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Mittal N, Tayal A, Kumar S, Dhawan R, Goel N, Mittal R. Longitudinal Trends in In-Patient Antibiotic Consumption According to the WHO Access, Watch, Reserve (AWaRe) Antibiotic Groups and Cost: An Analysis of Data at a National Antimicrobial Consumption Network (NAC-NET) Site in North India over 7 Years (2017-2023). Antibiotics (Basel) 2024; 13:673. [PMID: 39061355 PMCID: PMC11273674 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13070673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Antibiotic surveillance data are crucial to map out strategies to promote their optimal use at hospital and community levels. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of longitudinal trends in antibiotic consumption over 7 years at a core "National Antimicrobial Consumption Network" site in North India. (2) Methods: In-patient antibiotic consumption data (2017-2023) were obtained from the hospital's central drug store and organised as follows: defined daily dose per 100 bed-days; antibiotic consumption as per the WHO access, watch and reserve classification; trends in overall and different antibiotic classes' consumption; paediatric formulations of antibiotics; and hospital's annual expenditure on antibiotics. (3) Results: During the 7-year study period, no significant trend could be observed in the overall antibiotic consumption (average annual percent change, AAPC: 9.22; 95% CI: -16.46, 34.9) and cost (AAPC: 13.55; -13.2, 40.3). There was a higher proportion of the consumption of antibiotics in the "reserve" group from 2021 onwards compared to previous years, but the overall trend over 7 years was not significant (AAPC: 319.75; -137.6, 777.1). Antibiotic combinations, classified under the WHO "not recommended" category, comprised a significant proportion of antibiotics consumed. A remarkably increased consumption of azithromycin and doxycycline was recorded during 2020 and 2021, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic. (4) Conclusions: Some recommendations to optimise antibiotic use are promoting the use of narrow spectrum "access" group agents; linking antimicrobial resistance and consumption data to formulate effective therapeutic and prophylactic antibiotic use guidelines; and the adoption of restrictive antibiotic policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niti Mittal
- Department of Pharmacology, Pt. B D Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak 124001, Haryana, India; (S.K.); (R.D.); (R.M.)
| | - Ashish Tayal
- Department of Microbiology, Pt. B D Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak 124001, Haryana, India; (A.T.); (N.G.)
| | - Suneel Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology, Pt. B D Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak 124001, Haryana, India; (S.K.); (R.D.); (R.M.)
| | - Reevanshi Dhawan
- Department of Pharmacology, Pt. B D Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak 124001, Haryana, India; (S.K.); (R.D.); (R.M.)
| | - Nidhi Goel
- Department of Microbiology, Pt. B D Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak 124001, Haryana, India; (A.T.); (N.G.)
| | - Rakesh Mittal
- Department of Pharmacology, Pt. B D Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak 124001, Haryana, India; (S.K.); (R.D.); (R.M.)
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Bhuvaraghan A, King R, Walley J, Thiruvenkatachari B, Aggarwal VR. Dental antibiotic policies, stewardship, and implementation in India: A policy document analysis. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2024. [PMID: 38887900 DOI: 10.1111/cdoe.12989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Dental antibiotic stewardship is crucial in low- and middle-income countries where the burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is high and antibiotic misuse is common. Given that India is the most populous country, the largest antibiotic consumer and has a large dental prescriber population, this study investigated the extent to which current Indian policy and practice for dental antibiotic prescribing and stewardship aligns with the global policy and best practice. METHODS The READ approach was used to identify and extract data and synthesize the findings. Policy documents on dental antimicrobial stewardship were identified using a systematic search strategy involving nine medical and grey literature databases (Medline, Global Health, Web of Science, Cochrane, CINAHL, Eldis, Global Index Medicus, Proquest and Opengrey), targeted websites (government organizations and dental regulatory bodies) and contact with experts. Framework analysis was used to code extracted data into themes related to dental antimicrobial stewardship. RESULTS Of the 3039 records screened, 25 documents were included in the final analysis. The analysis showed a lack of guidelines or toolkits for appropriate antibiotic prescribing in dentistry in India. The treatment guidelines for antimicrobial use in common syndromes published by the Indian Council of Medical Research had no section or content for dental practitioners. Furthermore, the undergraduate dental curriculum developed by the Dental Council of India (DCI), included little content on appropriate antibiotic prescribing and no mention of AMR or stewardship. There were no educational resources either for dental practitioners or patients in the documents. CONCLUSION This document analysis showed that there was little or no mention of dental antibiotic prescribing guidelines in key policy documents such as the National Action Plan on AMR. In addition, contradictory and subjective information provided in some policy documents could encourage dentists and other health professionals such as general practitioners to prescribe antibiotics for common dental conditions for which they are contra-indicated. There is an urgent need to develop relevant guidelines and include these in Indian policy documents on AMR particularly the National Action Plan on AMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aarthi Bhuvaraghan
- School of Dentistry, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- Sree Balaji Dental College and Hospital, Bharat Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, India
| | - Rebecca King
- Nuffield Centre for International Health and Development, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - John Walley
- Nuffield Centre for International Health and Development, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Badri Thiruvenkatachari
- Sree Balaji Dental College and Hospital, Bharat Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, India
- University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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Al Balushi H, Kurdi A, Almutairi N, Baker KI, Amen KM, Karwi H, Seaton A, Godman B. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the utilisation and quality of antibiotic use in the Scottish primary care setting: a population-based segmented interrupted time-series analysis. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2024:1-11. [PMID: 38836493 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2024.2363485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inappropriate use of antibiotics is expected to increase during the COVID-19 pandemic, but there are limited data on COVID-19's long-term impact. We assessed the impact of COVID-19 on the quantity and quality of antibiotic use in Scotland. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A segmented interrupted time series was applied to monthly dispensed antibiotics using prescription cost analysis data from March/2019 to March/2023. Antibiotic use was quantified using the number of items dispensed/1000 inhabitants (TIDs) and defined daily dose/1000 inhabitants/day (DIDs). The quality of antibiotic use was assessed using key quality indicators including the WHO AWaRe classification, proportion of broad-spectrum and "4C"-antibiotics. RESULTS Overall, for all antibiotics, there was a non-significant increase in TIDs and DIDs before the first lockdown (March/2020) (β1), but a decline in the level immediately after the first (β2) and second lockdowns (β4) (November/2020), albeit non-significant. However, a significant increase in the time trend after the second lockdown (β5) for all antibiotic classes was observed. COVID-19 had no negative impact on AWaRe utilisation, with the proportion of all antibiotics from the Access group increasing from 76% in March/2019 to 90% in March/2023. The proportion of "4C" antibiotic reduced significantly after the second lockdown. CONCLUSIONS Neither the utilisation nor the quality of total antibiotic use appeared to have been significantly affected by COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayam Al Balushi
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Strathclyde University, Glasgow, UK
- Directorate General of Pharmaceutical Affairs and Drug Control, Ministry of Health, Oman
| | - Amanj Kurdi
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Strathclyde University, Glasgow, UK
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Hawler Medical University, Kurdistan Regional Governorate, Erbil, Iraq
- College of Pharmacy, Al-Kitab University, Kirkuk, Iraq
- Department of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Najla Almutairi
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Strathclyde University, Glasgow, UK
| | | | - Karwan M Amen
- Department of Nursing, College of Nursing, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq
| | - Hardee Karwi
- Azadi Teaching Hospital, Kirkuk Health Directorate, Ministry of Health, Kirkuk, Iraq
| | - Andrew Seaton
- Department of Internal Medicine, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, UK
- School of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Brian Godman
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Strathclyde University, Glasgow, UK
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Andrade HND, Oliveira JFD, Siniscalchi LAB, Costa JDD, Fia R. Global insight into the occurrence, treatment technologies and ecological risk of emerging contaminants in sanitary sewers: Effects of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 921:171075. [PMID: 38402973 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic caused changes in the consumption of prescribed/non-prescribed drugs and the population's habits, influencing the detection and concentration of emerging contaminants (ECs) in sanitary sewage and harming environmental and health risks. Therefore, the present work sought to discuss current literature data on the effects of the "COVID-19 pandemic factor" on the quality of raw sewage produced over a five-year period (2018-2019: pre-pandemic; 2020-2022: during the pandemic) and biological, physical, chemical and hybrid treatment technologies, influencing factors in the removal of ECs and potential ecological risks (RQs). Seven hundred thirty-one publications correlating sewage and COVID-19 were identified: 184 pre-pandemic and 547 during the pandemic. Eight classes and 37 ECs were detected in sewage between 2018 and 2022, with the "COVID-19 pandemic factor" promoting an increase in estrogens (+31,775 %), antibiotics (+19,544 %), antiepileptics and antipsychotics (+722 %), pesticides (+200 %), analgesics, anti-inflammatories and anticoagulants (+173 %), and stimulant medications (+157 %) in sanitary sewage. Among the treatment systems, aerated reactors integrated into biomembranes removed >90 % of cephalexin, clarithromycin, ibuprofen, estrone, and 17β-estradiol. The absorption, adsorption, and biodegradation mechanisms of planted wetland systems contributed to better cost-benefit in reducing the polluting load of sewage ECs in the COVID-19 pandemic, individually or integrated into the WWTP. The COVID-19 pandemic factor increased the potential ecological risks (RQs) for aquatic organisms by 40 %, with emphasis on clarithromycin and sulfamethoxazole, which changed from negligible risk and low risk to (very) high risk and caffeine with RQ > 2500. Therefore, it is possible to suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic intensified physiological, metabolic, and physical changes to different organisms in aquatic biota by ECs during 2020 and 2022.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heloisa Nascimento de Andrade
- Department of Engineering and Technology, Federal University of the Semi-Arid Region, UFERSA, Pau dos Ferros, Rio Grande do Norte 59900-000, Brazil
| | - Jacineumo Falcão de Oliveira
- Department of Engineering and Technology, Federal University of the Semi-Arid Region, UFERSA, Pau dos Ferros, Rio Grande do Norte 59900-000, Brazil.
