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Ortega-Paredes D, Larrea-Álvarez CM, Torres-Elizalde L, de Janon S, Vinueza-Burgos C, Hidalgo-Arellano L, Šefcová MA, Molina-Cuasapaz G, Fernandez-Moreira E, Larrea-Álvarez M. Antibiotic Resistance Awareness among Undergraduate Students in Quito, Ecuador. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11020197. [PMID: 35203800 PMCID: PMC8868098 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11020197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The inappropriate use of antibiotics leads to antibiotic resistance, which reduces their efficacy. The education of undergraduates is likely to influence their practices. Assessing awareness is critical in the general effort to confront the spread of antibiotic resistance. This cross-sectional investigation was carried out using the questionnaire “Antibiotic resistance: Multi-country public awareness” developed by the World Health Organization. Students from different backgrounds at the Central University participated in the study (n = 733). The survey comprised five sections: demographics, knowledge, usage, sources of information, and attitudes. The rate of correct answers was 64.88%; differences were detected between programs of study (p < 0.001); effect size analysis showed that these differences cannot be considered large. Individuals from applied sciences scored higher than their counterparts from social studies. Mostly, interviewees were knowledgeable about usage, but mistakenly associated antibiotics with conditions such as cold/flu or viral illnesses; also, they associated antibiotic resistance with the patient and not with bacteria. Despite these misconceptions, positive attitudes were registered overall, and students generally adhered to common practices. They cited doctors/nurses and teachers as sources of information. As a consequence, it is recommended to develop courses that address deficient knowledge regarding antibiotic resistance, especially for individuals affiliated to social disciplines.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Ortega-Paredes
- Unidad de Investigación de Enfermedades Transmitidas por Alimentos y Resistencia a los Antimicrobianos (UNIETAR), Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito 170129, Ecuador; (D.O.-P.); (S.d.J.); (C.V.-B.)
- Laboratorio de Referencia de E. coli, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain
- Facultad de Ciencias Médicas Enrique Ortega Moreira, Carrera de Medicina, Universidad Espíritu Santo, Guayaquil 0901952, Ecuador
| | | | - Lilibeth Torres-Elizalde
- School of Biological Science and Engineering, Yachay-Tech University, Hacienda San José, Urcuquí 100650, Ecuador;
| | - Sofia de Janon
- Unidad de Investigación de Enfermedades Transmitidas por Alimentos y Resistencia a los Antimicrobianos (UNIETAR), Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito 170129, Ecuador; (D.O.-P.); (S.d.J.); (C.V.-B.)
| | - Christian Vinueza-Burgos
- Unidad de Investigación de Enfermedades Transmitidas por Alimentos y Resistencia a los Antimicrobianos (UNIETAR), Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito 170129, Ecuador; (D.O.-P.); (S.d.J.); (C.V.-B.)
| | - Luis Hidalgo-Arellano
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito 170129, Ecuador;
| | - Miroslava Anna Šefcová
- Research Unit, Life Science Initiative (LSI), Quito 170102, Ecuador; (C.M.L.-Á.); (M.A.Š.)
| | - Gabriel Molina-Cuasapaz
- Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Recursos Naturales, Carrera de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Técnica de Cotopaxi, Latacunga 050101, Ecuador;
| | - Esteban Fernandez-Moreira
- Facultad de Ciencias Médicas Enrique Ortega Moreira, Carrera de Medicina, Universidad Espíritu Santo, Guayaquil 0901952, Ecuador
- Correspondence: (E.F.-M.); (M.L.-Á.)
| | - Marco Larrea-Álvarez
- School of Biological Science and Engineering, Yachay-Tech University, Hacienda San José, Urcuquí 100650, Ecuador;
- Correspondence: (E.F.-M.); (M.L.-Á.)
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