Introduction & module overview
At the beginning of a new year, Pharmacy Magazine traditionally provides a summary of some of the key changes in therapeutics and clinical practice that impacted on community pharmacy during the previous 12 months.
It goes without saying that 2020 was an unusual year in that it was dominated by the coronavirus pandemic. In this round-up we have picked out key non-Covid developments but also provide a summary table of important pieces of information relating to the management of Covid-19.
Completing this module will enable you to check that your knowledge is up-to-date regarding the medicines safety issues that were raised during the year, identify the clinical guidelines of relevance to pharmacy practice that were either launched or updated during 2020, as well as consider some of the other significant developments that community pharmacists should be aware of.
The year at a glance
- Drug safety update about valproate and pregnancy prevention
- Safe use of emollient skin products to treat dry skin conditions
- Pack size restrictions and revised recommendations on OTC stimulant laxatives to prevent abuse
- Antimicrobial prescribing guidance: managing common infections
- Stronger opioid warnings
- Pharmacists allowed to offer video consultations
- Launch of pharmacy hepatitis C antibody testing service
- Flu vaccination programme update
- Community pharmacies: promoting health and wellbeing – NICE quality standard
- Asthma control among children and teenagers
- Impetigo guidance
- Covid-19: key therapeutic developments.