| | | | - Joseane Dunga da Costa
- Department of Engineering and Technology, Federal University of the Semi-Arid Region, UFERSA, Pau dos Ferros, Rio Grande do Norte 59900-000, Brazil
| | - Ronaldo Fia
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Lavras, UFLA, Minas Gerais 37200-000, Brazil
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Yazhini C, E S E, Thapa R, Neppolian B. Understanding the photo-sensitive essence of organic-inorganic hybrids for the targeted detection of azithromycin. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 351:141247. [PMID: 38244872 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Being a macrolide antibiotic, the antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties of azithromycin (AZM) were taken advantage of during the COVID-19 pandemic which led to the overuse of AZM resulting in excessive release and accumulation in the waterways and ecosystem causing unpleasant threats to humankind. This demands the necessity for a highly sensitive material being capable of recognizing AZM in wastewater. Mindful of the optical attributes of organic ligand structures, we have constructed a hybrid material by chelating Zn2+ with pyridyl benzimidazole (PBI). The prepared sensor material ZnPBI was characterized using various microscopic and spectroscopic techniques including XRD, FT-IR, HR-SEM, HR-TEM, etc. The proposed sensor material exhibited proficient detection performance selectively towards AZM with a very low detection limit of 72 nM. Two linear ranges between 0 - 70 μM and 70-100 μM were observed corresponding to two different mechanistic pathways. To the best of our knowledge, the utilization of a metal-organic complex (MOC) for the fluorometric detection of AZM has not been explored so far. It is creditworthy to cite that the long-term structural stability of the sensor material was maintained for 100 days in water and it can be reused three times without any depreciation in the sensing activity. A combination of energy transfer routes, adsorption and electrostatic interactions for AZM detection are described experimentally and theoretically which provides insights into the role of MOC as sensing probes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Crescentia Yazhini
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai, Tamilnadu, 603203, India
| | - Erakulan E S
- Department of Physics, SRM University - AP, Amaravati, 522 240, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Ranjit Thapa
- Department of Physics, SRM University - AP, Amaravati, 522 240, Andhra Pradesh, India; Center for Computational and Integrative Sciences, SRM University─AP, Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh 522 240, India
| | - B Neppolian
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai, Tamilnadu, 603203, India.
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Menon ND, Somanath P, Jossart J, Vijayakumar G, Shetty K, Baswe M, Chatterjee M, Hari MB, Nair S, Kumar VA, Nair BG, Nizet V, Perry JJP, Kumar GB. Comparative molecular profiling of multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa identifies novel mutations in regional clinical isolates from South India. JAC Antimicrob Resist 2024; 6:dlae001. [PMID: 38230352 PMCID: PMC10789591 DOI: 10.1093/jacamr/dlae001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives We sought to analyse the antibiotic susceptibility profiles and molecular epidemiology of MDR clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from South India using non-MDR isolates as a reference. Methods We established a comprehensive clinical strain library consisting of 58 isolates collected from patients across the South Indian state of Kerala from March 2017 to July 2019. The strains were subject to antibiotic susceptibility testing, modified carbapenem inactivation method assay for carbapenemase production, PCR sequencing, comparative sequence analysis and quantitative PCR of MDR determinants associated with antibiotic efflux pump systems, fluoroquinolone resistance and carbapenem resistance. We performed in silico modelling of MDR-specific SNPs. Results Of our collection of South Indian P. aeruginosa clinical isolates, 74.1% were MDR and 55.8% were resistant to the entire panel of antibiotics tested. All MDR isolates were resistant to levofloxacin and 93% were resistant to meropenem. We identified seven distinct, MDR-specific mutations in nalD, three of which are novel. mexA was significantly overexpressed in strains that were resistant to the entire test antibiotic panel while gyrA and gyrB were overexpressed in MDR isolates. Mutations in fluoroquinolone determinants were significantly associated with MDR phenotype and a novel GyrA Y100C substitution was observed. Carbapenem resistance in MDR isolates was associated with loss-of-function mutations in oprD and high prevalence of NDM (blaNDM-1) within our sample. Conclusions This study provides insight into MDR mechanisms adopted by P. aeruginosa clinical isolates, which may guide the potential development of therapeutic regimens to improve clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nitasha D Menon
- School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri, Kerala, India
- Antimicrobial Resistance, Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS), Bangalore, India
| | - Priyanka Somanath
- School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri, Kerala, India
- Antimicrobial Resistance, Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS), Bangalore, India
| | - Jennifer Jossart
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Experimental Therapeutics, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Gayathri Vijayakumar
- School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri, Kerala, India
- Antimicrobial Resistance, Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS), Bangalore, India
| | - Kavya Shetty
- School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri, Kerala, India
- Antimicrobial Resistance, Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS), Bangalore, India
| | - Manasi Baswe
- School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri, Kerala, India
- Antimicrobial Resistance, Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS), Bangalore, India
| | - Meghna Chatterjee
- School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri, Kerala, India
- Antimicrobial Resistance, Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS), Bangalore, India
| | - Malavika B Hari
- School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri, Kerala, India
- Antimicrobial Resistance, Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS), Bangalore, India
| | - Samitha Nair
- Department of Microbiology, DDRC SRL Diagnostic Private Limited, Trivandrum, Kerala, India
| | - V Anil Kumar
- Department of Microbiology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Bipin G Nair
- School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri, Kerala, India
- Antimicrobial Resistance, Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS), Bangalore, India
| | - Victor Nizet
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - J Jefferson P Perry
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Experimental Therapeutics, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Geetha B Kumar
- School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri, Kerala, India
- Antimicrobial Resistance, Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS), Bangalore, India
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Khan S, Bond SE, Lee-Milner J, Conway BR, Lattyak WJ, Aldeyab MA. Antimicrobial consumption in an acute NHS Trust during the COVID-19 pandemic: intervention time series analysis. JAC Antimicrob Resist 2024; 6:dlae013. [PMID: 38328263 PMCID: PMC10848649 DOI: 10.1093/jacamr/dlae013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective To determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antimicrobial consumption and trends of therapeutic drugs for COVID-19 treatments, including corticosteroids, remdesivir and monoclonal antibodies (tocilizumab) from April 2017 to September 2022 in a secondary care NHS Trust in England. Methods A retrospective intervention time series analysis was conducted for April 2017 to September 2022 at the Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust. Data were retrieved from the pharmacy dispensing system as defined daily doses (DDDs) monthly and reported per 1000 occupied bed days (OBDs). Antimicrobial consumption and COVID-19 treatment options were measured. DDDs were calculated according to the classification of antimicrobials for systemic use (J01) and for other drugs classification. Trends for antimicrobial consumption and other therapeutic drugs for treating COVID-19 were also determined in each wave in England. Results During the pandemic: total antibiotic consumption decreased from 826.4 to 728.2 DDDs per 1000 OBDs (P = 0.0067); piperacillin/tazobactam use increased (P < 0.0001) and ciprofloxacin use decreased (P < 0.0001); there were no changes in Access, Watch, Reserve antibiotic use, and the proportion of antifungal consumption was consistent throughout the study. The use of total antibiotics (P = 0.024), levofloxacin (P = 0.0007), piperacillin/tazobactam (P = 0.0015) and co-amoxiclav (P = 0.0198) increased during wave one. Consumption of COVID-19 treatment drugs was highest during wave two, with 624.3 DDDs per 1000 OBDs for dexamethasone (P = 0.4441), 6.8 DDDs per 1000 OBDs for remdesivir (P < 0.0001) and 35.01 DDDs per 1000 OBDs for tocilizumab (P = 0.2544). Discussion This study determined the consumption of antimicrobials trends before and during the pandemic. The individual wave antimicrobial consumption indicates maximum consumption in the first wave, advocating for antimicrobial stewardship and preparedness for future pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sidra Khan
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, HD1 3DH, UK
| | - Stuart E Bond
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, HD1 3DH, UK
- Pharmacy Department, Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, Wakefield, WF1 4DG, UK
| | - Jade Lee-Milner
- Pharmacy Department, Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, Wakefield, WF1 4DG, UK
| | - Barbara R Conway
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, HD1 3DH, UK
- Institute of Skin Integrity and Infection Prevention, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, HD1 3DH, UK
| | - William J Lattyak
- Statistical Consulting Department, Scientific Computing Associates Corp., River Forest, IL 60305, USA
| | - Mamoon A Aldeyab
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, HD1 3DH, UK
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Bhatia R. Environmental aspects of antimicrobial resistance in India: Current progress & way forward. Indian J Med Res 2024; 159:10-15. [PMID: 38376372 PMCID: PMC10954102 DOI: 10.4103/ijmr.ijmr_2104_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rajesh Bhatia
- Former Director, Communicable Diseases, WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia, New Delhi 110 002, India
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Husain AA, Kashyap RS. Double trouble: compounding effects of COVID-19 pandemic and antimicrobial resistance on drug resistant TB epidemiology in India. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1305655. [PMID: 38125850 PMCID: PMC10731282 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1305655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Rajpal Singh Kashyap
- Advanced Research Center, Central India Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagpur, India
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10
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Bombaywala S, Dafale NA. Mapping the spread and mobility of antibiotic resistance in wastewater due to COVID-19 surge. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:121734-121747. [PMID: 37955733 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30932-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Large amounts of antibiotics have been discharged into wastewater during the COVID-19 pandemic due to overuse and misuse of antibiotics to treat patients. Wastewater-based surveillance can be used as an early warning for antibiotic resistance (AR) emergence. The present study analyzed municipal wastewater corresponding to the major pandemic waves (WW1, WW2, and WW3) in India along with hospital wastewater (Ho) taken as a benchmark for AR. Commonly prescribed antibiotics during a pandemic, azithromycin and cefixime residues, were found in the range of 2.1-2.6 μg/L in Ho and WW2. Total residual antibiotic concentration was less in WW2; however, the total antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) count was 1065.6 ppm compared to 85.2 ppm in Ho. Metagenome and RT-qPCR analysis indicated a positive correlation between antibiotics and non-corresponding ARGs (blaOXA, aadA, cat, aph3, and ere), where 7.2-7.5% was carried by plasmid in the bacterial community of WW1 and WW2. Moreover, as the abundance of the dfrA and int1 genes varied most among municipal wastewater, they can be suggested as AR markers for the pandemic. The common pathogens Streptococcus, Escherichia, Shigella, and Aeromonas were putative ARG hosts in metagenome-assembled genomes. The ARG profile and antibiotic levels varied between municipal wastewaters but were fairly similar for WW2 and Ho, suggesting the impact of the pandemic in shaping the resistome pattern. The study provides insights into the resistome dynamic, AR markers, and host-ARG association in wastewater during the COVID-19 surge. Continued surveillance and identification of intervention points for AR beyond the pandemic are essential to curbing the environmental spread of ARGs in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sakina Bombaywala
- Environmental Biotechnology & Genomics Division, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 4400 20, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Nishant A Dafale
- Environmental Biotechnology & Genomics Division, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 4400 20, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India.
