Injection site complications are not uncommon in people who inject drugs and have consistently been the one group in the community who have been identified in Fife as at risk from S. aureus bacteraemia (SAB) bloodstream infections. Timely and accessible treatment is an important factor in reducing SAB rates and hospital admissions in this group of patients.
The Fife Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) have provided funding to develop a wound care service for people who present with injection site infections in Community Pharmacy. A Patient Group Direction (PGD) will allow community pharmacists to assess and treat people presenting with symptoms within the inclusion criteria – PGD for the treatment of skin infections associated with injection site complications. This service is only available in Injection Equipment Provision (IEP) community pharmacies that have registered.
How to register & supporting documents
Pharmacists working in participating community pharmacies should complete the PGDs – confirmation of signature form when this PGD has been signed.
IEP community pharmacies should return a completed contract agreement (found on page 5 of the service specification) and return to: fife.fifepharmacycommpharm@nhs.scot.
ADP services staff may refer patients to be assessed at a participating pharmacy using the wound care pathway document.
How to claim
A consultation form should be completed when a supply of co-amoxiclav is made. The PMR should also be updated.
A wound care claim form should be completed on a monthly basis and returned to fife.fifepharmacycommpharm@nhs.scot by the 5th of the month.
There is an option for pharmacies to record consultation outcomes on the NEO360 system under the IEP module:
Training resources
The Scottish Drug Forum (SDF) and TURAS provide e-learning modules that can be completed to help understanding:
- Bacterial Infections and Drug use
- How are your sites
- Skin Conditions Overview for NHS Pharmacy First Scotland
A training webinar conducted by SDF and NHS Fife can also be viewed below:
