[indices] Antibiotics? anti-infectives? What is in a name...

["kae" <kaecherie@yahoo.co.uk>]

[Note from moderator: Carolyn Rochat: The South African EDL uses the terms: anti-infective agents, anti-bacterials as does the South African Medicines Formulary. I know that there is a coding system used, but I'm not sure which one and this is not indicated in these references. Can anyone else help?

Greetings, 

I am just wondering what the consensus is nowadays for categorising all the
agents used to treat infections. I know the WHO Model Formulary uses the
term "Anti-infective drugs", the BNF avoids this and just lists the category as "Infections" using a disease as title instead of a pharmacological category. "Antibiotics" are not used by either, and under their index cross-referred to "Antibacterials". Yet on a google search I have under 500 000 hits for anti-infectives, and over 16 million hits for antibiotics. I don't want to split hairs and I am just looking for a widely use category title. Suggestions please :-)! Blessings,

Kae :-)

Kae Ting Trouilloud
Pharmacist/Editor of the Mercy Ships essential medicines formulary