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Ortiz-Prado E, Izquierdo-Condoy JS, Mora C, Vasconez-Gonzalez J, Fernandez-Naranjo R. Poor regulation, desperation, and misinformation, a countrywide analysis of self-medication and prescription patterns in Ecuador during the COVID-19 pandemic. Res Social Adm Pharm 2023; 19:1579-1589. [PMID: 37659922 DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2023.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the early phase of the pandemic led to an unprecedented global health crisis. Various factors have influenced self-medication practices among the general population and unsubstantiated prescribing practices among healthcare professionals. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to describe trends in the purchase and sale of medicines during the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020-2022) in Ecuador, by comparing them with pre-pandemic periods. METHODS In this study, a cross-sectional design was employed to conduct a comprehensive analysis of 28 pharmacological groups, categorized according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification (ATC). Utilizing an integrated drug consumption database, the study examined physician prescribing data, medicine usage, and spending levels in Ecuador during the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis involved computing absolute differences in monthly resolution, calculating excessive expenditure in comparison to previous yearly averages, and using Defined Daily Dose (DDD) methodology for internationally comparable results. Furthermore, a correlation analysis was performed to investigate potential associations between prescribed and consumed medicines and the number of new cases and deaths. RESULTS In Ecuador, the average yearly expenditure among these groups prior to the pandemic (2017-2019) amounted to $150,646,206 USD, whereas during 2020 and 2021, the same groups represented a total expenditure of $228,327,210, reflecting a significant increase. The excess expenditure during this period reached 51.4%, equivalent to $77,681,004 USD. Notably, 13% of this expenditure consisted of Over the Counter (OTC) Medicines. The study also identified a remarkable surge in sales of ivermectin, which increased by 2,057%, and hydroxychloroquine, which increased by 171%, as measured by DDD. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the substantial consumption of medicines by the population in Ecuador during the pandemic. It is concerning that many medications were sold without proven therapeutic indications, indicating that misinformation and desperation may have led to improper prescribing by physicians and patients resorting to ineffective drugs. Moreover, since the sale of these therapeutic drugs requires a prescription, poor regulation, and a lack of control within pharmacies likely contributed to such practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esteban Ortiz-Prado
- One Health Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito, 170125, Ecuador.
| | - Juan S Izquierdo-Condoy
- One Health Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito, 170125, Ecuador
| | - Carla Mora
- Medical Department, Quifatex, Quito, 170138, Ecuador
| | - Jorge Vasconez-Gonzalez
- One Health Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito, 170125, Ecuador
| | - Raúl Fernandez-Naranjo
- One Health Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito, 170125, Ecuador
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12
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Haseeb A, Abuhussain SSA, Alghamdi S, Bahshwan SM, Mahrous AJ, Alzahrani YA, Alzahrani AF, AlQarni A, AlGethamy M, Naji AS, Khogeer AAO, Iqbal MS, Godman B, Saleem Z. Point Prevalence Survey of Antimicrobial Use and Resistance during the COVID-19 Era among Hospitals in Saudi Arabia and the Implications. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1609. [PMID: 37998811 PMCID: PMC10668720 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12111609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The inappropriate prescribing of antimicrobials increases antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which poses an appreciable threat to public health, increasing morbidity and mortality. Inappropriate antimicrobial prescribing includes their prescribing in patients hospitalized with COVID-19, despite limited evidence of bacterial infections or coinfections. Knowledge of current antimicrobial utilization in Saudi Arabia is currently limited. Consequently, the objective of this study was to document current antimicrobial prescribing patterns among Saudi hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study included patients with or without COVID-19 who were admitted to five hospitals in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Data were gathered using the Global PPS methodology and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Out of 897 hospitalized patients, 518 were treated with antibiotics (57.7%), with an average of 1.9 antibiotics per patient. There were 174 culture reports collected, representing 36.5% of all cases. The most common indication for antibiotics use was community-acquired infections, accounting for 61.4% of all cases. 'Watch' antibiotics were the most commonly prescribed antibiotics, with the cephalosporins and carbapenems representing 38.7% of all antibiotics prescribed, followed by the penicillins (23.2%). Notably, Piperacillin/Tazobactam and Azithromycin were prescribed at relatively higher rates for COVID-19 patients. These findings highlight the need for continuous efforts to optimize the rational use of antibiotics through instigating appropriate antimicrobial stewardship programs in hospitals and, as a result, reduce AMR in the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Haseeb
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 24382, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Saleh Alghamdi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha 57911, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shahad M. Bahshwan
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 24382, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmad J. Mahrous
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 24382, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yazeed A. Alzahrani
- Pharmacy Department, Armed Forces Hospitals Southern Region, Khamis Mushayte 62411, Saudi Arabia
| | - Albaraa Faraj Alzahrani
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 24382, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullmoin AlQarni
- Infectious Diseases Department, Alnoor Specialist Hospital, Makkah 24382, Saudi Arabia
| | - Manal AlGethamy
- Department of Infection Prevention and Control Program, Alnoor Specialist Hospital, Makkah 24382, Saudi Arabia
| | - Asem Saleh Naji
- Infectious Diseases Department, Alnoor Specialist Hospital, Makkah 24382, Saudi Arabia
| | - Asim Abdulaziz Omar Khogeer
- Plan and Research Department, Ministry of Health (MOH), Makkah 12211, Saudi Arabia
- Medical Genetics Unit, Maternity & Children Hospital, Makkah Healthcare Cluster, Ministry of Health, Makkah 24382, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Shahid Iqbal
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj 16242, Saudi Arabia
| | - Brian Godman
- Department of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria 0208, South Africa
- Department of Pharmacoepidemiology, Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Science (SIPBS), University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
| | - Zikria Saleem
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan
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13
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Kanan M, Ramadan M, Haif H, Abdullah B, Mubarak J, Ahmad W, Mari S, Hassan S, Eid R, Hasan M, Qahl M, Assiri A, Sultan M, Alrumaih F, Alenzi A. Empowering Low- and Middle-Income Countries to Combat AMR by Minimal Use of Antibiotics: A Way Forward. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1504. [PMID: 37887205 PMCID: PMC10604829 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12101504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic overuse poses a critical global health concern, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where access to quality healthcare and effective regulatory frameworks often fall short. This issue necessitates a thorough examination of the factors contributing to antibiotic overuse in LMICs, including weak healthcare infrastructure, limited access to quality services, and deficiencies in diagnostic capabilities. To address these challenges, regulatory frameworks should be implemented to restrict non-prescription sales, and accessible point-of-care diagnostic tools must be emphasized. Furthermore, the establishment of effective stewardship programs, the expanded use of vaccines, and the promotion of health systems, hygiene, and sanitation are all crucial components in combating antibiotic overuse. A comprehensive approach that involves collaboration among healthcare professionals, policymakers, researchers, and educators is essential for success. Improving healthcare infrastructure, enhancing access to quality services, and strengthening diagnostic capabilities are paramount. Equally important are education and awareness initiatives to promote responsible antibiotic use, the implementation of regulatory measures, the wider utilization of vaccines, and international cooperation to tackle the challenges of antibiotic overuse in LMICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Kanan
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh 12211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maali Ramadan
- Department of Pharmacy, Maternity and Children Hospital in Rafha, Rafha 76312, Saudi Arabia; (M.R.); (H.H.); (B.A.); (J.M.)
| | - Hanan Haif
- Department of Pharmacy, Maternity and Children Hospital in Rafha, Rafha 76312, Saudi Arabia; (M.R.); (H.H.); (B.A.); (J.M.)
| | - Bashayr Abdullah
- Department of Pharmacy, Maternity and Children Hospital in Rafha, Rafha 76312, Saudi Arabia; (M.R.); (H.H.); (B.A.); (J.M.)
| | - Jawaher Mubarak
- Department of Pharmacy, Maternity and Children Hospital in Rafha, Rafha 76312, Saudi Arabia; (M.R.); (H.H.); (B.A.); (J.M.)
| | - Waad Ahmad
- Department of Pharmacy, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia; (W.A.); (S.M.)
| | - Shahad Mari
- Department of Pharmacy, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia; (W.A.); (S.M.)
| | - Samaher Hassan
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jazan College of Pharmacy, Jazan 82726, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Rawan Eid
- Department of Pharmacy, Nahdi Company, Tabuk 47311, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Mohammed Hasan
- Department of Pharmacy, Armed Forces Hospital Southern Region, Mushait 62562, Saudi Arabia; (M.H.); (A.A.)
| | - Mohammed Qahl
- Department of Pharmacy, Najran Armed Forces Hospital, Najran 66256, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Atheer Assiri
- Department of Pharmacy, Armed Forces Hospital Southern Region, Mushait 62562, Saudi Arabia; (M.H.); (A.A.)
