Cytology
Appropriate use can be beneficial in diagnosing and managing common clinical infections, such as skin, ear and urine infections. When managing these, it is worth considering whether:
- immediate treatment is clinically necessary, or can wait until results become available
- even if immediate treatment is required, cytology would allow de-escalation/escalation of therapy once culture results are available
Taking appropriate samples is crucial.
Demonstration of techniques or refresher training.
Further information.
Near patient testing
Utilise skills of practice nursing staff.
Interpretation of lab results
- Standardisation of antibiotic test panels (systemic and topical indications) and lab reporting of results will aid interpretation and allow comparison for benchmarking.
- Always specifically request topical antibiotic panel for topical treatment.