Leaflets to discuss with patients
Site: | Royal College of General Practitioners - Online Learning Environment |
Course: | TARGET antibiotics toolkit hub |
Book: | Leaflets to discuss with patients |
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Date: | Saturday, 9 November 2024, 4:44 AM |
Description
Using patient
leaflets interactively in consultations is the best way to support effective discussions and maintain patient satisfaction.
Version 1.0, November 2021.
How to use these leaflets
Using patient leaflets interactively in consultations is the best way to support effective discussions and maintain patient satisfaction. Paper copies of the leaflets are not provided by TARGET and should be self-printed.
Click on the links in the menu to access the individual leaflets, and see below for tips on how and why to use this type of communication tool.
Discussing A Leaflet Interactively In Your Consultations
Using patient leaflets interactively in consultations is the best way to support effective discussions and maintain patient satisfaction. Evidence from a Cochrane systematic review (Sullivan et al. 2016)and UK-based trials showed that using leaflets interactively with parents of children with respiratory tract infections (Francis et al. 2009), together with enhanced communication skills (Little et al. 2013) and delayed prescriptions (Little et al. 2005, Macfarlane et al. 2002) helps to:
- Address patient/parent concerns: you can highlight information about symptoms and expected duration.
- Empower patients: you can provide specific examples of how to self-care for infections.
- Improve patient recall: patients are likely to better remember the consultation and your advice.
- Improve patient satisfaction and enablement: by covering information which addresses patient concerns.
- Standardise advice: leaflets help deliver a more consistent approach to infection management in your practice.
- Support your advice: leaflets can provide objective evidence to support your explanations.
- Reduce antibiotic use: patients in trials who had consultations where leaflets were used interactively were prescribed and consumed fewer antibiotics.
How To Use Leaflets Interactively To Engage Patients
- Introduce the leaflet early: patients may feel "fobbed off" if you just give them a leaflet at the end of the consultation without going through it. You can point to sections within a leaflet whilst you give your explanation about symptoms and management.
- Personalise the leaflet: you can add the patient's name and highlight sections which are relevant to them by filling in or circling sections.
- Provide options: you can give patients printed leaflets or send them by text message or email.
The TARGET 'Treating Your Infection’ leaflets for common infections are available in 25 languages and in a pictorial format. They all provide information on:
- Average symptom duration for common infections
- Self-care advice for patients/parents
- Safety-netting advice about when to reconsult
Self-care Leaflet
The Managing Your Common Infection (Self-Care) leaflet can be used as a tool to increase patients’ confidence and knowledge on how to self-care for their own infections thereby potentially reduce inappropriate antibiotic use.
- Managing common infection (self-care) leaflet V1.1 (Word)
- Managing common infection (self-care) leaflet V1.1 (PDF)
- Managing common infection (self-care) leaflet V1.1 (fully referenced) (PDF)
- Managing common infection (self-care) leaflet User Guide V1 (Word)
Managing your common infection (self-care) leaflet (Welsh)
- Self-care leaflet (English for those living in Wales) V3.1 (PDF)
- Self-care leaflet (Welsh for those living in Wales) V3.1 (PDF)
- Self-care leaflet (Welsh for those living in England) V3.1 (PDF)
- Self-care leaflet User Guide Bilingual Welsh and English V1 (PDF)
Managing common infection (self-care) leaflet translations
The following translations do not include the most up to date information about COVID-19, please discuss concerns with your patient as part of the consultation.
- Albanian – V1.1 (PDF)
- Arabic – V1.1 (PDF)
- Bengali – V1.1 (PDF)
- Bulgarian - V1.1 (PDF)
- Cantonese – V1.1 (PDF)
- Farsi – V1.1 (PDF)
- French – V1.1 (PDF)
- Greek – V1.1 (PDF)
- Gujarati – V1.1 (PDF)
- Hindi – V1.1 (PDF)
- Hungarian – V1.1 (PDF)
- Italian – V1.1 (PDF)
- Kurdish Sorani – V1.1 (PDF)
- Lithuanian – V1.1 (PDF)
- Mandarin – V1.1 (PDF)
- Nepali - V1.1 (PDF)
- Pashto - V1.1 (PDF)
- Polish – V1.1 (PDF)
- Portuguese – V1.1 (PDF)
- Punjabi – V1.1 (PDF)
- Romanian – V1.1 (PDF)
- Russian - V1.1 (PDF)
- Slovak - V1.1 (PDF)
- Somali – V1.1 (PDF)
- Spanish – V1.1 (PDF)
- Swahili – V1.1 (PDF)
- Tamil – V1.1 (PDF)
- Tigrinya – V1.1 (PDF)
- Turkish – V1.1 (PDF)
- Urdu – V1.1 (PDF)
- Ukrainian - V1.1 (PDF)
For any leaflet queries please contact us: TARGETantibiotics@ukhsa.gov.uk
Self-care Leaflet HTML
Contents
- What are the symptoms of a common infection?
- What if I think I have coronavirus (COVID-19)?
- How can I treat a common infection?
- How long could my infection last?
- Will my infection need antibiotics to get better?
- How can I stop my infection from spreading?
- What symptoms of serious illness should I look out for?
- What if I suspect signs of sepsis?
- About this leaflet
What are the symptoms of a common infection?
1. Eyes: Sticky eyes.
2. Ears, nose and throat: Pain or soreness; Runny nose; Swollen tonsils.
3. Chest: Cough; Shortness of breath; Green or yellow mucus.
4. Gut: Vomiting; Diarrhoea.
5. Skin: Infected blisters; Redness or swelling around a wound; Athlete's foot (an itchy rash between the toes).
6. Genital and urinary: Pain on passing urine; Passing urine more often at night; Cloudy urine; Discharge; Pain in lower tummy.