| | | | - Faisal Alrumaih
- Department of Pharmacy, Northern Border University, Rafha 76313, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Areej Alenzi
- Department of Infection Control and Public Health, Regional Laboratory in Northern Border Region, Arar 73211, Saudi Arabia;
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14
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Raina D, Rohilla R, Patwal S, Pandita A. The Second COVID-19 Wave Is a Tsunami With Aftershocks: Mucormycosis Ire as Seen in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Uttarakhand, India. Cureus 2023; 15:e47358. [PMID: 38021725 PMCID: PMC10657149 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.47358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) or the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in recent times, an upsurge of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) such as mucormycosis was witnessed by many countries like India. This COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM) has presented as a menace to the already creaking health infrastructure. Clinical manifestations, risk factors, and end clinical outcomes varied for every other region/country. The aim of this study is to delineate and analyze plausible clinical and epidemiological factors and associated predictors of CAM in suspected patients presenting to a tertiary care hospital in Uttarakhand, India, during the second wave of COVID-19 in India. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 200 cases of suspected post‑COVID-19 mucormycosis were enrolled. Data were collected taking into account parameters such as hospitalization and ICU admissions during the episode of COVID-19 infection, steroid/antibiotics/oxygen requirement, and comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or any chronic illness and outcome. RESULTS Participants diagnosed with CAM using KOH examination and fungal culture were analyzed in the study (n=46). The median age of patients included was 48, 73.9% were males, and 26% were females. The major predisposing factor was found to be diabetes mellitus type 2. Our work suggests that the mean duration between COVID-19 episodes and CAM was 11.86 days with a significant statistical association. Oxygen requirement and imprudent use of steroids/antibiotics were also allied with mucormycosis. CONCLUSION The burden of such IFIs is expected to be unveiled in tropical countries during pandemics such as COVID-19, which lead to immunosuppression in masses post-treatment. Comorbidities such as diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and hypertension add to the risk of acquiring other infectious disease. Such times require competent healthcare professionals such as diagnosticians, physicians, and surgeons who are skilled to manage such IFIs timely.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimple Raina
- Microbiology, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, Dehradun, IND
| | - Ranjana Rohilla
- Microbiology, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, Dehradun, IND
| | - Shiwang Patwal
- Microbiology, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, Dehradun, IND
| | - Ajay Pandita
- Community Medicine, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, Dehradun, IND
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15
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Amato HK, Loayza F, Salinas L, Paredes D, García D, Sarzosa S, Saraiva-Garcia C, Johnson TJ, Pickering AJ, Riley LW, Trueba G, Graham JP. Leveraging the COVID-19 pandemic as a natural experiment to assess changes in antibiotic use and antibiotic-resistant E. coli carriage in semi-rural Ecuador. Sci Rep 2023; 13:14854. [PMID: 37684276 PMCID: PMC10491794 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39532-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had significant impacts on health systems, population dynamics, public health awareness, and antibiotic stewardship, which could affect antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) emergence and transmission. In this study, we aimed to compare knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of antibiotic use and ARB carriage in Ecuadorian communities before versus after the COVID-19 pandemic began. We leveraged data collected for a repeated measures observational study of third-generation cephalosporin-resistant E. coli (3GCR-EC) carriage among children in semi-rural communities in Quito, Ecuador between July 2018 and September 2021. We included 241 households that participated in surveys and child stool sample collection in 2019, before the pandemic, and in 2021, after the pandemic began. We estimated adjusted Prevalence Ratios (aPR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) using logistic and Poisson regression models. Child antibiotic use in the last 3 months declined from 17% pre-pandemic to 5% in 2021 (aPR: 0.30; 95% CI 0.15, 0.61) and 3GCR-EC carriage among children declined from 40 to 23% (aPR: 0.48; 95% CI 0.32, 0.73). Multi-drug resistance declined from 86 to 70% (aPR: 0.32; 95% CI 0.13; 0.79), the average number of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) per 3GCR-EC isolate declined from 9.9 to 7.8 (aPR of 0.79; 95% CI 0.65, 0.96), and the diversity of ARGs was lower in 2021. In the context of Ecuador, where COVID-19 prevention and control measures were strictly enforced after its major cities experienced some of the world's the highest mortality rates from SARS-CoV-2 infections, antibiotic use and ARB carriage declined in semi-rural communities of Quito from 2019 to 2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather K Amato
- Environmental Health Sciences Division, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| | - Fernanda Loayza
- Instituto de Microbiología, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador
| | - Liseth Salinas
- Instituto de Microbiología, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador
| | - Diana Paredes
- Instituto de Microbiología, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador
| | - Daniela García
- Instituto de Microbiología, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador
| | - Soledad Sarzosa
- Instituto de Microbiología, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador
| | - Carlos Saraiva-Garcia
- Instituto de Microbiología, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador
| | - Timothy J Johnson
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA
| | - Amy J Pickering
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Blum Center for Developing Economies, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Lee W Riley
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Gabriel Trueba
- Instituto de Microbiología, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador
| | - Jay P Graham
- Environmental Health Sciences Division, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
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16
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Kalita A, Bose B, Woskie L, Haakenstad A, Cooper JE, Yip W. Private pharmacies as healthcare providers in Odisha, India: analysis and implications for universal health coverage. BMJ Glob Health 2023; 8:e008903. [PMID: 37778756 PMCID: PMC10546140 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2022-008903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In India, as in many low-income and middle-income countries, the private sector provides a large share of health care. Pharmacies represent a major share of private care, yet there are few studies on their role as healthcare providers. Our study examines: (1) What are the characteristics of and services provided by private pharmacies and how do these compare with other outpatient care providers? (2) What are the characteristics of patients who opted to use private pharmacies? (3) What are the reasons why people seek healthcare from private pharmacies? (4) What are the quality of services and cost of care for these patients? Based on our findings, we discuss some policy implications for universal health coverage in the Indian context. METHODS We analyse data from four surveys in Odisha, one of India's poorest states: a household survey on health-seeking behaviours and reasons for healthcare choices (N=7567), a survey of private pharmacies (N=1021), a survey of public sector primary care facilities (N=358), and a survey of private-sector solo-providers (N=684). RESULTS 17% of the households seek outpatient care from private pharmacies (similar to rates for public primary-care facilities). 25% of the pharmacies were not registered appropriately under Indian regulations, 90% reported providing medical advice, and 26% reported substituting prescribed drugs. Private pharmacies had longer staffed hours and better stocks of essential drugs than public primary-care facilities. Patients reported choosing private pharmacies because of convenience and better drug stocks; reported higher satisfaction and lower out-of-pocket expenditure with private pharmacies than with other providers. CONCLUSION This is the first large-scale study of private pharmacies in India, with a comparison to other healthcare providers and users' perceptions and experiences of their services. To move towards universal health coverage, India, a country with a pluralistic health system, needs a comprehensive health systems approach that incorporates both the public and private sectors, including private pharmacies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuska Kalita
- Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bijetri Bose
- Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Liana Woskie
- Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Tufts University School of Arts and Sciences, Medford, MA, USA
| | - Annie Haakenstad
- Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jan E Cooper
- Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Winnie Yip
- Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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17
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Sharma B, Nonzom S. Mucormycosis and Its Upsurge During COVID-19 Epidemic: An Updated Review. Curr Microbiol 2023; 80:322. [PMID: 37592083 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-023-03430-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Although mucormycosis may have reached an epidemic situation during the COVID-19 pandemic, the term was much more familiar even before the COVID-19 period. The year 2020 showed an outbreak of novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) which affected millions of people all over the world. One of the noticeable complications observed to be associated with this disease is mucormycosis. It is an opportunistic infection caused by members of the Order Mucorales existing worldwide and has been commonly reported as a laboratory contaminant for a long time. However, nowadays due to the changes in the host environment, they have been emerging as potent opportunistic pathogens responsible for causing primary infections or coinfections with other diseases eventually resulting in morbidity and even mortality in severe cases. Although immunocompromised patients are more susceptible to this infection, few cases have been reported in immunocompetent individuals. Various risk factors which are responsible for the acquisition of mucormycosis include diabetes mellitus type 2, ketoacidosis, hematological malignancies, organ transplants, and chemotherapy recipients. Among the various etiological agents, Rhizopus is found to be the most common, and rhino-cerebral to be the most frequent clinical presentation. As far as pathogenesis is concerned, host cell invasion, thrombosis, and necrosis are the main events in the progression of this disease. The aim of the present review is to address a complete spectrum of mucormycosis and COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM) in a single article. Both global and Indian scenarios of mucormycosis are taken into account while framing this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bharti Sharma
- Department of Botany, University of Jammu, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, 180006, India
| | - Skarma Nonzom
- Department of Botany, University of Jammu, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, 180006, India.
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18
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Das MK, Das S, Srivastava PK. An overview on the prevalence and potential impact of antimicrobials and antimicrobial resistance in the aquatic environment of India. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:1015. [PMID: 37530878 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11569-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
India at present is one of the leading countries in antimicrobial drug production and use, leading to increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and public health problems. Attention has mainly been focused on the human and food animals' contribution to AMR neglecting the potential contribution of the perceptibly degraded aquatic environment in India. The paper reviews the available published literature in India on the prevalence of antimicrobial residues and their dissemination pathways in wastewater of pharmaceutical industries, sewage treatment plants, hospitals, riverine, community pond water, and groundwater. The prevalence of antimicrobial residue concentration, pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria antimicrobial resistant bacteria (ARB), their drug resistance levels, and their specific antimicrobial resistant genes (ARGs) occurring in various water matrices of India have been comprehensively depicted from existing literature. The concentration of some widely used antimicrobials recorded from the sewage treatment plants and hospital wastewater and rivers in India has been compared with other countries. The ecotoxicological risk posed by these antimicrobials in the various water matrices in India indicated high hazard quotient (HQ) values for pharmaceutical effluents, hospital effluents, and river water. The degraded aquatic environment exhibited the selection of a wide array of co-existent resistant genes for antibiotics and metals. The review revealed improper use of antibiotics and inadequate wastewater treatment as major drivers of AMR contaminating water bodies in India and suggestion for containing the challenges posed by AMR in India has been proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manas Kumar Das
- Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700120, India.
