{"title":"Antibiotic use and adherence to the WHO AWaRe guidelines across 16 hospitals in Zambia: a point prevalence survey.","authors":"Joseph Yamweka Chizimu, Steward Mudenda, Kaunda Yamba, Chileshe Lukwesa, Raphael Chanda, Ruth Nakazwe, Misheck Shawa, Herman Chambaro, Harvey K Kamboyi, Aubrey Chichonyi Kalungia, Duncan Chanda, Sombo Fwoloshi, Elimas Jere, Tiza Mufune, Derick Munkombwe, Peter Lisulo, Tebuho Mateele, Jeewan Thapa, Kenneth Kapolowe, Nyambe Sinyange, Cephas Sialubanje, Nathan Kapata, Mirfin Mpundu, Freddie Masaninga, Khalid Azam, Chie Nakajima, Makomani Siyanga, Nathan Nsubuga Bakyaita, Evelyn Wesangula, Martin Matu, Yasuhiko Suzuki, Roma Chilengi","doi":"10.1093/jacamr/dlae170","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The inappropriate use of antibiotics in hospitals contributes to the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study evaluated the prevalence of antibiotic use and adherence to the World Health Organization (WHO) Access, Watch and Reserve (AWaRe) classification of antibiotics across 16 hospitals in Zambia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A descriptive, cross-sectional study employing the WHO Point Prevalence Survey (PPS) methodology and WHO AWaRe classification of antibiotics was conducted among inpatients across 16 hospitals in December 2023, Zambia. Data analysis was performed using STATA version 17.0.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 1296 inpatients surveyed in the 16 hospitals, 56% were female, and 54% were aged between 16 and 50 years. The overall prevalence of antibiotic use was 70%. Additionally, 52% of the inpatients received Watch group antibiotics, with ceftriaxone being the most prescribed antibiotic. Slightly below half (48%) of the inpatients received Access group antibiotics. Compliance with the local treatment guidelines was 53%.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study found a high prevalence of prescribing and use of antibiotics in hospitalized patients across the surveyed hospitals in Zambia. The high use of Watch group antibiotics was above the recommended threshold indicating non-adherence to the WHO AWaRe guidelines for antibiotic use. Hence, there is a need to establish and strengthen antimicrobial stewardship programmes that promote the rational use of antibiotics in hospitals in Zambia.</p>","PeriodicalId":14594,"journal":{"name":"JAC-Antimicrobial Resistance","volume":"6 5","pages":"dlae170"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7000,"publicationDate":"2024-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11503655/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"JAC-Antimicrobial Resistance","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1093/jacamr/dlae170","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2024/10/1 0:00:00","PubModel":"eCollection","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"INFECTIOUS DISEASES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: The inappropriate use of antibiotics in hospitals contributes to the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study evaluated the prevalence of antibiotic use and adherence to the World Health Organization (WHO) Access, Watch and Reserve (AWaRe) classification of antibiotics across 16 hospitals in Zambia.
Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study employing the WHO Point Prevalence Survey (PPS) methodology and WHO AWaRe classification of antibiotics was conducted among inpatients across 16 hospitals in December 2023, Zambia. Data analysis was performed using STATA version 17.0.
Results: Of the 1296 inpatients surveyed in the 16 hospitals, 56% were female, and 54% were aged between 16 and 50 years. The overall prevalence of antibiotic use was 70%. Additionally, 52% of the inpatients received Watch group antibiotics, with ceftriaxone being the most prescribed antibiotic. Slightly below half (48%) of the inpatients received Access group antibiotics. Compliance with the local treatment guidelines was 53%.
Conclusions: This study found a high prevalence of prescribing and use of antibiotics in hospitalized patients across the surveyed hospitals in Zambia. The high use of Watch group antibiotics was above the recommended threshold indicating non-adherence to the WHO AWaRe guidelines for antibiotic use. Hence, there is a need to establish and strengthen antimicrobial stewardship programmes that promote the rational use of antibiotics in hospitals in Zambia.