COVID-19 specific advice
If you think you may have COVID-19 then please visit GOV.UK's coronavirus section and
the NHS for the latest guidance and information.
Speak to NHS111, a pharmacist or your GP if you are worried about COVID-19.
How can I treat a common infection?
- Get plenty of rest until you feel better.
- Take pain relief if you need to (make sure you follow the instructions).
- Drink plenty of fluids (6 to 8 drinks, or 2 litres) so that you pass pale-coloured urine regularly.
- For coughs, try honey and cough medicines.
- For sore throats, try medicated lozenges and pain relief.
- Soothe eye infections with a clean warm or cold damp flannel.
- For an outer ear infection, apply local heat (such as a warm flannel).
How long could my infection last?
- Cough: 21 days
- Sore throat or earache: 7 to 8 days
- Common cold: 14 days
- Norovirus (winter vomiting): 2 to 3 days
- Sinus infection: 14 to 21 days
Contact your GP if your symptoms are getting worse or if you are not better by the times above.
Will my infection need antibiotics to get better?
- Your body can normally fight off common infections on its own.
- You do not usually need antibiotics, unless symptoms of a bacterial infection (such as a urine infection) are severe – a healthcare professional can advise you on this.
- Taking antibiotics when you do not need to puts you and your family at risk.
- Follow your healthcare professional’s advice on antibiotics.
Find out more about antibiotics at the Antibiotic Guardian website.
How can I stop my infection from spreading?
If you need to cough or sneeze:
- Catch it with a tissue (or your inner elbow)
- Bin it
- Kill it - clean your hands
Clean hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or hand sanitiser:
- before preparing and eating food
- after using the toilet
- after touching pets or animals
- when leaving and arriving home
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unclean hands. If possible, keep your distance from others (2 meters or 6 feet), especially vulnerable people in your household.
Do not share items that come into contact with your mouth, such as eating utensils and toothbrushes.
Keep yourself and your family up to date with vaccinations. Always get winter vaccines (such as flu) if you are eligible.
What symptoms of serious illness should I look out for?
- Severe headache and vomiting
- Ongoing fever or chills (temperature above 38ºC or less than 36ºC)
- Problems swallowing; Turning blue around the mouth
- Coughing blood
- Breathing faster or slower than usual
- Chest pain or tightness; New very fast or slow pulse
- Kidney pain in your back just under your ribs
- Visible blood in urine; Severe pain on passing urine, or passing more urine at night; Cloudy urine not improving in 1 to 2 days with fluids
If you have the symptoms above, contact your GP urgently or use the following services for your region.
- NHS 111 England
- NHS 111 Wales
- NHS 24 Scotland
- HSA Public Health Agency (Northern Ireland) for your GP practice
These services can provide a confidential interpreter if you need one.
What if I suspect signs of sepsis?
- Slurred speech, confusion or drowsiness
- Extreme shivering
- Passing no urine in a day
- Severe breathlessness
- It feels like you’re going to die, and
- Skin blotchy or discoloured.
Call 999 immediately if you or others have signs of sepsis.
About this leaflet
TARGET is operated by the UK Health Security Agency. Developed in collaboration with professional medical bodies.
Version: 1.1
Published: November 2020
Revision: November 2023
UTI Leaflet - Women Under 65 Years
The Treating Your Infection Urinary Tract Infection (TYI-UTI) patient information leaflet has been designed to be used with women under 65 years who are experiencing urinary symptoms suggesting uncomplicated UTIs. This leaflet supports implementation of recommendations in the NICE guidelines on processes for antimicrobial stewardship and behaviour change for antimicrobial stewardship.
- TYI-UTI leaflet V23.5 (Word)
- TYI-UTI leaflet V23.5 (PDF)
- TYI-UTI leaflet fully referenced V23.5 (PDF)
- TYI-UTI leaflet user guide V4 (Word)
- TYI-UTI leaflet SystmOne upload instructions V2.1
TYI-UTI leaflet for women under 65 years leaflet (Welsh)
- TYI-UTI leaflet (English for those living in Wales) V23.6
- TYI-UTI leaflet (Welsh for those living in Wales) V23.6
- TYI-UTI leaflet (Welsh for those living in England) V23.6
TYI-UTI leaflet for women under 65 years leaflet translations
The following translations do not include information about COVID-19, please discuss concerns with your patient as part of the consultation.
- Albanian – TYI-UTI V23.5 (PDF)
- Arabic – TYI-UTI V23.5 (PDF)
- Bengali – TYI-UTI V23.5 (PDF)
- Bulgarian – TYI-UTI V23.5 (PDF)
- Cantonese – TYI-UTI V23.5 (PDF)
- Farsi – TYI-UTI V23.5 (PDF)
- French – TYI-UTI V23.5 (PDF)
- Greek – TYI-UTI V23.5 (PDF)
- Gujarati – TYI-UTI V23.5 (PDF)
- Hindi – TYI-UTI V23.5 (PDF)
- Hungarian – TYI-UTI V23.5 (PDF)
- Kurdish Sorani – TYI-UTI V23.5 (PDF)
- Lithuanian – TYI-UTI V23.5 (PDF)
- Mandarin – TYI-UTI V23.5 (PDF)
- Nepali – TYI-UTI V23.5 (PDF)
- Pashto - TYI-UTI V23.5 (PDF)
- Polish – TYI-UTI V23.5 (PDF)
- Portuguese – TYI-UTI V23.5 (PDF)
- Punjabi – TYI-UTI V23.5 (PDF)
- Romanian – TYI-UTI V23.5 (PDF)
- Russian – TYI-UTI V23.5 (PDF)
- Slovak - TYI-UTI V23.5 (PDF)
- Somali – TYI-UTI V23.5 (PDF)
- Spanish – TYI-UTI V23.5 (PDF)
- Swahili – TYI-UTI V23.5 (PDF)
- Tigrinya – TYI-UTI V23.5 (PDF)
- Turkish – TYI-UTI V23.5 (PDF)
- Ukrainian – TYI-UTI V23.5 (PDF)
- Urdu – TYI-UTI V23.5 (PDF)
For any leaflet queries please contact us: TARGETantibiotics@ukhsa.gov.uk
UTI Leaflet - Women Under 65 HTML
Contents
- What is a urine infection?