| | - Subhasree Das
- Department of Veterinary Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, West Bengal University of Animal & Fishery Sciences, 37, K. B. Sarani, Belgachia, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700037, India
| | - Pankaj Kumar Srivastava
- Department of Aquaculture, DDU Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, 273009, India
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19
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Hosseini M, Ahmed Hamad M, Mohseni G, Salamy S, Dehghan Tarzjani S, Taati Moghadam M. Prediction of tsunami of resistance to some antibiotics is not far-fetched which used during COVID-19 pandemic. J Clin Lab Anal 2023; 37:e24959. [PMID: 37650531 PMCID: PMC10561589 DOI: 10.1002/jcla.24959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the most tragic events in recent history was the COVID-19 outbreak, which has caused thousands of deaths. A variety of drugs were prescribed to improve the condition of patients, including antiparasitic, antiviral, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory medicines. It must be understood, however, that COVID-19 is like a tip of an iceberg on the ocean, and the consequences of overuse of antibiotics are like the body of a mountain under water whose greatness has not yet been determined for humanity, and additional study is needed to understand them. History of the war between microbes and antimicrobial agents has shown that microbes are intelligent organisms that win over antimicrobial agents over time through many acquired or inherent mechanisms. The key terms containing "COVID-19," "Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2," "SARS-CoV2," "Antibiotic Resistance," "Coronavirus," "Pandemic," "Antibiotics," and "Antimicrobial Resistance" were used for searching in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an increased prescription of antibiotics. Infections caused by secondary or co-bacterial infections or beneficial bacteria in the body can be increased as a result of this amount of antibiotic prescription and exposure to antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance will likely pose a major problem in the future, especially for last resort antibiotics. In order to address the antibiotic resistance crisis, it is imperative that researchers, farmers, veterinarians, physicians, public and policymakers, pharmacists, other health and environmental professionals, and others collaborate during and beyond this pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mandana Hosseini
- Department of Microbiology, Tehran North Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammed Ahmed Hamad
- Student Research Committee, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Golazin Mohseni
- Department of Microbiology, Tonekabon Branch, Azad University, Tonekabon, Iran
| | - Shakiba Salamy
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shabnam Dehghan Tarzjani
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Tehran Center Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Taati Moghadam
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
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Sono TM, Yeika E, Cook A, Kalungia A, Opanga SA, Acolatse JEE, Sefah IA, Jelić AG, Campbell S, Lorenzetti G, Ul Mustafa Z, Marković-Peković V, Kurdi A, Anand Paramadhas BD, Rwegerera GM, Amu AA, Alabi ME, Wesangula E, Oluka M, Khuluza F, Chikowe I, Fadare JO, Ogunleye OO, Kibuule D, Hango E, Schellack N, Ramdas N, Massele A, Mudenda S, Hoxha I, Moore CE, Godman B, Meyer JC. Current rates of purchasing of antibiotics without a prescription across sub-Saharan Africa; rationale and potential programmes to reduce inappropriate dispensing and resistance. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2023; 21:1025-1055. [PMID: 37740561 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2023.2259106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global concern. Currently, the greatest mortality due to AMR is in Africa. A key driver continues to be high levels of dispensing of antibiotics without a prescription. AREAS COVERED A need to document current rates of dispensing, their rationale and potential ways forward including antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs). A narrative review was undertaken. The highest rates of antibiotic purchasing were in Eritrea (up to 89.2% of antibiotics dispensed), Ethiopia (up to 87.9%), Nigeria (up to 86.5%), Tanzania (up to 92.3%) and Zambia (up to 100% of pharmacies dispensing antibiotics without a prescription). However, considerable variation was seen with no dispensing in a minority of countries and situations. Key drivers of self-purchasing included high co-payment levels for physician consultations and antibiotic costs, travel costs, convenience of pharmacies, patient requests, limited knowledge of antibiotics and AMR and weak enforcement. ASPs have been introduced in some African countries along with quality targets to reduce inappropriate dispensing, centering on educating pharmacists and patients. EXPERT OPINION ASP activities need accelerating among community pharmacies alongside quality targets, with greater monitoring of pharmacists' activities to reduce inappropriate dispensing. Such activities, alongside educating patients and healthcare professionals, should enhance appropriate dispensing of antibiotics and reduce AMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiyani Milta Sono
- Department of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, Schoolof Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Garankuwa, Pretoria, South Africa
- Saselamani Pharmacy, Saselamani, South Africa
| | - Eugene Yeika
- Programs coordinator/Technical supervisor for HIV/Malaria, Delegation of Public Health, Cameroon
| | - Aislinn Cook
- Centre for Neonatal and Paediatric Infection, Institute of Infection and Immunity, St. George's University of London, London, UK
- Nuffield Department of Population Health, Health Economics Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Aubrey Kalungia
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Sylvia A Opanga
- Department of Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Israel Abebrese Sefah
- Pharmacy Practice Department, School of Pharmacy, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Volta Region, Ho, Ghana
| | - Ana Golić Jelić
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Banja Luka, Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina
| | - Stephen Campbell
- Department of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, Schoolof Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Garankuwa, Pretoria, South Africa
- Centre for Epidemiology and Public Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Giulia Lorenzetti
- Centre for Neonatal and Paediatric Infection, Institute of Infection and Immunity, St. George's University of London, London, UK
| | - Zia Ul Mustafa
- Discipline of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Gelugor, Penang, Malaysia
- Department of Pharmacy Services, District Headquarter (DHQ) Hospital, Pakpattan, Pakistan
| | - Vanda Marković-Peković
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Banja Luka, Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina
| | - Amanj Kurdi
- Department of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, Schoolof Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Garankuwa, Pretoria, South Africa
- Department of Pharmacoepidemiology, Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq
- College of Pharmacy, Al-Kitab University, Kirkuk, Iraq
| | - Bene D Anand Paramadhas
- Department of Health Services Management, Central Medical Stores, Ministry of Health, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Godfrey Mutashambara Rwegerera
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
- DestinyMedical and Research Solutions Proprietary Limited, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Adefolarin A Amu
- Pharmacy Department, Eswatini Medical Christian University, Mbabane, Kingdom of Eswatini
| | - Mobolaji Eniola Alabi
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Health Sciences,University of Kwazulu-natal (UKZN), Durban, South Africa
| | - Evelyn Wesangula
- East Central and Southern Africa Health Community, Arusha, Tanzania
| | - Margaret Oluka
- Department of Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Felix Khuluza
- Pharmacy Department, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) (formerly College of Medicine), Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Ibrahim Chikowe
- Pharmacy Department, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) (formerly College of Medicine), Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Joseph O Fadare
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria
- Department of Medicine, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria
| | - Olayinka O Ogunleye
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria
- Department of Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Uganda
| | - Dan Kibuule
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Busitema University, Mbale, Uganda
| | - Ester Hango
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Policy, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia
| | - Natalie Schellack
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, SouthAfrica
| | - Nishana Ramdas
- Department of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, Schoolof Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Garankuwa, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Amos Massele
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Hurbert Kairuki Memorial University, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Steward Mudenda
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
- Africa Center of Excellence for Infectious Diseases of Humans and Animals, School of Veterinary Meicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Iris Hoxha
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine Tirana, Tirana, Albania
| | - Catrin E Moore
- Centre for Neonatal and Paediatric Infection, Institute of Infection and Immunity, St. George's University of London, London, UK
| | - Brian Godman
- Department of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, Schoolof Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Garankuwa, Pretoria, South Africa
- Department of Pharmacoepidemiology, Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Johanna C Meyer
- Department of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, Schoolof Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Garankuwa, Pretoria, South Africa
- South African Vaccination and Immunisation Centre, Sefako Makgatho HealthSciences University, Garankuwa, Pretoria, South Africa
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Sulis G, Sayood S, Gandra S. How can we tackle the overuse of antibiotics in low- and middle-income countries? Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2023; 21:1189-1201. [PMID: 37746828 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2023.2263643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Antibiotic overuse is a pressing global health concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where there is limited access to quality healthcare and insufficient regulation of antibiotic dispensation. This perspective piece highlights the challenges of antibiotic overuse in LMICs and provides insights into potential solutions to address this issue. AREAS COVERED This perspective explores key factors contributing to antibiotic overuse in LMICs, encompassing weak healthcare infrastructure, limited access to quality services, and deficiencies in diagnostic capabilities. It discusses regulatory frameworks to curb non-prescription sales, the role of accessible point-of-care diagnostic tools, challenges in implementing effective stewardship programs, the expanded use of vaccines, and the importance of health systems, hygiene, and sanitation. EXPERT OPINION In this article, we emphasize the need for a comprehensive approach involving collaboration among healthcare professionals, policymakers, researchers, and educators. We underscore the importance of improving healthcare infrastructure, enhancing access to quality services, and strengthening diagnostic capabilities. The article also highlights the significance of education and awareness in promoting responsible antibiotic use, the role of regulatory measures, the expanded utilization of vaccines, and the need for international collaboration to address the challenges of antibiotic overuse in LMICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Sulis
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Sena Sayood
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Sumanth Gandra
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
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Titanji BK, Pai M. Leveraging the positives from the pandemic to strengthen infectious disease care in low-income and middle-income countries. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2023:S1473-3099(23)00354-7. [PMID: 37290475 PMCID: PMC10241487 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(23)00354-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Boghuma K Titanji
- Division of Infectious Disease, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Madhukar Pai
- School of Population and Global Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1G1, Canada; Manipal McGill Program in Infectious Diseases, Manipal Center for Infectious Diseases, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India.
