Guidelines
77 entriesNDOH Standard Treatment Guidelines and clinical protocols
- ObesityObesityPEML (Paeds)→
- Obesity in DiabetesCardiovascular Risk in DiabetesPrimary Care→
- Obesity in PregnancyObesity in PregnancyOther→
- Objectives of Antenatal CareThe guidelines recommend management of common obstetric conditions at primary and referral level, based on local experience and evidence-based practice. They are not intended as strict protocols nor as standard operating procedures, but rather as a guide to safe effective management of common obstetric problems. The guidelines should be most useful to interns, medical officers and registrars.Other→
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)PEML (Paeds)→
- Obstetric EmergenciesObstetric EmergenciesOther→
- Obstetric TerminologyThe guidelines recommend management of common obstetric conditions at primary and referral level, based on local experience and evidence-based practice. They are not intended as strict protocols nor as standard operating procedures, but rather as a guide to safe effective management of common obstetric problems. The guidelines should be most useful to interns, medical officers and registrars.Other→
- Obstructive ShockDescription Treatment ICD-10 code: R57.8 DESCRIPTION Occurs when there is an obstruction to the filling of the right ventricle or an obstruction in blood flow. Clinical signs include hypotension, tachycardia, cold peripheries and distended neck veins. Causes include: cardiac tamponade, tension pneumothorax, acute pulmonary embolism, and severe bronchospasm. TREATMENT Treat the cause. Acute pulmonEML (Adult)→
- Obstructive Sleep ApnoeaDescription Diagnostic criteria General and supportive measures Medicine treatment Referral ICD-10 code: G47.3 DESCRIPTION Affects all ages as either partial or complete airway obstruction that disrupts gas exchange and sleep patterns. Associated with truncal obesity and increased BMI, recurrent otitis media, allergic rhinitis/asthma and syndromic conditions e.g. Down syndrome, TPEML (Paeds)→
- Odynophagia - Paediatric Palliative CareDescription General and supportive measures Medication and treatment ICD-10 code: R13 DESCRIPTION Pain that arises from the oropharynx and/or pain with swallowing. Not only does it lead to irritability and discomfort but can affect intake of feeds and medication. May be an unrecognised source of pain in neurologically impaired non-verbal children. GENERAL AND SUPPORTIVE MEASURES Perform a tPEML (Paeds)→
- Oedema, CerebralStandard Treatment Guidelines and Essential Medicines List for South Africa, Hospital Level, Adults 2019 EditionEML (Adult)→
- Open FracturesOpen FracturesOther→
- Open Multi-Dose Vial PolicyInjection safety Opened vials of TT HepB and OPV vaccines: May be used in subsequent immunisation sessions for a maximum of one month , if each of the following conditions have been met: The expiry date has not passed Each vial must be dated when opened The vaccines are stored under appropriate cold chain conditions (2–8°C with temperature monitoring and recording) The vaccine vial septum haPrimary Care→
- Opioid AnalgesicsGeneral principles and management of cancer pain in adultsOther→
- Opioid Minimisation for Acute Pain ManagementPrescription opioid addiction and overdose Postoperative opioid respiratory depression Interventions to reduce opioid requirements following general anaesthesia Opioid-free analgesia Conclusion For at least 10 000 years, opiates derived from the opium poppy were the only reliable analgesics used by humans. During the twentieth century, synthetic opioids were increasingly used, particularly iOther→
- Opioid PharmacologyThis guideline is endorsed by the following professional groups: Cape Pelvic Pain Society, PainSA, South African Rheumatism and Arthritis Association, and South African Society of Anaesthesiologists.Other→
- Opioid PoisoningDescription Diagnostic criteria General and supportive measures Medicine treatment Referral ICD-10 code: T40.2 DESCRIPTION Codeine is a common drug of abuse. The duration of action of morphine is 3–6 hours. Other oral agents, e.g. codeine and long acting morphine, demonstrate a delayed effect of up to 4–12 hours. DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA Altered level of consciousness. Classic triad of CNPEML (Paeds)→
- Opioid ToleranceAlso see opioid tolerance in the ICU – Intensive Care Unit Opioid tolerance is a common cause for the failure of opioid analgesia. Exposure to an opioid, particularly as the sole analgesic, gives rise to pharmacodynamic tolerance (loss of activity, not due to faster drug clearance but to decreased analgesic effect). Tolerance develops to the adverse effects of opioids, namely sedation, hypoventilOther→
- Opioid WithdrawalOpiod WithdrawalPEML (Paeds)→
- Opportunistic DiseasesPlease click on the link below to access the most up-to-date version of this guideline. The content on this page is currently being updated to align with the latest publication. Always check the version number at the bottom of the screen to confirm which version you are using. Click here to access the Adult Hospital Level Chapter 10: HIV_and_AIDS_with_supporting_NEMLC_Report_Reviews_2025-9-VersioEML (Adult)→
