This paper reviews the wide-ranging activities of community pharmacists in infection management. Community pharmacists (sometimes referred to as “high street” or “retail” pharmacists) are the general first port of call for patients and as such provide an important public health service. Alongside their secondary care counterparts these staff are actively engaged in advising patients about common and minor infections and selling certain antimicrobial medications. Their frequent contact with patients means that they also play an active role in encouraging good compliance with prescribed anti-infective agents and in resolving any resultant side effects. Newer roles include providing vaccination services and helping to prevent infection in drug misusers.
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