- Possible urinary signs and symptoms
- Outcomes and recommended care
- COVID-19 specific advice
- When should you get help?
- Self-care to help yourself get better more quickly
- Options to help prevent a UTI
- Antibiotic resistance
- About this leaflet
What is a urine infection?
A urine infection occurs when bacteria in any part of the urine system cause symptoms.
If a urine test finds bacteria but you are otherwise well, do not worry, this is common, and antibiotics are not usually needed. However, severe urine infections can be life threatening.
a. Kidneys make urine
b. Bladder stores urine
c. Urethra takes urine out of the body
Possible urinary signs and symptoms
Key signs/symptoms
- Dysuria: Burning pain when passing urine (wee)
- New nocturia: Needing to pass urine in the night
- Cloudy urine: Visible cloudy colour when passing urine
Other signs/symptoms to consider
- Frequency: Passing urine more often than usual
- Urgency: Feeling the need to pass urine immediately
- Haematuria: Blood in your urine
- Suprapubic pain: Pain in your lower tummy
Other things to consider
Recent sexual history
- Inflammation due to sexual activity can feel similar to the symptoms of a UTI
- Some sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can have symptoms similar to those of a UTI
Changes during menopause
- Some changes during the menopause can have symptoms similar to those of a UTI
The outcome
COVID-19 specific advice
If you think you may have COVID-19 then please visit GOV.UK's coronavirus section and
the NHS for the latest guidance and information.
Speak to NHS111, a pharmacist or your GP if you are worried about COVID-19.
When should you get help?
Contact your GP practice or contact NHS
Phone for advice if you are not sure how urgent the symptoms are.
- You have shivering, chills and muscle pain
- You feel confused, or are very drowsy
- You have not passed urine all day
- You are vomiting
- You see blood in your urine
- Your temperature is above 38°C* or less than 36°C
- You have kidney pain in your back just under the ribs
- Your symptoms get worse
- Your symptoms are not starting to improve within 48 hours of taking antibiotics
Self-care to help yourself get better more quickly
- Drink enough fluids to stop you feeling thirsty. Aim to drink 6 to 8 glasses
- Avoid too much alcohol, fizzy drinks or caffeine that can irritate your bladder
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen at regular intervals for pain relief, if you have had no previous side effects
- There is currently no evidence to support taking cranberry products or cystitis sachets to improve your symptoms
- Consider the risk factors in the ‘Options to help prevent UTI’ column to reduce future UTIs
Options to help prevent a UTI
It may help you to consider these risk factors:
- Stop bacteria spreading from your bowel into your bladder. Wipe from front (vagina) to back (bottom) after using the toilet
- Avoid waiting to pass urine. Pass urine as soon as you need to
- Go for a wee after having sex to flush out any bacteria that may be near the opening to the urethra
- Wash the external vagina area with water before and after sex to wash away any bacteria that may be near the opening to the urethra
- Drink enough fluids to make sure you wee regularly throughout the day, especially during hot weather
If you have a recurrent UTI, the following may help:
- Cranberry products and D-mannose: There is some evidence to say that these work to help prevent recurrent UTI
- After the menopause: Topical hormonal treatment may help; for example, vaginal pessaries
- Antibiotics at night or after sex may be considered
Antibiotic resistance
- Antibiotics can be lifesaving. But antibiotics are not always needed for urinary symptoms
- Antibiotics taken by mouth, for any reason, affect our gut bacteria making some resistant
- This may make future UTI more difficult to treat
- Common side effects to taking antibiotics include thrush, rashes, vomiting and diarrhoea. Seek medical advice if you are worried
- Keep antibiotics working; only take them when advised by a health professional. This way they are more likely to work for a future UTI
About this leaflet
TARGET is operated by the UK Health Security Agency. Developed in collaboration with professional medical bodies.
Version: 23.5
Published: October 2017
Review: October 2021
UTI Leaflet - Older Adults
The Treating Your Infection Urinary Tract Infection (TYI-UTI) leaflet for older adults can be used either to provide information on UTIs to those at risk or care staff may wish to share this leaflet with older adults in their care and/or their relatives. The leaflet may also be used during primary care consultations to facilitate dialogue between a patient and their healthcare professional on specific topics like treatment or safety netting. We would recommend that the leaflet is used as a tool to interact with patients, rather than as a ‘parting gift’.- TYI - UTI older adults leaflet V2.4 (Word)
- TYI - UTI older adults leaflet V2.4 (PDF)
- TYI - UTI older adults fully referenced leaflet V2.4 (PDF)
- TYI-UTI Leaflet for older adults - user guide V2.3 (Word)
TYI-UTI for older adults leaflet (Welsh)
- TYI-UTI older adults leaflet (English for those living in Wales) V2.5 (PDF)
- TYI-UTI older adults leaflet (Welsh for those living in Wales) V2.5 (PDF)
- TYI-UTI older adults leaflet (Welsh for those living in England) V2.5 (PDF)
The following translations do not include information about COVID-19, please discuss concerns with your patient as part of the consultation.