- Opportunistic Infections, Prophylaxis in ChildrenPlease click on the link below to access the most up-to-date version of this guideline. The content on this page is currently being updated to align with the latest publication. Always check the version number at the bottom of the screen to confirm which version you are using. Click here to access the Primary Health Care - PHC Chapter 11: Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune DeficiencPrimary Care→
- Opportunistic Infections, Treatment in ChildrenPlease click on the link below to access the most up-to-date version of this guideline. The content on this page is currently being updated to align with the latest publication. Always check the version number at the bottom of the screen to confirm which version you are using. Click here to access the Primary Health Care - PHC Chapter 11: Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune DeficiencPrimary Care→
- Oral (Contraception, Hormonal)Monophasic preparations Triphasic preparations Contraindications and guidance to starting the hormonal oral pill Medicine interactions Referral Z30.0/Z30.4 Dual contraception with barrier methods, are recommended to reduce the risk of STIs, including HIV. Monophasic preparations Progestin only pills, e.g.: Levonorgestrel, oral, 30 mcg daily LoE:IIIa 18 Progestins and estrogen, fixed combinations,Primary Care→
- Oral Amoxicillin-Clavulanate Dosing Guidance for Children >3 Months with Normal Renal FunctionKEY POINTS TO REMEMBER - Oral amoxicillin-clavulanate exists in various formulations of varying amoxicillin-to-clavulanate ratios (liquid – 14:1 & 4:1; tablet – 7:1) - Medication errors may occur if the different formulations are not considered. - Look up the amoxicillin dose in the tables below against the patient’s weight for the various formulations, given the specific indicOther→
- Orbital CellulitisOrbital CellulitisOther→
- Ordering Group and Screen (G+S) Pre-operativelyOrdering Group and Screen (G+S) Pre-operativelyOther→
- Ordering and Administration of BloodSANBS Clinical Guideline, 6th Edition, 2023Other→
- Organisation of Anaesthesia Services: Anaesthesia Support PersonnelNursing staff Management, supervision and organisation of anaesthesia services Anaesthetic nurses/assistants Recovery room nurses Conclusion and recommendations regarding anaesthesia support personnel The availability of competent assistance to the anaesthesiologist/ anaesthetist/anaesthesia provider (hereafter called anaesthesiologist) by an anaesthetic/anaesthesia assistant, i.e., a dedicated aOther→
- Organisation of Anaesthesia Services: Duties of an Anaesthesia ProviderOrganisation of anaesthesia services Duties of an anaesthesia provider Anaesthesia providers Organisation of anaesthesia services In medicine, including anaesthesia, teamwork is emphasised. A proposed ideal surgical team would include: Surgeons Surgeon assistants Anaesthesiologists Anaesthesia assistants Nursing personnel (including a scrub nurse and floor nurse) Clinical technicians Clinical anaOther→
- Organisation of Anaesthesia Services: Guidelines on Professional Health and WellbeingIntroduction Personal responsibilities of the anaesthesia provider Institutional responsibilities Recommendations Responsibilities toward healthcare workers, trainees and colleagues Legal responsibilities Introduction Many factors can contribute to the provider’s inability to function at their highest performance level, which ultimately impacts patient safety. These include work-related factors,Other→
- Organisation of Anaesthesia Services: Hours of Work Background Recommendations Categories of staff and level of hospital Staff-to-workload ratios Background The basis for consideration of working hours in anaesthesia care is the need for clinical services to be provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This necessitates a shift system with regular and after-hours work, as well as work on weekends and public holidays. For clinical platforOther→
- Organisation of Anaesthesia Services: Peer ReviewClinical governance is defined as a system through which health services are responsible and accountable for: continuously improving services, safeguarding high standards of care, and ensuring the best clinical outcomes for patient care. The system of governance includes the following aspects of clinical risk management: Mortality and morbidity reviews. Adverse events and near-misses reporting anOther→
- Organisation of Anaesthesia Services: Training and AccreditationBackground Education and training Diploma in Anaesthetics Fellowship training for the specialist anaesthesiologist Sub-speciality training: critical care General training Background Education and training of anaesthesia care providers in South Africa needs to take cognisance of the social setting within which such practice occurs, making them sensitive to both the system and individual needs. SucOther→
