HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER		Author Keyword(s) Vol Page [Advanced]

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Twine, C Articles by Gateley, C A Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Twine, C Articles by Gateley, C A

Antibiotic prescription for patients referred to a specialist breast clinic

Rapid Access Breast Clinic, Royal Gwent Hospital, Cardiff Road, Newport, South Wales, UK

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
C Twine
Department of General Surgery, Royal Gwent Hospital, Cardiff Road, Newport, South Wales NP20 2UB, UK; chris_twine{at}hotmail.com

Hospital referral is indicated as an emergency for breast infections not settling with oral antibiotics. Referrals to a breast clinic over a period of 6 months were assessed for prior antibiotic prescription. A total of 1078 patients were seen during this period. 91 (8%) patients had been prescribed antibiotics, 71% of which had been prescribed for non-infective conditions. Of those patients treated for infection, 42% had the wrong antibiotic prescribed. The final diagnoses for patients inappropriately prescribed antibiotics were chest wall pain in 23% and duct ectasia in 14%. Although the reasons for prescription of antibiotics are mutifactorial, careful examination of the patient will diagnose chest wall pain. Delayed prescribing may be appropriate for some patients.

Keywords: breast diseases; infection; antibiotics; referrals; outpatient