- Albanian – TYI-UTI V2.4 (PDF)
- Arabic – TYI-UTI V2.4 (PDF)
- Bengali – TYI-UTI V2.4 (PDF)
- Bulgarian – TYI-UTI V2.4 (PDF)
- Cantonese – TYI-UTI V2.4 (PDF)
- Farsi – TYI-UTI V2.4 (PDF)
- French – TYI-UTI V2.4 (PDF)
- Greek – TYI-UTI V2.4 (PDF)
- Gujarati – TYI-UTI V2.4 (PDF)
- Hindi – TYI-UTI V2.4 (PDF)
- Hungarian – TYI-UTI V2.4 (PDF)
- Kurdish Sorani – TYI-UTI V2.4 (PDF)
- Lithuanian – TYI-UTI V2.4 (PDF)
- Mandarin – TYI-UTI V2.4 (PDF)
- Nepali – TYI-UTI V2.4 (PDF)
- Pashto - TYI-UTI V2.4 (PDF)
- Polish – TYI-UTI V2.4 (PDF)
- Portuguese – TYI-UTI V2.4 (PDF)
- Punjabi – TYI-UTI V2.4 (PDF)
- Romanian – TYI-UTI V2.4 (PDF)
- Russian – TYI-UTI V2.4 (PDF)
- Slovak - TYI-UTI V2.4 (PDF)
- Somali – TYI-UTI V2.4 (PDF)
- Spanish – TYI-UTI V2.4 (PDF)
- Swahili – TYI-UTI V2.4 (PDF)
- Tigrinya – TYI-UTI V2.4 (PDF)
- Turkish – TYI-UTI V2.4 (PDF)
- Ukrainian – TYI-UTI V2.4 (PDF)
- Urdu – TYI-UTI V2.4 (PDF)
For any leaflet queries please contact us: TARGETantibiotics@ukhsa.gov.uk
UTI Leaflet - Older Adults HTML
Contents
- What is a urine infection?
- What signs and symptoms should you look out for?
- Consider other things that may also cause confusion
- Always consider COVID-19
- When should you get help?
- What can you do to help feel better?
- What might your pharmacist / nurse / doctor do?
- Advice about antibiotics
- About this leaflet
What is a urine infection?
A urine infection occurs when bacteria in any part of the urine system cause symptoms.
If a urine test finds bacteria but you are otherwise well, do not worry, this is common, and antibiotics are not usually needed. However, severe urine infections can be life threatening.
a. Kidneys make urine
b. Bladder stores urine
c. Urethra takes urine out of the body
What can you do to help prevent a urine infection?
Are you drinking enough? Look at the colour of your urine.
- Drink enough fluid (6-8 glasses) so that you pass pale coloured urine regularly during the day, and to avoid feeling thirsty, especially during hot weather
- Avoid drinking too many fizzy drinks or alcohol
- There is no proven benefit of cranberry products or cystitis sachets
- Prevent constipation; ask for advice if needed
- Maintain good control of diabetes
Stop bacteria spreading from your bowel into your bladder
- Wipe genitals from front to back after using the toilet
- Change pads and clean genitals if soiled
- Keep the genital area clean and dry; avoid scented soaps
- Wash genital area with water before and after sex
Speak to your pharmacist about referral to a GP or other treatments.
What signs and symptoms should you look out for?
Consider these symptoms if you have a urinary catheter
- Shivering or shaking
- High or low temperature
- Kidney pain in your back just under the ribs
New or worsening signs of urine infection in all people
- Pain or burning when passing urine
- High or low temperature (also a sign of COVID-19 – see below)
- Shivering or shaking
- Urgency (feeling the need to urinate immediately)
- Pain in your lower tummy above pubic area
- Incontinence (wetting yourself more often than usual)
- Passing urine more often than usual
- Cloudy urine, or visible blood in your urine
- Confusion, change in behaviour, or unsteadiness on feet
Consider other things that may also cause confusion
- Pain
- Constipation
- Poor sleep
- Low mood
- Not drinking enough
- Side effects of medicine
- Other infection
- Change in your routine or home environment
- Poor diet
COVID-19 specific advice
If you think you may have COVID-19 then please visit GOV.UK's coronavirus section and the NHS for the latest guidance and information.
Speak to NHS111, a pharmacist or your GP if you are worried about COVID-19.
When should you get help?
The following symptoms are possible signs of serious infection and should be assessed urgently. Contact your GP Practice or contact NHS 111 (England), NHS 24 (Scotland dial 111), NHS direct (Wales dial 0845 4647), or GP practice (NI).
- Shivering, chills and muscle pain
- Not passing urine all day
- Trouble breathing
- Visible blood in your urine
- Feeling very confused, drowsy or slurred speech
- Temperature is above 38ºC* or less than 36ºC
- Kidney pain in your back just under the ribs
- Very cold skin
Symptoms are getting a lot worse, or not starting to improve within 2 days of starting antibiotics.
Trust your instincts, ask for advice if you are not sure how urgent the symptoms are.
What can you do to help feel better?
- Drink enough fluid so that you pass urine regularly during the day, especially during hot weather
- Take paracetamol regularly, up to 4 times daily to relieve fever and pain
- There is no proven benefit of cranberry products or cystitis sachets
- If you’re worried about wetting yourself, see your doctor or nurse for advice
- Ask for advice from your pharmacist/carer
- Drink enough fluids to avoid feeling thirsty and to keep your urine pale
What might your pharmacist / nurse / doctor do?
- If your symptoms are likely to get better on their own you may receive self-care advice and pain relief
- Ask you to drink more fluids
- Ask you for a urine sample
- You may be given an antibiotic that you can use if your symptoms don’t improve or you start to feel worse
Advice about antibiotics
- Antibiotics can be life saving for serious urine infections, but antibiotics are not always needed for all urinary symptoms
- Antibiotics may make the bacteria in your bowel resistant to antibiotics making UTIs difficult to treat in the future
- Common side effects of taking antibiotics include thrush, rashes, vomiting and diarrhoea; ask for advice if you are worried
- Keep antibiotics working, only take them when your healthcare professional advises them
About this leaflet
TARGET is operated by the UK Health Security Agency. Developed in collaboration with professional medical bodies.
