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BPJ 54 August 2013

Best Practice Journal

Causes, complications and treatment of a red eye

Most cases of “red eye” seen in general practice are likely to be conjunctivitis or a superficial corneal injury, however, red eye can also indicate a serious eye condition such as acute angle glaucoma, iritis, keratitis or scleritis. Features such as significant pain, photophobia, reduced visual acuity and a unilateral presentation are “red flags” that a sight-threatening condition may be present. View Article

Hypertension in Adults: The silent killer

Hypertension is associated with a wide-range of cardiovascular and end-organ diseases. It is a frequent finding among patients in primary care. However, the ideal management of hypertension continues to be debated. What is agreed is that hypertension is under-treated in New Zealand. View Article

Ticagrelor – out with the old, in with the new?

Ticagrelor (Brilinta) is a new oral antiplatelet medicine, which has been available, fully subsidised, with Special Authority, since 1 July, 2013. Ticagrelor, co-administered with low dose aspirin, is an alternative to clopidogrel for the prevention of atherothrombotic events in patients with acute coronary syndromes. In most cases, ticagrelor will be initiated in hospital and continued for 12 months after discharge. View Article

Multiple sclerosis: Managing shades of grey

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) resulting in neurological deficits, which can take a variable course. Peak onset occurs between age 20 and 40 years.1 MS should be diagnosed definitively by a Neurologist, following clinical assessment combined with MRI evidence of typical lesions occurring on separate occasions, in different locations within the CNS. View Article

Upfront: Antimicrobial Resistance in New Zealand: What is my role in primary care?

This month marks the launch of our 2013 revised edition of “Antibiotic choices for common infections”. The guidance supports the goal of preserving the effectiveness of antimicrobial medicines. In the last edition of Best Practice Journal we looked at antimicrobial resistance from a global perspective; but what does this mean for general practice in New Zealand? The following commentary has been provided by Dr Rosemary Ikram, Clinical Microbiologist. View Article

Correspondence: NSAIDs and allopurinol; Antibiotic use

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