Antibiotics app launched

A free app that puts antibiotic guidelines at the fingertips of staff treating patients in two of London’s biggest NHS trusts has launched today (24 April).

Infections is an app designed by teams at Guy’s and St Thomas’ and King’s College Hospital that includes antibiotic guidelines for both NHS organisations.

The app is available on iPhone and can be used by doctors, nurses, pharmacists and any other healthcare professionals who need to manage antibiotics.

Dr Simon Goldenberg, consultant microbiologist at Guy’s and St Thomas’, says: “Infections will be invaluable in helping clinicians quickly ensure the most appropriate antibiotic is being used.

“Medical guidelines, particularly antibiotic ones, vary between NHS trusts because local populations may have varying resistance rates to different drugs.

“Healthcare professionals, in particular junior doctors, rotate between hospitals frequently. As they’re getting used to one trust’s guidelines they may move to another organisation. 

“Guy’s and St Thomas’ works closely with King’s College Hospital and I think that including both organisations’ antibiotic guidelines in a single app will be a great help to all.”

The app can be downloaded from: https://itunes.apple.com/app/infections/id704610897?mt=8