Version: 2.4
Published: October 2018
Review date: June 2021.
UTI Leaflet - Combined For Adults
This leaflet contains information from our Treating Your Infection Urinary Tract Infection (TYI-UTI) leaflet for women under 65 years and UTI leaflet for older adults in an easily accessible booklet style format with icons and images. This leaflet has been designed for use in the primary care setting, including general practice, community pharmacy and for use by carers and in care homes. It is suitable for consultations to facilitate dialogue between a patient or their carer and their healthcare professional on specific topics related to managing their UTI.
For a fully referenced version of the leaflet, please email: TARGETAntibiotics@phe.gov.uk.
- Urinary tract Infection leaflet combined for adults V1.1 (Word)
- Urinary tract Infection leaflet combined for adults V1.1 (PDF)
- Urinary tract Infection leaflet user guide V1
UTI leaflet combined for adults (Welsh)
- TYI-UTI combined for adults (English for those living in Wales) V1.2
- TYI-UTI combined for adults (Welsh for those living in Wales) V1.2
- TYI-UTI older adults leaflet (Welsh for those living in England) V1.2
UTI leaflet combined for adults translations
The following translations do not include information about COVID-19, please discuss concerns with your patient as part of the consultation.
- Albanian – TYI-UTI V1.1 (PDF)
- Arabic – TYI-UTI V1.1 (PDF)
- Bengali – TYI-UTI V1.1 (PDF)
- Bulgarian – TYI-UTI V1.1 (PDF)
- Cantonese – TYI-UTI V1.1 (PDF)
- Farsi – TYI-UTI V1.1 (PDF)
- French – TYI-UTI V1.1 (PDF)
- Greek – TYI-UTI V1.1 (PDF)
- Gujarati – TYI-UTI V1.1 (PDF)
- Hindi – TYI-UTI V1.1 (PDF)
- Hungarian – TYI-UTI V1.1 (PDF)
- Italian – TYI-UTI V1.1 (PDF)
- Kurdish Sorani – TYI-UTI V1.1 (PDF)
- Lithuanian – TYI-UTI V1.1 (PDF)
- Mandarin – TYI-UTI V1.1 (PDF)
- Nepali – TYI-UTI V1.1 (PDF)
- Pashto - TYI-UTI V1.1 (PDF)
- Polish – TYI-UTI V1.1 (PDF)
- Portuguese – TYI-UTI V1.1 (PDF)
- Punjabi – TYI-UTI V1.1 (PDF)
- Romanian – TYI-UTI V1.1 (PDF)
- Russian – TYI-UTI V1.1 (PDF)
- Slovak - TYI-UTI V1.1 (PDF)
- Somali – TYI-UTI V1.1 (PDF)
- Spanish – TYI-UTI V1.1 (PDF)
- Swahili – TYI-UTI V1.1 (PDF)
- Tamil – TYI-UTI V1.1 (PDF)
- Tigrinya – TYI-UTI V1.1 (PDF)
- Turkish – TYI-UTI V1.1 (PDF)
- Ukrainian – TYI-UTI V1.1 (PDF)
- Urdu – TYI-UTI V1.1 (PDF)
For any leaflet queries please contact us: TARGETantibiotics@ukhsa.gov.uk
UTI Leaflet - Combined For Adults HTML
Contents
- What is a UTI?
- What can you do to help prevent a urine infection?
- What symptoms should you look out for?
- Always consider COVID-19
- When should you get help?
- What can you do to help feel better?
- Advice about antibiotics
- About this leaflet
What is a UTI?
A urinary tract infection (UTI) occurs when bacteria in any part of the urine system cause symptoms.
Diagnosis is made mainly on your symptoms. Urine dipsticks are only used in women under 65 without catheters.
a. Kidneys make urine
b. Bladder stores urine
c. Urethra takes urine out of the body
What can you do to help prevent a urine infection?
Are you drinking enough? Look at the colour of your urine.
Drink enough fluid (6-8 glasses) so that you pass urine regularly during the day, and to avoid feeling thirsty, especially during hot weather.
Your bladder can be irritated by too much alcohol, fizzy drinks or caffeine.
Prevent constipation; ask for advice if needed.
If diabetic, maintain good control of blood sugar levels.
Stop bacteria spreading from your bowel into your bladder
- Keep the genital area clean and dry; avoid scented soaps
- Change incontinence pads often, and clean genital area if soiled
- Pass urine after having sex
- Women should wash the external vaginal area with water before and after sex, and wipe genitals from front to back after using the toilet
If you have recurrent UTIs
D-mannose or cranberry dietary supplements may help younger women.
What symptoms should you look out for?
COVID-19 specific advice
If you think you may have COVID-19 then please visit GOV.UK's coronavirus section and the NHS for the latest guidance and information.
Speak to NHS111, a pharmacist or your GP if you are worried about COVID-19.
When should you seek more urgent help?
You should consult a health professional if you have UTI symptoms and:
- Your symptoms are getting a lot worse, or not starting to improve within 2 days of starting antibiotics
- You are pregnant, male or post operation
The following symptoms are possible signs of serious infection and should be assessed urgently.
- Shivering, chills and muscle pain
- Not passing urine all day
- Trouble breathing
- Visible blood in your urine
- Feeling very confused, drowsy or slurred speech
- Temperature is above 38ºC* or less than 36ºC
- Kidney pain in your back just under the ribs
- Very cold skin
Contact for help
Contact your GP practice, or:
- NHS 111 England
- NHS 111 Wales
- NHS 24 Scotland
- HSA Public Health Agency (Northern Ireland) for your GP practice
What can be done to make you feel better?
