Material for ambulatory practice

Recommendations

  • Antibiotic guide 2022 (last version)

The Belgian Antibiotic Policy Coordination Commission 2021 Guide to Anti-Infective Treatment in Ambulatory Care has been updated to a 2022 version.

Due to the increasing resistance of gonococcus to azithromycin and modified international guidelines on this matter, the following sheets related to urogenital infections have been updated: urethritis, pelvic inflammatory disease, treatment of asymptomatic ISTs and partner treatment, acute prostatitis, and orchitis-epididymitis.

Additionally, there is an update to the guideline on acute sore throat due to the introduction of Broxil to the market.

Clindamycin is now available in the form of intravaginal ovules for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis, and this has been adjusted in the Acute Vulvovaginitis sheet.

Furthermore, the clinical guideline for the prudent prescription of antibiotics in dental practice is integrated into the BAPCOC guide.

Like the previous edition, this new version will be fully integrated into the online annotated directory of the CBIP (FR/NL) and is now also available in a practical and eco-printable PDF format.

This guide is intended for primary healthcare providers in Belgium and is also used as a reference by teachers, preceptors, and students during their training.

Download the 2022 guide in an eco-printable format (NL / FR)

  • The clinical guideline for the judicious prescription of antibiotics in dental practice (2020)

In late 2020, the Federal Center for Expertise in Healthcare (KCE) published a clinical guideline for the judicious prescription of antibiotics in dental practice. Following this publication, the NIHDI prepared feedback on individual antibiotic prescription behavior as part of an awareness campaign, which was sent to general dentists and specialized periodontists. The aim of this feedback is to encourage self-reflection and the promotion of evidence-based practice (EBP).

To support dentists, BAPCOC has compiled these guidelines into a practical sheet. Additionally, the clinical guideline will soon be integrated into the BAPCOC guide for ambulatory practice and the online directory of the CBIP.

Download the guide for dentists (NL / FR)

  • Guidelines Lyme (2017)

Dowload the guidelines (NL / FR)

The guidelines will be updated in 2024.

  • Covid 2019 Prudent Prescription (NL / FR)

Prudent prescription for the home care of possible or confirmed COVID-19 patients. Belgian health authorities and experts, including those from BAPCOC, advise against prescribing antibiotics for the at-home treatment of possible or confirmed COVID-19 patients, including azithromycin.

Education and training

E-learnings:

  • Management and prevention of urinary tract infections (FR/NL) : click here

This e-learning program helps you optimize care in terms of prevention, control, and management of urinary tract infections (UTIs). Specifically, its aim is to enhance your knowledge regarding the diagnosis of UTIs, indications, material selection, quality indicators, care bundles, as well as care in the presence of and removal of a urethral catheter.

Furthermore, you are provided with the opportunity to test your knowledge on the subject. The various chapters present knowledge questions, where after each answer, you receive the most up-to-date background information related to the question.

  • Less antibiotics in complete safety (FR/NL): Click here 

These training sessions can help you effectively and safely prescribe fewer antibiotics for patients with a respiratory tract infection.

  • Antibiotic therapy for skin and urogenital infections ? The BAPCOC guide, a valuable aid (FR/NL): Click here

In this e-learning, you will learn:

  • some basic principles regarding the proper use of antibiotics
  • how to look up recommendations for urogenital and skin infections in the new BAPCOC guide
  • apply this knowledge in case studies.

This e-learning is developed from the perspective of the general practitioner, but it can certainly be useful for community pharmacists as well to keep their knowledge on antibiotic use up to date!

Monitoring

Belgium:

BELMAP (EN) : One health report on antibiotic use and resistance in Belgium (Sciensano)

Europe:

  • ESAC-Net (European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Surveillance ) is a European surveillance network that inventories antibiotic consumption in Europe, both in ambulatory practices and in hospitals, nursing homes, and care facilities.
  • EARS-Net (European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network) s a European surveillance network that inventories antibiotic resistance in Europe.

Audit and feedback

National Council for the Promotion of Quality (CNPQ):

Quality indicators 

International organizations

  • ECDC : European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
  • WHO: World Health Organization
  • CDC: Centers for disease control and prevention (USA)
  • OECD: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

Archives

Publications:

  • Coenen S, Costers M, De Corte S, De Sutter A, Goossens H. The first European Antibiotic Awareness Day after a decade of improving outpatient antibiotic use in Belgium. Acta Clin Belg 2008; 63: 296-300.
  • Coenen S, Costers M, De Corte S, De Sutter A, Goossens H. Feed Back sur les « campagnes antibiotiques » belges. La Revue de la Médecine Générale 2008;(257):286-9.
  • Goossens H, Coenen S, Costers M, De Corte S, De Sutter A, Gordts B, Laurier L, Struelens M. The Belgian Antibiotic Policy Coordination Committee (BAPCOC). Eurosurveillance 2008; 13 (46): 10-13.
  • De Sutter A, Coenen S. La journée européenne sur le thème des antibiotiques du 18 novembre 2008. Folia Pharmacotherapeutica 2008; 35: 96.