- Organisation of Diabetes CareOrganisation of Diabetes CareOther→
- Organisation of ServicesPatient Flow (Adapted from the policy framework on MDR-TB treatment) Most of the RR-TB care and services should be provided in the outpatient setting according to the National decentralization plan which aligned with our policy framework on decentralized and deinstitutionalized management of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis [10] . Children do not need to be treated by central sites and canOther→
- Organophosphate PoisoningOrganophosphate poisoningOther→
- Organophosphate PoisoningDescription Diagnostic criteria General and supportive measures Medicine treatment Referral ICD-10 code: T60.0 *Notifiable condition DESCRIPTION Organophosphates are potent inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase. Note: Where the history is of an unspecified rat poison or pesticide ingestion, consider other active ingredients such as amitraz and ‘super-warfarin’ anticoagulants. DIAGNOSTICPEML (Paeds)→
- Orientation Program for Mothers in TCH KMC WardsManagement guidelines for students, interns and registrars on a variety of routine and emergency situations in our neonatal service at Tygerberg Children’s Hospital. Published in 2014.Other→
- Oropharyngeal CandidaInfection Oropharyngeal Candida Brief outline/clinical setting Oropharyngeal and/or oesophageal candidiasis usually occurs in association with underlying HIV infection, diabetes, leukaemia, antimicrobial therapy, steroid use and denture use. In HIV-infected patients, oropharyngeal candidiasis usually occurs in in patients with CD4 counts < 200 cells/µl. Most patients with oropharyngeal cOther→
- Osteitis/Osteomyelitis, AcuteDescription Diagnostic criteria General and supportive measures Medicine treatment Antibiotics according to sensitivities Referral ICD-10 code: M86.1 DESCRIPTION Most cases result from haematogenous deposition of organisms in the bone marrow after a transient bacteraemic episode. Osteomyelitis most commonly begins in the metaphyses of long bones, which are highly vascular. The spread of infPEML (Paeds)→
- OsteoarthritisStandard Treatment Guidelines and Essential Medicines List for South Africa, Hospital Level, Adults 2019 EditionEML (Adult)→
- Osteoarthrosis (Osteoarthritis)Osteoarthrosis (Osteoarthritis)Primary Care→
- Osteomalacia/RicketsStandard Treatment Guidelines and Essential Medicines List for South Africa, Hospital Level, Adults 2019 EditionEML (Adult)→
- OsteoporosisThis booklet is intended as a practical guide to patient care for registrars, medical officers, interns and medical students attached to the gynaecology units at the University of the Witwatersrand Academic Hospitals. Anyone can use it.Other→
- OsteoporosisStandard Treatment Guidelines and Essential Medicines List for South Africa, Hospital Level, Adults 2019 EditionEML (Adult)→
- Other High-Risk GroupsAdditional specific TPT guidelines need to be developed for groups at increased risk of TB infection and/or progression to TB disease, such as: 1) inmates in correctional facilities remain a priority for TPT because the confined indoor spaces they share with other people often mean they meet the criteria of ‘significant TB exposure’ 2) healthcare workers also have a high risk of TB and should beOther→
- Other MalignanciesThis guideline is intended as a practical guide to patient care for registrars, medical officers, interns and medical students attached to the gynaecology units at the University of the Witwatersrand Academic Hospitals. Anyone can use it.Other→
- Other Measures to Avert Postoperative PainMechanisms underlying severe postoperative pain may include sociodemographic influences, previous postoperative pain experiences, surgery-related variables (some procedures are more painful than others) and psychological factors. Patients with better coping mechanisms with preoperative pain, usually experience less postoperative pain. In this regard, adequate preoperative analgesia and CBT mOther→
- Other Resources and Important InformationAdverse Drug Reactions Surveillance of all adverse drug reactions (ADRs) is fundamental. Healthcare professionals and consumers are urged to report any ADRs, adverse events following immunisation (AEFI), and product quality concerns to the SAHPRA pharmacovigilance office using one of the following reporting methods: Form requests and submissions via e-mail: adr@sahpra.org.za ( Click here for Other→
- Other VaccinesTT (Tetanus Toxoid) Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine Hepatitis B Influenza Vaccine TT (Tetanus Toxoid) Z23.5 Protects against tetanus (post trauma) TT, IM, 0.5 mL into arm Storage: Fridge: middle shelf at 2–8°C. Easily damaged by freezing. Keep opened vials for next session if kept at correct temperature and not contaminated. Discard after 30 days. Record date of reconstitution. CoPrimary Care→