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Svadzian A, Daniels B, Sulis G, Das J, Daftary A, Kwan A, Das V, Das R, Pai M. Do private providers initiate anti-tuberculosis therapy on the basis of chest radiographs? A standardised patient study in urban India. THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. SOUTHEAST ASIA 2023; 13:100152. [PMID: 37383564 PMCID: PMC10306035 DOI: 10.1016/j.lansea.2023.100152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Background The initiation of anti-tuberculosis treatment (ATT) based on results of WHO-approved microbiological diagnostics is an important marker of quality tuberculosis (TB) care. Evidence suggests that other diagnostic processes leading to treatment initiation may be preferred in high TB incidence settings. This study examines whether private providers start anti-TB therapy on the basis of chest radiography (CXR) and clinical examinations. Methods This study uses the standardized patient (SP) methodology to generate accurate and unbiased estimates of private sector, primary care provider practice when a patient presents a standardized TB case scenario with an abnormal CXR. Using multivariate log-binomial and linear regressions with standard errors clustered at the provider level, we analyzed 795 SP visits conducted over three data collection waves from 2014 to 2020 in two Indian cities. Data were inverse-probability-weighted based on the study sampling strategy, resulting in city-wave-representative results. Findings Amongst SPs who presented to a provider with an abnormal CXR, 25% (95% CI: 21-28%) visits resulted in ideal management, defined as the provider prescribing a microbiological test and not offering a concurrent prescription for a corticosteroid or antibiotic (including anti-TB medications). In contrast, 23% (95% CI: 19-26%) of 795 visits were prescribed anti-TB medications. Of 795 visits, 13% (95% CI: 10-16%) resulted in anti-TB treatment prescriptions/dispensation and an order for confirmatory microbiological testing. Interpretation One in five SPs presenting with abnormal CXR were prescribed ATT by private providers. This study contributes novel insights to empiric treatment prevalence based on CXR abnormality. Further work is needed to understand how providers make trade-offs between existing diagnostic practices, new technologies, profits, clinical outcomes, and the market dynamics with laboratories. Funding This study was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (grant OPP1091843), and the Knowledge for Change Program at The World Bank.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Svadzian
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- McGill International TB Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Benjamin Daniels
- McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Giorgia Sulis
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Jishnu Das
- McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
- Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Amrita Daftary
- Dahdaleh Institute of Global Health Research, School of Global Health, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Centre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa MRC-HIV-TB Pathogenesis and Treatment, Research Unit, Durban, South Africa
| | - Ada Kwan
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Veena Das
- Department of Anthropology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA
| | - Ranendra Das
- Institute for Socio-Economic Research on Development and Democracy, Delhi, India
| | - Madhukar Pai
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- McGill International TB Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Manipal McGill Program for Infectious Diseases, Manipal Centre for Infectious Diseases, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
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Hoxha I, Godman B, Malaj A, Meyer JC. 11-Year Trend in Antibiotic Consumption in a South-Eastern European Country; the Situation in Albania and the Implications for the Future. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:882. [PMID: 37237785 PMCID: PMC10215466 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12050882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
There are growing concerns with rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across countries. These concerns are enhanced by the increasing and inappropriate utilization of 'Watch' antibiotics with their greater resistance potential, AMR is further exacerbated by the increasing use of antibiotics to treat patients with COVID-19 despite little evidence of bacterial infections. Currently, little is known about antibiotic utilization patterns in Albania in recent years, including the pandemic years, the influence of an ageing population, as well as increasing GDP and greater healthcare governance. Consequently, total utilization patterns in the country were tracked from 2011 to 2021 alongside key indicators. Key indicators included total utilization as well as changes in the use of 'Watch' antibiotics. Antibiotic consumption fell from 27.4 DIDs (defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day) in 2011 to 18.8 DIDs in 2019, which was assisted by an ageing population and improved infrastructures. However, there was an appreciable increase in the use of 'Watch' antibiotics during the study period. Their utilization rose from 10% of the total utilization among the top 10 most utilized antibiotics (DID basis) in 2011 to 70% by 2019. Antibiotic utilization subsequently rose after the pandemic to 25.1 DIDs in 2021, reversing previous downward trends. Alongside this, there was increasing use of 'Watch' antibiotics, which accounted for 82% (DID basis) of the top 10 antibiotics in 2021. In conclusion, educational activities and antimicrobial stewardship programs are urgently needed in Albania to reduce inappropriate utilization, including 'Watch' antibiotics, and hence AMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Hoxha
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine Tirana, 1001 Tirana, Albania
| | - Brian Godman
- Department of Pharmacoepidemiology, Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
- Department of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Ga-Rankuwa 0208, South Africa
| | - Admir Malaj
- Independent Researcher, 1001 Tirana, Albania
| | - Johanna C. Meyer
- Department of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Ga-Rankuwa 0208, South Africa
- South African Vaccination and Immunisation Centre, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Molotlegi Street, Garankuwa, Pretoria 0208, South Africa
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Tayabali K, Pothiwalla H, Narayanan S. Epidemiology of COVID-19-Associated Mucormycosis. CURRENT FUNGAL INFECTION REPORTS 2023; 17:1-20. [PMID: 37360859 PMCID: PMC10155162 DOI: 10.1007/s12281-023-00464-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Purpose of the Review To describe the epidemiology and risk factors for Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19)-associated mucormycosis (CAM) based on current published literature. Recent Findings COVID-19 is associated with an increased risk of secondary infections. Mucormycosis is an uncommon invasive fungal infection that typically affects people with immunocompromising conditions and uncontrolled diabetes. Treatment of mucormycosis is challenging and is associated with high mortality even with standard care. During the second wave of the COVID 19 pandemic, an abnormally high number of CAM cases were seen particularly in India. Several case series have attempted to describe the risk factors for CAM. Summary A common risk profile identified for CAM includes uncontrolled diabetes and treatment with steroids. COVID-19-induced immune dysregulation as well as some unique pandemic specific risk factors may have played a role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khadija Tayabali
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland Medical Center, 725 W Lombard St, S211A, Baltimore, MD 21201 USA
| | | | - Shivakumar Narayanan
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland Medical Center, 725 W Lombard St, S211A, Baltimore, MD 21201 USA
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Nishna T, Adyanthaya A, Johnson AM, Venugopal J, Venugopal M, Anju RV. Estimation of the Efficacy of Remineralizing Agents on the Microhardness of Deciduous Teeth Demineralized Using Pediatric Formulations. J Contemp Dent Pract 2023; 24:325-336. [PMID: 38149811 DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10024-3505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
AIM This study aimed to evaluate the demineralizing effect of commonly used pediatric syrup formulations on primary teeth and the efficacy of two readily available remineralizing agents in treating this effect. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ninety primary teeth were used for sample preparation and divided into three groups: antibiotic syrup (group A), cough syrup (group B), and control (group C) groups. These groups were further categorized into intragroups according to the treatment with remineralizing agents: groups A1, B1, and C1 received GC Tooth Mousse (casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate, CPP-ACP paste) and groups A2, B2, and C2 received Clinpro Tooth Crème. The samples were subjected to a series of demineralization cycles for 14 days, and remineralization cycles until 30 days were performed using two remineralizing agents, that is, GC Tooth Mousse (CPP-ACP paste) and Clinpro Tooth Crème and were evaluated using Vicker's microhardness test. RESULTS Antibiotic syrup (group A) and cough syrup (group B) showed a significant decrease in surface microhardness compared with control (group C). All intragroups showed an increase in surface microhardness after treatment with remineralizing agents, which was significantly higher in intragroups A1, B1, and C1 treated with GC Tooth Mousse (CPP-ACP paste). CONCLUSIONS Oral liquid medications showed definite demineralization potential. CPP-ACP paste was found to be better than Clinpro Tooth Crème for demineralized teeth. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE The use of over-the-counter drugs has increased among the average Indian population, especially for the treatment of fever, cold, and cough. Unwise use of medications by the present population without proper medical guidance will lead to irreparable changes in future generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Nishna
- Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Amrita School Dentistry, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, Kerala, India, Phone: +91 8606853358, e-mail: , Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1264-501X
| | - Amith Adyanthaya
- Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, KMCT Dental College, Kozhikode, Kerala, India
| | - Ann Meera Johnson
- Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Educare Institute of Dental Sciences, Malappuram, Kerala, India
| | - Jipsa Venugopal
- Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Sree Anjaneya Institute of Dental Sciences, Calicut, Kerala, India
| | - Malini Venugopal
- Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Amrita School of Dentistry, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, Kerala, India, Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2485-1809
| | - R V Anju
- Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, KMCT Dental College, Kozhikode, Kerala, India, Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1768-3413
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Vengidesh R, Kadandale S, Ramachandran A, Srinivasan S, Parthasarathy R, Thanikachalam Y, Kumar P. Antibiotic Prescription Patterns for Endodontic Procedures in India: A Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) Survey. Cureus 2023; 15:e37804. [PMID: 37223150 PMCID: PMC10202345 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.37804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective The purpose of this study is to evaluate the antibiotic prescription patterns of endodontists, general dentists, and other dental specialists for endodontic procedures in India by using the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) survey method. Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out from February 2022 to May 2022 and involved dentists across India. A self-made questionnaire survey was created to judge the knowledge of various dental practitioners, which includes general dentists, endodontists, other dental specialists, and post-graduates with regard to antibiotic usage guidelines for endodontic purposes. A total of about 310 dental practitioners were surveyed across India. The questionnaire was circulated via social platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook Messenger. Statistical analysis Data for KAP regarding antibiotic prescription patterns among general dentists, endodontists, other dental specialists, and postgraduates were entered into Microsoft Excel and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 20 (IBM Corp. Released 2011. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 20.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.). Descriptive statistics of the study population were examined. The level of statistical significance was determined at p<0.05. Results For the percentage of patients who were prescribed systemic antibiotics every day for endodontic reasons, about 38.6% (119) responded 0-10% and 27.3% (84) responded 10-30%. For the order of antibiotics that they prefer from most to least, about 85.4% (263) responded amoxicillin > metronidazole > doxycycline > azithromycin > clindamycin > ciprofloxacin. For the question of whether they use local antibiotics, about 35% answered yes of which 25% were endodontists, 2% were general dentists, 5% were other dental specialists, and 3% were post-graduates. About 77.3% of the total participants were unaware of the antimicrobial stewardship concept and AwaRe classification from WHO. About 53.2% (164) attended CDE programs with regard to antibiotic usage. Conclusion It is evident from the results of the present study that there is over-prescription of antibiotics by practitioners especially by general dentists without following proper guidelines for endodontic treatments. More emphasis should be made on the proper prescription pattern of antibiotics, proper understanding of endodontic diagnosis, and the need for antibiotics at the undergraduate level. In addition, proper awareness, as well as proper prescription of antibiotics, should be made for existing dental professionals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramya Vengidesh
- Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Chettinad Dental College and Research Institute, Chennai, IND
| | - Sadasiva Kadandale
- Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Chettinad Dental College and Research Institute, Chennai, IND
| | - Anupama Ramachandran
- Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Chettinad Dental College and Research Institute, Chennai, IND
| | - Srividhya Srinivasan
- Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Sri Venkateswara Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, IND
| | | | - Yashini Thanikachalam
- Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Chettinad Dental College and Research Institute, Chennai, IND
| | - Praveen Kumar
- Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Chettinad Dental College and Research Institute, Chennai, IND
