Medicines and poisons

From 28 October 2024, pharmacists in the NT are able to initiate and supply some Schedule 4 antibiotics to treat patients present with symptoms of uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections (UTI).

Pharmacists who have completed accredited training in UTI management can provide these medicines to eligible patients in accordance with the Scheduled Substance Treatment Protocol.

Pharmacists across all States and Territories are now able to provide expanded services for UTI treatment in an effort to increase patient access to care, reduce the risk of infections going untreated and to compliment the primary health services offered through other health providers such as general practitioners (GPs).

Patient eligibility

Pharmacists are able to consider antibiotic therapy for patients who:

• are women aged 18 to 65 years
• present with symptoms of an uncomplicated UTI
• are at low risk of complications or other conditions.
• have not been treated with antibiotics recently
• have not had recurrent UTI’s

Patients may be referred to a GP if there are symptoms inconsistent with a UTI (e.g. a sexually transmitted infection).

Training

Completion of accredited training on UTI treatment is a legal requirement for pharmacists prior to offering UTI Services.

Accredited training is currently provided by the Australasian College of Pharmacy (ACP) and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA).

UTI Management Protocol

The UTI Scheduled Substance Treatment Protocol has been developed in consultation with medical and pharmacy experts together with consumer input. It is based on national evidence-based clinical guidelines and professional standards for management of cystitis (uncomplicated UTI) and treatment options have been selected based on NT infection patterns.

Pharmacists are also supported by professional practice standards and evidence based clinical guidelines, including the  Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) Treatment Guidelines for Pharmacists – Cystitis, the Therapeutic Guidelines and Australian Medicines Handbook, and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia Professional Practice Standards 2023, version 6.

Clinical documentation and patient information

Consultations, including any supply of antibiotics, will be documented and recorded by the pharmacist. Patients can be provided a record of their treatment and consultation.

If a patient consents, pharmacists may share a record of the consultation and any medicine supply with the patient’s usual treating GP or GP practice, if the patient has one.

Pharmacists will upload details of medicine supply into My Health Record if a patient has one and with their consent.

Referrals to GP and other health services

GPs and practice managers may be alerted to the possibility of referrals from community pharmacy UTI services, as pharmacists may seek to assist patients who require follow up.

Cost

Pharmacists may charge a consultation fee for the service, in addition to the cost of any medicine that is supplied. Pharmacists must outline these costs to the patient before providing the service.