What can you do?
- Drink enough fluid so that you pass urine regularly during the day, especially during hot weather
- Take paracetamol regularly, up to 4 times daily to relieve pain
- There is currently no evidence to support taking cranberry products or cystitis sachets to treat UTIs
What might your pharmacist / nurse / doctor do?
- Give self-care advice and advise pain relief (paracetamol or Ibuprofen)
- Ask you for a urine sample to test
- You may be given an antibiotic immediately, or to use if your symptoms don’t improve or you start to feel worse
- You may be referred to another healthcare provider
If you have recurrent UTIs and self-care options do not help
- Antibiotics at night or after sex may be prescribed
- Vaginal hormone treatments may help some post menopausal women
Advice about antibiotics
- Antibiotics can be life saving for serious urine infections, but antibiotics are not always needed for all urinary symptoms
- Antibiotics may make the bacteria in your bowel resistant to antibiotics making UTIs difficult to treat in the future
- Common side effects of taking antibiotics include thrush, rashes, vomiting and diarrhoea; ask for advice if you are worried
- Keep antibiotics working, only take them when your healthcare professional advises them
About this leaflet
TARGET is operated by the UK Health Security Agency. Developed in collaboration with professional medical bodies.
Version: 1.1
Published: March 2021
Revision: March 2023
RTI Leaflet
The Treating Your Infection Respiratory Tract Infection (TYI-RTI) patient information leaflet has been designed to be used with patients who are experiencing self limiting RTIs. This leaflet supports implementation of recommendations in the NICE guidelines on processes for antimicrobial stewardship, behaviour change for antimicrobial stewardship and antibiotic prescribing for respiratory tract infections.
- TYI-RTI patient leaflet - V9.7 (Word)
- TYI-RTI patient leaflet - V9.7 (PDF)
- TYI-RTI fully referenced leaflet V9.7 (PDF)
- TYI-RTI leaflet for GPs user guide V4.3
- TYI-RTI leaflet EMIS system upload instructions V2.2
- TYI-RTI leaflet SystmOne upload instructions V2
TYI-RTI leaflet (Welsh)
- TYI-RTI leaflet (English for those living in Wales) V9.8 (PDF)
- TYI-RTI leaflet (Welsh for those living in Wales) V9.8 (PDF)
- TYI-RTI leaflet (Welsh for those living in England) V9.7 (PDF)
TYI-RTI leaflet translations
The following translations do not include information about COVID-19, please discuss concerns with your patient as part of the consultation.
- Albanian – TYI-RTI V9.7 (PDF)
- Arabic – TYI-RTI V9.7 (PDF)
- Bengali – TYI-RTI V9.7 (PDF)
- Bulgarian – TYI-RTI V9.7 (PDF)
- Cantonese – TYI-RTI V9.7 (PDF)
- Farsi – TYI-RTI V9.7 (PDF)
- French – TYI-RTI V9.7 (PDF)
- Greek – TYI-RTI V9.7 (PDF)
- Gujarati – TYI-RTI V9.7 (PDF)
- Hindi – TYI-RTI V9.7 (PDF)
- Hungarian – TYI-RTI V9.7 (PDF)
- Italian – TYI-RTI V9.7 (PDF)
- Kurdish Sorani – TYI-RTI V9.7 (PDF)
- Lithuanian – TYI-RTI V9.7 (PDF)
- Mandarin – TYI-RTI V9.7 (PDF)
- Nepali – TYI-RTI V9.7 (PDF)
- Pashto - TYI-RTI V9.7 (PDF)
- Polish – TYI-RTI V9.7 (PDF)
- Portuguese – TYI-RTI V9.7 (PDF)
- Punjabi – TYI-RTI V9.7 (PDF)
- Romanian – TYI-RTI V9.7 (PDF)
- Russian – TYI-RTI V9.7 (PDF)
- Slovak - TYI-RTI V9.7 (PDF)
- Somali – TYI-RTI V9.7 (PDF)
- Spanish – TYI-RTI V9.7 (PDF)
- Swahili – TYI-RTI V9.7 (PDF)
- Tigrinya – TYI-RTI V9.7 (PDF)
- Turkish – TYI-RTI V9.7 (PDF)
- Ukrainian – TYI-RTI V9.7 (PDF)
- Urdu - TYI-RTI V9.7 (PDF)
For any leaflet queries please contact us: TARGETantibiotics@ukhsa.gov.uk
RTI Leaflet – HTML
Contents
- Your infection
- How to look after yourself and your family
- When to get help
- Consider COVID-19
- About antibiotics
- About this leaflet
Your infection
Middle-ear infection
Most are better by 8 days.
Sore throat
Most are better by 7-8 days.
Sinusitis
Most are better by 14-21 days.
Common cold
Most are better by 14 days.
Cough or bronchitis
Most are better by 21 days (a cough caused by COVID-19 may differ).
How to look after yourself and your family
- Have plenty of rest.
- Drink enough fluids to avoid feeling thirsty.
- Ask your local pharmacist to recommend medicines to help your symptoms or pain (or both).
- Fever is a sign the body is fighting the infection and usually gets better by itself in most cases. You can use paracetamol if you or your child are feeling uncomfortable as a result of a fever.
- Use a tissue and wash your hands with soap to help prevent spread of your infection to your family, friends and others you meet.
When to get help
Serious signs and symptoms
If you or your child has any of these symptoms, are getting worse or are sicker than you would expect (even if your/their temperature falls), trust your instincts and seek medical advice urgently from NHS 111 or your GP. If a child under the age of 5 has any of symptoms 1–3 go to A&E immediately or call 999.
- If your skin is very cold or has a strange colour, or you develop an unusual rash.
