NHS Logo
Bedfordshire and Luton Joint Formulary
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB
Formulary Chapter: 5 - Infections 
Notes:

For full details on UKHSA guidance for managing common infections with local amendments please see:

BLMK Primary Care Antimicrobial Guidelines hosted via: https://blmkantibioticspubliclive.azurewebsites.net/

Secondary care antimicrobial guidelines:

Bedfordshire Hospitals Foundation Trust: Antimicrobial guidelines are hosted on:  EOLAS Medical App

05.01.11 Metronidazole and tinidazole

Metronidazole

First Choice
200mg & 400mg Tablets
500mg & 1g Suppositories
200mg/5mL Suspension

1st line for treatment of mild to moderate C.difficile

Oral bioavailability is approximately 80-85% with a 500mg IV dose equivalent to 400mg oral. When the oral route is inappropriate the rectal route may be used. Effective blood concentrations are achieved within 5-12 hours.

Metronidazole
(Intravenous infusion)

RED
Formulary
500mg/100mL IV Infusion
Classifications
May be initiated in any care setting
Specialist to advise therapy and provide first 28 days supply, continuation in Primary Care
Specialist to initiate and stabilise medicine prior to continuation in Primary Care
To be prescribed as per Shared Care Guidance. If no SCG in place status reverts to red.
Red medicines are designated as specialist only medicines which should only be prescribed by a specialist, usually within secondary care (either due to the requirement for specialist knowledge, long-term monitoring requirements, or restrictions that mean medicine supplies are only available to hospitals).
A decision has been made either locally and/or nationally not to routinely commission this preparation. Do not prescribe.
To be purchased over the counter. May be prescribed for chronic, long term conditions or on admission to hospital if essential.