External link
Iron deficiency resources for GPs
General Practitioners (GPs) play a central role in the identification, diagnosis and management of patients with iron deficiency. This page has been established to assist with this.
- Algorithm for iron deficiency anaemia assessment and management – A clinical update on Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) from the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA 2010) containing an algorithm for assessment and management of IDA in Box 2.
- App based on the IDA algorithm from MJA 2010 – the IDA algorithm app is an educational tool designed to increase your understanding of the diagnosis, investigation and management of IDA.
- Checklist for overall management of iron deficiency in adults (PDF 227KB).
- Patient handouts on iron and iron deficiency including languages other than English.
- BloodSafe eLearning Australia education courses on iron deficiency anaemia.
- Guidelines for the management of iron deficiency anaemia from British Society of Gastroenterology (2021).
- Patient handouts on oral iron, including languages other than English.
- Dosing chart with iron preparations (PDF 511KB) available in Australia.
- Oral iron interactions – summarises the interactions oral iron may have with various medications and foods.
- Reasons for lack of response to oral iron therapy - A clinical update on Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) from the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA 2010) which includes a list of the 5 major reasons for inadequate response to oral iron therapy in Box 5.
IV iron
- Prescribing checklist for IV iron (PDF 99KB) — this checklist provides guidance on the indications, contradictions and precautions for the use of IV iron. For the use of IV iron in the perinatal period refer to the South Australian Perinatal Anaemia and Iron Infusion (PDF 339KB) practice guideline.
- Patient handouts on IV iron, including languages other than English.
- IV iron administration in primary care - a video outlining safe and appropriate use produced by BloodSafe eLearning Australia.
- Generic ferric carboxymaltose infusion protocol for adults (PDF 271KB)
- Generic ferric carboxymaltose bolus protocol for adults (PDF 270KB)
- National Prescribing Service (NPS) — MedicineWise review of ferric carboxymaltose (2014).
- Perinatal Anaemia and Iron Infusion (PDF 339KB) - South Australian Perinatal Practice Guideline to inform diagnosis and management of perinatal anaemia.
- IV preparations for Treatment of Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) in Australia — iron infusion table outlining the different IV iron preparations.
Intramuscular (IM) Iron (not recommended)
Although IM injection of iron is effective, it is painful, associated with permanent skin staining and is no safer than IV infusion. Its use is therefore discouraged unless other approaches cannot be practically delivered (eg, when parenteral iron is indicated in remote settings).
For further information please see our Blood Management page or refer to our BloodSafe page for staff contacts.