the UK with rare, invasive strep A infections.

Experts advise anyone concerned about symptoms to seek prompt medical advice.

Strep A infections tend to increase in the winter and peak in the spring, but this year cases are rising at an earlier point than usual – which is probably down to changes in the normal cycle of infections, because of the Covid pandemic and increased social mixing.

Many strep A infections are mild – causing a sore throat or skin infection – but occasionally, a very serious infection with invasive group A strep (iGAS) can develop.

Doctors can prescribe penicillin antibiotics at home to help treat mild infections, but severe cases need to be treated in hospital.

Usually when patients take prescriptions to pharmacists they must – by law – only supply the exact medicine on the forms. If the medicines are not available, patients have to go back to their doctors to get new prescriptions.

Some pharmacists have been unable to give the specific prescribed medicine.

Under the new protocol, patients no longer have to go back to GPs for an alternative prescription.