Clean Your Hands 5th May 2017: 'Fight antibiotic resistance - it's in your hands'

A national online survey of Filipinos' knowledge, attitude, and awareness of antibiotic use and resistance: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Antibiotic resistance is one of the 21st century's most challenging clinical and public health issues. However, this health issue remains underreported in the Philippines.

AIM

This study examined Filipinos' knowledge, attitude, and awareness regarding antibiotic use and resistance and the associated predictive variables of antibiotic resistance.

METHODS

A cross-sectional design and Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines were used in this study. Convenience sampling of 3767 participants completed the Eurobarometer survey on antibiotic resistance from October 2021 to February 2022. χ² and regression analysis were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

Most participants were familiar with the popular types of available antibiotics. Males and healthcare workers had a higher percentage of correct responses on antibiotic resistance knowledge. Participants had moderate to high knowledge levels of antibiotic resistance. Age, educational attainment, profession, antibiotic use in the previous year, and household members taking antibiotics were significant predictors of the level of knowledge of antibiotic resistance. There was a significant difference in participants' sex, age, and educational attainment in their attitudes toward acquisition, hygienic practices, and the role of health professionals in antibiotic resistance.

CONCLUSION

Government agencies and policymakers should consider the identified predictors when establishing policies on antibiotic resistance. This will ensure that antibiotic use is safe and effective.

Hand Hygiene Compliance at Two Tertiary Hospitals in Freetown, Sierra Leone, in 2021: A Cross-Sectional Study

Hand hygiene actions are essential to reduce healthcare-associated infections and the development of antimicrobial resistance. In this cross-sectional study at two tertiary hospitals, Freetown, Sierra Leone, we observed hand hygiene compliance (defined as using handwash with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) amongst healthcare workers between June and August 2021. Using the WHO Hand Hygiene tool, observations were made in relation to the type of opportunity, different wards and types of healthcare worker. Overall, 10,461 opportunities for hand hygiene were observed, of which 5086 (49%) resulted in hand hygiene actions. ABHR was used more often than handwash (26% versus 23%, p < 0.001). Overall, compliance was significantly better: after being with a patient/doing a procedure than before (78% after body fluid exposure risk compared with 24% before touching a patient—p < 0.001); in Paediatric (61%) compared with Medical wards (46%)—p < 0.001; and amongst nurses (52%) compared with doctors (44%)—p < 0.001. Similar patterns of compliance were observed within each hospital. In summary, hand hygiene compliance was sub-optimal, especially before being with a patient or before clean/aseptic procedures. Improvement is needed through locally adapted training, hand hygiene reminders in wards and outpatient departments, uninterrupted provision of ABHR and innovative ways to change behaviour.

Knowledge and perception on antimicrobial resistance and antibiotics prescribing attitude among physicians and nurses in Lambaréné region, Gabon: a call for setting-up an antimicrobial stewardship program

Background

Africa is challenged by the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In order to improve patient management and to optimise approaches to curb the spread of antimicrobial resistance, we examined knowledge and perceptions of AMR and antibiotics prescription practices of HCW (healthcare workers) in Lambaréné, Gabon.

Methods

We conducted a self-administered, questionnaire-based survey in HCW at the regional referral hospital, a medical research centre, and peripheral health care facilities. The proportions of correct responses to questions were determined and compared between physicians and nurses using Fisher’s Exact test.

Results

A total of 47 HCW took part in the survey. Of those, 64% (30/47) recognised antibiotic resistance as a major public health issue in Gabon, but only 14/47 (30%) recognised it as a problem in their health facility. Of note, 37/47 (79%) recognised excessive use of antibiotics without microbiological confirmation in case of infection, and buying antibiotics without a prescription, as possible cause of antimicrobial resistance. Some HCW (28%; 13/47) reported having prescribed antibiotics because the patients asked for them; and a total of 15/47 (32%) responded that antibiotics could help patients recover faster when added to malaria treatment. Compared to nurses, most of the physicians recognised that excessive use of antibiotics without microbiological confirmation of infection could contribute to AMR spread (18/19 (95%) vs 19/28 (68%); p = 0.028).

Conclusion

Most HCW recognised AMR as public health issue. However, a quarter of the participants did not know about the causes fostering the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. There is a need to perform regular HCW training in antimicrobial prescription, and to set up an antimicrobial stewardship program.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13756-022-01079-x.