- If you have new feelings of confusion or drowsiness, or have slurred speech.
- If you have difficulty breathing. Signs that suggest breathing problems can be:
- breathing quickly
- turning blue around the lips and the skin below the mouth
- skin between or above the ribs getting sucked or pulled in with every breath.
- If you develop a severe headache and are sick.
- If you develop chest pain.
- If you have difficulty swallowing or are drooling.
- If you cough up blood.
- If you are passing little to no urine.
- If you are feeling a lot worse.
Less serious signs that can usually wait until the next available appointment
- If you are not starting to improve a little by the time given in ‘Your infection’, above
- Children with middle-ear infection: if fluid is coming out of their ears or they have new deafness
- Mild side effects such as diarrhea: seek medical attention if you are concerned.
COVID-19 specific advice
If you think you may have COVID-19 then please visit GOV.UK's coronavirus section and the NHS for the latest guidance and information.
Speak to NHS111, a pharmacist or your GP if you are worried about COVID-19.
Advice about antibiotics
- Colds, most coughs, sinusitis, ear infections, sore throats, and other infections often get better without antibiotics, as your body can usually fight these infections on its own.
- Taking any antibiotics makes bacteria that live inside your body more resistant. This means that antibiotics may not work when you really need them.
- Antibiotics can cause side effects such as rashes, thrush, stomach pains, diarrhoea, reactions to sunlight, other symptoms, or being sick if you drink alcohol with metronidazole.
- Find out more about how you can make better use of antibiotics and help keep this vital treatment effective by visiting the NHS antibiotics webpages.
Never share antibiotics and always return any unused antibiotics to a pharmacy for safe disposal.
About this leaflet
TARGET is operated by the UK Health Security Agency. Developed in collaboration with professional medical bodies.
Version: 9.7
Published: November 2017
Review: November 2021
RTI Pictorial Leaflet
The leaflet can be used to provide information on RTIs. It is pictorial and uses plain English so that it is suitable for a range of community groups. The leaflet may also be used during primary care consultations to facilitate dialogue between a patient and their healthcare professional on specific topics like treatment or safety netting. We would recommend that the leaflet is used as a tool to interact with patients, rather than as a ‘parting gift’.
- Pictorial TYI-RTI leaflet V3.3 (Word)
- Pictorial TYI-RTI leaflet V3.3 (PDF)
- Pictorial TYI-RTI leaflet - condensed version V3 (PDF)
- Pictorial TYI-RTI leaflet user guide V2.0
TYI-RTI pictorial leaflet (Welsh)
- Pictorial TYI-RTI leaflet (English for those living in Wales) V3.4 (PDF)
- Pictorial TYI-RTI leaflet (Welsh for those living in Wales) V3.4 (PDF)
- Pictorial TYI-RTI leaflet (Welsh for those living in England) V3.4 (PDF)
TYI-RTI pictorial leaflet translations
The following translations do not include information about COVID-19, please discuss concerns with your patient as part of the consultation.
- Albanian – TYI-RTI V3.3 (PDF)
- Arabic – TYI-RTI V3.3 (PDF)
- Bengali – TYI-RTI V3.3 (PDF)
- Bulgarian – TYI-RTI V3.3 (PDF)
- Cantonese – TYI-RTI V3.3 (PDF)
- Farsi – TYI-RTI V3.3 (PDF)
- French – TYI-RTI V3.3 (PDF)
- Greek – TYI-RTI V3.3 (PDF)
- Gujarati – TYI-RTI V3.3 (PDF)
- Hindi – TYI-RTI V3.3 (PDF)
- Hungarian – TYI-RTI V3.3 (PDF)
- Kurdish Sorani – TYI-RTI V3.3 (PDF)
- Lithuanian – TYI-RTI V3.3 (PDF)
- Mandarin – TYI-RTI V3.3 (PDF)
- Nepali – TYI-RTI V3.3 (PDF)
- Pashto - TYI-RTI V3.3 (PDF)
- Polish – TYI-RTI V3.3 (PDF)
- Portuguese – TYI-RTI V3.3 (PDF)
- Punjabi – TYI-RTI V3.3 (PDF)
- Romanian – TYI-RTI V3.3 (PDF)
- Russian – TYI-RTI V3.3 (PDF)
- Slovak - TYI-RTI V3.3 (PDF)
- Somali – TYI-RTI V3.3 (PDF)
- Spanish – TYI-RTI V3.3 (PDF)
- Swahili – TYI-RTI V3.3 (PDF)
- Tigrinya – TYI-RTI V3.3 (PDF)
- Turkish – TYI-RTI V3.3 (PDF)
- Ukrainian – TYI-RTI V3.3 (PDF)
- Urdu – TYI-RTI V3.3 (PDF)
For any leaflet queries please contact us: TTARGETantibiotics@ukhsa.gov.uk
RTI Pictorial Leaflet - HTML
Contents
- Help yourself to feel better
- Check how long your symptoms last
- Consider if you have COVID-19
- Look out for serious symptoms
- Where to get help
1. Help yourself to feel better
Whatever your infection, you can do the following to help.
Take paracetamol to help pain; always follow the instructions
Ask your pharmacist for advice on reducing your symptoms
Get plenty of rest until you feel better
Drink enough fluids to avoid feeling thirsty
Use tissues when you sneeze to help stop infections spreading
Wash your hands regularly and after using tissues to sneeze
For more information, visit the NHS website.
Most common infections get better without antibiotics. Find out how you can make better use of antibiotics by visiting the Managing Your Common Infection self-care leaflet.
2. Check how long your symptoms last
Earache
Most get better by 8 days.
Sore throat
Most get better by 7-8 days.
Cold
Most get better by 14 days.
Cough
Most get better by 21 days (may differ for a COVID-19 cough).
