Do: • consider microbiological testing to direct therapy (e.g. urinary tract infection, abscess), especially when the causative organism is difficult to predict (e.g. recurrent or unresponsive infection, or overseas travel) • use the current version of Therapeutic Guidelines: Antibiotic, or available local guidelines • know why you are prescribing the antibiotic (document indication and duration in the medical record) • prescribe the shortest duration of therapy (or total number of tablets), even if this means the pharmacist breaking the pack.

Don’t: • culture every infection, or potential infection (especially urine in residential aged-care facilities) • prescribe an antimicrobial without an appropriate indication • routinely provide a repeat prescription.