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Vâţă A, Roşu FM, Dorneanu OS, Lehaci AE, Luca Ş, Loghin II, Miftode ID, Luca CM, Miftode EG. Antibiotic Usage in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit of an Infectious Diseases Hospital from Nord-Eastern Romania. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 59:medicina59040645. [PMID: 37109601 PMCID: PMC10145934 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59040645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives. The intensive care unit (ICU), especially in an infectious disease hospital, is both an area with a high consumption of antibiotics (atb) and a "reservoir" of multidrug-resistant bacteria. We proposed the analysis of antibiotic therapy practices in such a department that treated, in conditions of a pandemic wave, patients with COVID-19 and its complications. Materials and Methods. This was a retrospective transversal study of 184 COVID-19 patients treated in the ICU of a regional infectious disease hospital of Iaşi, Romania, in a 3-month interval of 2020 and 2021. Results. All the included patients (Caucasians, 53% males, with a median age of 68 years, and a Charlton comorbidity index of 3) received at least one antibiotic during their stay in the ICU (43% also had antibiotics prior to hospital admission and 68% in the Infectious Diseases ward). Only 22.3% of the ICU patients had only one antibiotic. A total of 77.7% of them started with an association of two antibiotics, and 19.6% of them received more than three antibiotics. The most-used ones were linezolid (77.2%), imipenem (75.5%), and ceftriaxone (33.7%). The median atb duration was 9 days. No change in the number or type of atb prescription was seen in 2021 (compared to 2020). Only 9.8% of the patients had a microbiological confirmation of bacterial infection. A total of 38.3% of the tested patients had elevated procalcitonin levels at ICU admission. The overall fatality rate was 68.5%, with no significant differences between the two analyzed periods or the number of administered antibiotics. More than half (51.1%) of the patients developed oral candidiasis during their stay in the ICU, but only 5.4% had C. difficile colitis. Conclusion. Antibiotics were widely used in our ICU patients in the presence of a reduced microbiological confirmation of a bacterial co-infection, and were justified by other clinical or biological criteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei Vâţă
- Department of Infectious Diseases, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Florin Manuel Roşu
- Department of Dento-Alveolar Surgery, Anesthesia, Sedation and Medical-Surgical Emergencies, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Olivia Simona Dorneanu
- Microbiology Department, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 Universității Street, 700115 Iași, Romania
| | | | - Ştefana Luca
- Department of Plastic Surgery and Reconstructive Microsurgery, "St Spiridon" County Emergency Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania
| | - Isabela Ioana Loghin
- Department of Infectious Diseases, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Ioana Diandra Miftode
- Department of Radiology, "St. Spiridon" County Emergency Clinical Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania
| | - Cătălina Mihaela Luca
- Department of Infectious Diseases, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Egidia Gabriela Miftode
- Department of Infectious Diseases, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
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Gandra S, Alvarez-Uria G, Stwalley D, Nickel KB, Reske KA, Kwon JH, Dubberke ER, Olsen MA, Burnham JP. Microbiology Clinical Culture Diagnostic Yields and Antimicrobial Resistance Proportions before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in an Indian Community Hospital and Two US Community Hospitals. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:antibiotics12030537. [PMID: 36978404 PMCID: PMC10044523 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12030537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies comparing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on diagnostic microbiology culture yields and antimicrobial resistance proportions in low-to-middle-income and high-income countries are lacking. A retrospective study using blood, respiratory, and urine microbiology data from a community hospital in India and two community hospitals (Hospitals A and B) in St. Louis, MO, USA was performed. We compared the proportion of cultures positive for selected multi-drug-resistant organisms (MDROs) listed on the WHO’s priority pathogen list both before the COVID-19 pandemic (January 2017–December 2019) and early in the COVID-19 pandemic (April 2020–October 2020). The proportion of blood cultures contaminated with coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CONS) was significantly higher during the pandemic in all three hospitals. In the Indian hospital, the proportion of carbapenem-resistant (CR) Klebsiella pneumoniae in respiratory cultures was significantly higher during the pandemic period, as was the proportion of CR Escherichia coli in urine cultures. In the US hospitals, the proportion of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in blood cultures was significantly higher during the pandemic period in Hospital A, while no significant increase in the proportion of Gram-negative MDROs was observed. Continuity of antimicrobial stewardship activities and better infection prevention measures are critical to optimize outcomes and minimize the burden of antimicrobial resistance among COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumanth Gandra
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, 4523 Clayton Avenue, Campus Box 8051, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-314-454-8354; Fax: +1-314-454-8687
| | - Gerardo Alvarez-Uria
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Rural Development Trust Hospital, Bathalapalli, Anantapur 515661, India
| | - Dustin Stwalley
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, 4523 Clayton Avenue, Campus Box 8051, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Katelin B. Nickel
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, 4523 Clayton Avenue, Campus Box 8051, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Kimberly A. Reske
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, 4523 Clayton Avenue, Campus Box 8051, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Jennie H. Kwon
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, 4523 Clayton Avenue, Campus Box 8051, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Erik R. Dubberke
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, 4523 Clayton Avenue, Campus Box 8051, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Margaret A. Olsen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, 4523 Clayton Avenue, Campus Box 8051, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Jason P. Burnham
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, 4523 Clayton Avenue, Campus Box 8051, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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Nandi A, Pecetta S, Bloom DE. Global antibiotic use during the COVID-19 pandemic: analysis of pharmaceutical sales data from 71 countries, 2020-2022. EClinicalMedicine 2023; 57:101848. [PMID: 36776504 PMCID: PMC9900305 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.101848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 59.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite bacterial coinfection rates of less than 10%, antibiotics are prescribed to an estimated 75% of patients with COVID-19, potentially exacerbating antimicrobial resistance. We estimated the associations of COVID-19 cases and vaccinations with global antibiotic sales during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS We obtained monthly data on broad-spectrum antibiotic sales volumes (cephalosporins, penicillins, macrolides, and tetracyclines) in 71 countries during March 2020-May 2022 from the IQVIA MIDAS® database. These data were combined with country-month-level COVID-19 case and vaccination data from Our World in Data. We used least squares (pooled) and fixed-effects panel data regression models, accounting for country characteristics, to estimate the associations between antibiotic sales volumes and COVID-19 cases and vaccinations per 1000 people. FINDINGS Sales of all four antibiotics fell sharply during April and May 2020, followed by a gradual rise to near pre-pandemic levels through May 2022. In fixed-effects regression models, a 10% increase in monthly COVID-19 cases was associated with 0.2%-0.3% higher sales of cephalosporins, 0.2%-0.3% higher sales of penicillins, 0.4%-0.6% higher sales of macrolides, and 0.3% higher sales of all four antibiotics combined per 1000 people. Across continents, a 10% increase in monthly COVID-19 cases was associated with 0.8%, 1.3%, and 1.5% higher macrolides sales in Europe, North America, and Africa respectively. Sales of other antibiotics across continent were also positively associated with COVID-19 cases, although the estimated associations were smaller in magnitude. No consistent associations were observed between antibiotic sales and COVID-19 vaccinations. Results from pooled regression analysis were similar to those from the fixed-effects models. INTERPRETATION Antibiotic sales were positively associated with COVID-19 cases globally during 2020-2022. Our findings underline that antibiotic stewardship in the context of COVID-19 remains essential. FUNDING Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arindam Nandi
- The Population Council, New York, USA
- One Health Trust, Washington DC, USA
- Corresponding author. Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, New York, NY, 10017, USA.
| | - Simone Pecetta
- Research and Development Center, GlaxoSmithKline, Siena, Italy
| | - David E. Bloom
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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Kiragga AN, Najjemba L, Galiwango R, Banturaki G, Munyiwra G, Iwumbwe I, Atwine J, Ssendiwala C, Natif A, Nakanjako D. Community purchases of antimicrobials during the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda: An increased risk for antimicrobial resistance. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 3:e0001579. [PMID: 36963050 PMCID: PMC10021632 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Self-Medication (SM) involves the utilization of medicines to treat self-recognized symptoms or diseases without consultation and the irrational use of over-the-counter drugs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the lack of definitive treatment led to increased SM. We aimed to estimate the extent of SM for drugs used to treat COVID-19 symptoms by collecting data from pharmacy sale records. The study was conducted in Kampala, Uganda, where we extracted data from community pharmacies with functional Electronic Health Records between January 2018 and October 2021 to enable a comparison of pre-and post-COVID-19. The data included the number of clients purchasing the following drugs used to treat COVID-19 and its symptoms: Antibiotics included Azithromycin, Erythromycin, and Ciprofloxacin; Supplements included Zinc and vitamin C, while Corticosteroids included dexamethasone. A negative binomial model was used to estimate the incident rate ratios for each drug to compare the effect of COVID-19 on SM. In the pre- COVID-19 period (1st January 2018 to 11th March 2020), 19,285 customers purchased antibiotics which included; Azithromycin (n = 6077), Ciprofloxacin (n = 6066) and Erythromycin (n = 997); health supplements including Vitamin C (430) and Zinc (n = 138); and Corticosteroid including Dexamethasone (n = 5577). During the COVID-19 pandemic (from 15th March 2020 to the data extraction date in October 2021), we observed a 99% increase in clients purchasing the same drugs. The number of clients purchasing Azithromycin increased by 19.7% to 279, Ciprofloxacin reduced by 58.8% to 96 clients, and those buying Erythromycin similarly reduced by 35.8% to 492 clients. In comparison, there were increases of 170%, 181%, and 377% for Vitamin C, Zinc, and Dexamethasone, respectively. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the extent of SM in Uganda. We recommend future studies with a representation of data from pharmacies located in rural and urban areas to further study pandemics' effect on antimicrobials prescriptions, including obtaining pharmacists' perspectives using mixed methods approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes N Kiragga
- Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Leticia Najjemba
- Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Ronald Galiwango
- Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- African Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Data Intensive Sciences, Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- Center for Computational Biology, Uganda Christian University, Mukono, Uganda
| | - Grace Banturaki
- Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
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Djurdjic B, Milosevic K, Mudresa J, Maric S, Naumovska Z, Kapedanovska Nestorovska A, Simonoska Crcarevska M. Antibiotic dispensing and over the counter drug sale: case study in “Villa” community pharmacy in Montenegro 2019-2021. MAKEDONSKO FARMACEVTSKI BILTEN 2022. [DOI: 10.33320/maced.pharm.bull.2022.68.03.209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Beti Djurdjic
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, Institute for Physical medicine, Rehabilitation and Rheumatology „Dr Simo Milosevic“, Sava Ilica 5, 85347 Igalo, Montenegro
| | | | - Jelena Mudresa
- Community Pharmacy ,,Villa“ Rozino bb, 85310 Budva, Montenegro
| | - Savo Maric
- Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, Institute for Physical medicine, Rehabilitation and Rheumatology „Dr Simo Milosevic“, Sava Ilica 5, 85347 Igalo, Montenegro
| | - Zorica Naumovska
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University “Ss Cyril and Methodius”, Mother Theresa 47, 1000 Skopje, Republic of N. Macedonia
| | | | - Maja Simonoska Crcarevska
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University “Ss Cyril and Methodius”, Mother Theresa 47, 1000 Skopje, Republic of N. Macedonia
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Impact of COVID-19 on antibiotic prescriptions for Brazilian children. Sci Rep 2022; 12:22579. [PMID: 36585470 PMCID: PMC9801148 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-27212-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 brought a new model of sanitary behavior (social distancing, etc.) that may have reduced the transmissibility of respiratory diseases, reflecting in the number of antibiotic prescriptions. This study evaluated antibiotic prescriptions for children throughout Brazil, between 2014 and 2021. An interrupted time series was conducted to assess variations in antibiotic consumption by the 1-12-year-old children. Joinpoint regression was used to assess the monthly variations. 86 million prescriptions were evaluated. On average, there was a 54% reduction in prescriptions during the pandemic. Amoxicillin showed a reduction of 65%. Joinpoint regression showed that the pandemic altered the prescription growth curve, changing the trend to a 22% drop per month. The new sanitary behavior showed us that it is possible, decreasing the use of antibiotics, to control the children's respiratory health.