If you are not starting to improve a little by the times given above, seek advice from your GP practice.
If you are feeling a lot worse, phone NHS 111, NHS Direct Wales or NHS 24 (see step 6).
3. Consider if you have COVID-19
COVID-19 specific advice
If you think you may have COVID-19 then please visit GOV.UK's coronavirus section and the NHS for the latest guidance and information.
Speak to NHS111, a pharmacist or your GP if you are worried about COVID-19.
4. Look out for serious symptoms
Severe headache
Trouble breathing
Chest pain
Coughing blood
Very cold skin
Feeling confused
Problems swallowing
Feeling a lot worse
If you have COVID-19 and start to feel worse, including showing the signs above, seek immediate medical help from NHS 111 (call 111 or visit NHS 111 online).
5. Where to get help
About this leaflet
TARGET is operated by the UK Health Security Agency. Developed in collaboration with professional medical bodies.
Version: 3.3
Published: October 2018
Review: November 2020
RTI leaflet - other settings
For pharmacy versions of the leaflets (including Welsh versions) please refer to our RTI leaflet for community pharmacies section within the TARGET toolkit.
This leaflet has been designed for use in the out of house (OOH) setting. It is suitable for consultations to facilitate dialogue between a patient and their healthcare professional on specific topics related to their RTI.
TYI-RTI leaflet for OOH Clinics (Welsh)- TYI-RTI leaflet OOH (English for those living in Wales) V9.8 (PDF)
- TYI-RTI leaflet OOH (Welsh for those living in Wales) V9.8 (PDF)
- TYI-RTI leaflet OOH (Welsh for those living in England) V9.7 (PDF)
For any leaflet queries please contact us: TARGETantibiotics@ukhsa.gov.uk
Pharmacy Antibiotic Checklist
The antibiotic checklist is for community pharmacy staff to use with patients or carers collecting antibiotics. The checklist has been designed to follow the antibiotic prescription journey, to be completed by patients and pharmacists, to facilitate individualised advice to the patient.
Pharmacy Antibiotic Checklist translations
- Albanian – V2 (PDF)
- Arabic – V2 (PDF)
- Bengali – V2 (PDF)
- Farsi – V2 (PDF)
- French – V2 (PDF)
- Greek – V2 (PDF)
- Gujarati – V2 (PDF)
- Hindi – V2 (PDF)
- Hungarian – V2 (PDF)
- Italian – V2 (PDF)
- Kurdish Sorani – V2 (PDF)
- Lithuanian – V2 (PDF)
- Polish – V2 (PDF)
- Portuguese – V2 (PDF)
- Punjabi (Gurmukhi) – V2 (PDF)
- Romanian – V2 (PDF)
- Simplified Chinese – V2 (PDF)
- Somali – V2 (PDF)
- Spanish – V2 (PDF)
- Swahili – V2 (PDF)
- Tamil – V2 (PDF)
- Tigrinya – V2 (PDF)
- Traditional Chinese – V2 (PDF)
- Turkish – V2 (PDF)
- Urdu – V2 (PDF)
Community pharmacy counselling checklist
This Antibiotic Counselling sheet is a supporting tool to the Antibiotic Checklist, which can help inform the information provided to patients, including how to take antibiotics, their common side effects, and interactions. This was a collaboration between the Public Health England (now the UK Health Security Agency) TARGET Antibiotics toolkit and Public Health Wales and is suitable to be used by healthcare professionals across England and Wales. This counselling sheet underwent consultation with the All-Wales Antimicrobial Guidance Group (AWAGG).
For more information on How Community Pharmacies Can Keep Antibiotics Working, visit Health Education England’s AMR Hub and complete the e-module on Antimicrobial Stewardship for Community Pharmacy.
For any queries in the content of the leaflet please contact us: TARGETantibiotics@phe.gov.uk
Other available leaflets and resources
These resources were not developed by TARGET and are not endorsed by the UKHSA or RCGP, but may be useful in primary care settings.
Healthier Together Web Resources
Healthier Together is a web-based resource endorsed by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) and the NHS. It’s aim is to improve the quality of care for pregnant women, children, and young people. The resources on the Healthier Together websites have been developed in partnership between parents and healthcare professionals. They supply patient facing information on common illnesses, including advice on what serious 'red-flag' signs to look out for, where to seek help if needed, what you should do to keep comfortable and how long symptoms are likely to last. Healthier Together also supplies information and resources for primary care staff, including safety-netting and parent information sheets.
- Healthier Together website
- Healthier Together GP/Primary Care Staff Resources
- Healthier Together Strep A and Scarlet Fever
The programme has been rolled out across different regions in the UK
Caring for children with coughs leaflet
This leaflet was co-created by a diverse group of parents and University of Bristol researchers. It contains information addressing the four most common parental concerns for children with RTI with cough and safety-netting advice based on NICE guidelines. The leaflet was created under a creative commons licence (attribution) which means they can be used, reproduced and distributed by anyone as long as they are clearly attributed in any report or publication and cited as: Cabral, C. Ingram, J. Redmond, N. Horwood, J. Blair, P. Hollinghurst, S. Hay, A. Lucas P. 2016, ‘Caring for children with coughs: Information and advice for parents’. University of Bristol, Bristol. Foreign language translation of this leaflet are available from the University of Bristol website.
Antibiotics Don’t Cure Toothache
Part of the dental antimicrobial stewardship toolkit for primary care, this leaflet highlights why antibiotics don't cure toothache and provides safety netting advice.
Self-care forum fact sheets
The Self-Care Forum is dedicated to helping people take care of themselves and as such, have created a series of self-care fact sheets for common ailments which aim to help clinicians and patients discuss issues around self-care during consultation and especially how to handle the symptoms in the future.