BNF for Children June 2023 Update

This update contains 10 significant changes, 6 dose changes, and 1 deleted preparation.

Significant Changes:

• Aminoglycosides: pre-treatment screening advice on genetic testing for aminoglycoside exposure posing risk to hearing (advice in relevant monographs; see example in gentamicin).
• Camouflagers: title changed to Camouflages.
• Ceftriaxone: update to directions for administration.
• COVID-19 vaccine: update to Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine (Comirnaty®) to include use in children from 6 months old.
• COVID-19 vaccines: updated guidance for immunisation.
• Guidance on prescribing: information on national genomic testing directory.
• Respiratory system, drug delivery: title changed to Respiratory system, inhaled drug delivery.
• Respiratory system, inhaled drug delivery: updated guidance.
• Secukinumab: new indication for enthesitis-related arthritis and juvenile psoriatic arthritis.
• “Specialist drug” monographs within BNF Publications: identification and reduced level of detail, see How to use BNF Publications online.

Dose Changes:

• Bedaquiline [update to include dosing in children from 5 years old].
• Clarithromycin [update to include dosing for prevention of invasive group A streptococcal infection in children from 6 months old and adults].
• Fentanyl [update to indications and dose for transdermal patches].
• Remdesivir [update to age range in children for the treatment of COVID-19].
• Secukinumab [update to dosing for plaque psoriasis].
• Ustekinumab [update to include dosing in children from 6 years old for plaque psoriasis].

Deleted Preparation: Feospan® [ferrous sulfate].