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Ho M, Tadrous M, Iacono A, Suda K, Gomes T. Outpatient purchasing patterns of hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin in the USA and Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic: an interrupted time series analysis from 2016 to 2021. J Antimicrob Chemother 2022; 78:242-251. [PMID: 36374569 PMCID: PMC10132323 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkac382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin received widespread attention after initial studies suggested that they were effective against COVID-19. However, several of these studies were later discredited. OBJECTIVES We explored the impact of scientific articles, public announcements and social media posts on hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin purchases in the USA and Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS We conducted a retrospective, population-based time series analysis of retail hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin purchases in the USA and Canada from February 2016 through to December 2021, using IQVIA's Multinational Integrated Data Analysis database. We fitted the purchasing rates with interventional autoregressive integrated moving average models. We used Google Trends to identify the most influential interventions to include in the models. RESULTS There were significant pulse increases in hydroxychloroquine purchases in March 2020 in both the USA (P < 0.0001) and Canada (P < 0.0001). For ivermectin, there were no significant changes in April 2020 in either the USA (P = 0.41) or Canada (P = 0.16); however, significant pulse increases occurred from December 2020 to January 2021 in both the USA (P = 0.0006) and Canada (P < 0.0001), as well as significant ramp increases from April to August 2021 in both the USA (P < 0.0001) and Canada (P = 0.02). The increases in ivermectin purchases were larger in the USA than in Canada. CONCLUSIONS Increases in hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin purchasing rates aligned with controversial scientific articles and social media posts. This highlights the importance of scientific integrity and disseminating accurate epidemiologic information during pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Ho
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mina Tadrous
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anita Iacono
- Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Katie Suda
- School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Tara Gomes
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Gandra S, Takahashi S, Mitrani-Gold FS, Mulgirigama A, Ferrinho DA. A systematic scoping review of faropenem and other oral penems: treatment of Enterobacterales infections, development of resistance and cross-resistance to carbapenems. JAC Antimicrob Resist 2022; 4:dlac125. [PMID: 36570688 PMCID: PMC9777757 DOI: 10.1093/jacamr/dlac125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Antimicrobial resistance is an urgent global healthcare concern. Beyond carbapenems as broad-spectrum, often 'last resort' antibiotics, oral penem antibiotics currently are approved only in Japan and India, used for the treatment of indications including urinary tract infections (UTIs). Exploring oral penem use to better understand the impact of antibiotic resistance on public health would help inform the management of infectious diseases, including UTIs. Scoping Review Methodology This scoping review investigated the impact of faropenem and other oral penems on Enterobacterales infection treatment and evaluated evidence for faropenem resistance and cross-resistance to carbapenems. PubMed, Embase, J-STAGE and CiNii were searched for relevant English- or Japanese-language articles published between 1 January 1996 and 6 August 2021. Key Findings From 705 unique publications, 29 eligible articles were included (16 in vitro studies; 10 clinical trials; 2 in vitro and in vivo studies; and 1 retrospective medical chart review). Limited evidence described faropenem to treat infectious disease; only four randomized clinical trials were identified. Faropenem dosing regimens varied broadly within and between indications. One study indicated potential dependence of penem efficacy on underlying antibiotic resistance mechanisms, while several studies reported UTI persistence or recurrence after faropenem treatment. In vitro MIC data suggested some potential bacterial resistance to faropenem, while limited clinical data showed resistance emergence after faropenem treatment. Preliminary in vitro evidence suggested faropenem resistance might foster cross-resistance to carbapenems. Overall, very limited clinical evidence describes faropenem for treating infectious diseases. Preclinical and clinical research investment and dedicated community surveillance monitoring is crucial for understanding faropenem treatment patterns, resistance and potential cross-resistance to carbapenems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumanth Gandra
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Satoshi Takahashi
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, Sapporo Medical University Hospital, Sapporo, Japan,Department of Infection Control and Laboratory Medicine, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
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Muacevic A, Adler JR. Antibiotic Prescription Audits Among Pediatric Outpatients With Acute Ailments in a Secondary Care Hospital During the COVID-19 Omicron Wave in Northern India. Cureus 2022; 14:e32017. [PMID: 36589166 PMCID: PMC9797871 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.32017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Antibiotics, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), are pharmaceuticals used to treat bacterial infections. There is growing recognition that inappropriate antibiotic prescription in children is linked to increasing rates of severe adverse drug events and higher medical expenditures. There are a few prescriptions audit studies from smaller cities in Northern India, especially those conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic when the unregulated private sector accounted for 90% of antibiotic sales and 75% of healthcare requirements. The study objectives were to determine the rate of outpatient antibiotic prescription and adherence to WHO drug indicators in prescriptions to pediatric outpatients in private healthcare facilities in India. Methodology This cross-sectional survey was conducted over three months (January to March 2022) in the outpatient setting of a private pediatric hospital in Kanpur, a city having a population of nearly three million population located in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. Prescriptions of children aged <10 years with a history of onset of complaint <14 days were included in this audit. Prescriptions were numbered; data were collected using a specially designed semistructured, pretested prescription audit checklist; and the recommended WHO indicators were also calculated. Data were entered using CSPro (U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC, USA) and analyzed using STATA 15 (StataCorp LLC, College Station, TX, USA). Results This study observed an antibiotic prescription rate of 65.75%, which was higher than the WHO-recommended value, which might indicate indiscriminate usage of antibiotics in the setting. Out of the 144 antibiotic medications prescribed, none were generic and all the antibiotics were prescribed presumptively. The most commonly prescribed medicines were cefpodoxime, azithromycin, and ofloxacin, which were primarily used to treat cough and stomach infections. Conclusions This antibiotic audit conducted in a private hospital outpatient setting in a city in Northern India during the Omicron wave of the COVID-19 pandemic found nongeneric, predominantly oral, presumptive antibiotic prescriptions in nearly two out of three young pediatric patients. Improvement in prescribing practices through regulation, monitoring, and antibiotic stewardship in low-resource settings is urgently warranted to curb the impending global pandemic of antimicrobial resistance.
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Fazaludeen Koya S, Ganesh S, Selvaraj S, Wirtz VJ, Galea S, Rockers PC. Antibiotic consumption in India: geographical variations and temporal changes between 2011 and 2019. JAC Antimicrob Resist 2022; 4:dlac112. [PMID: 36320447 PMCID: PMC9596537 DOI: 10.1093/jacamr/dlac112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To describe and compare private sector systemic (J01) antibiotic consumption across Indian states from 2011 to 2019. METHODS We used the nationally representative PharmaTrac dataset to describe the consumption rates in DDD across national, state and state-group [high focus (HF) and non-high focus (nHF)] levels. We used median and IQRs to describe and compare across states and state groups, and relative change and compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to examine temporal changes. RESULTS The annual consumption rate decreased by 3.6% between 2011 and 2019. The share of Access antibiotics decreased (13.1%) and the Access/Watch ratio declined from 0.59 to 0.49. State consumption rates varied widely (HF states reported lower rates) and the inappropriate use increased over the years, especially among HF states. The HF and nHF states showed convergence in the share of the Access and the Access/Watch ratio, while they showed divergence in the use of Discouraged fixed-dose combinations. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS India's private-sector antibiotic consumption rate was lower than global rates. The rates varied across states and appropriateness of use decreased in most states over the years. States with an increase in appropriate use over time could serve as best practice examples. Studies to understand the factors affecting inappropriate use are required alongside improved data systems to monitor the public-sector provision of antibiotics to understand the total consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Senthil Ganesh
- Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | | | | | - Sandro Galea
- School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
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Ogunleye OO, Godman B, Fadare JO, Mudenda S, Adeoti AO, Yinka-Ogunleye AF, Ogundele SO, Oyawole MR, Schönfeldt M, Rashed WM, Galal AM, Masuka N, Zaranyika T, Kalungia AC, Malande OO, Kibuule D, Massele A, Chikowe I, Khuluza F, Taruvinga T, Alfadl A, Malik E, Oluka M, Opanga S, Ankrah DNA, Sefah IA, Afriyie D, Tagoe ET, Amu AA, Msibi MP, Etando A, Alabi ME, Okwen P, Niba LL, Mwita JC, Rwegerera GM, Kgatlwane J, Jairoun AA, Ejekam C, Mavenyengwa RT, Murimi-Worstell I, Campbell SM, Meyer JC. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic across Africa: Current Status of Vaccinations and Implications for the Future. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10091553. [PMID: 36146631 PMCID: PMC9504201 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10091553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The introduction of effective vaccines in December 2020 marked a significant step forward in the global response to COVID-19. Given concerns with access, acceptability, and hesitancy across Africa, there is a need to describe the current status of vaccine uptake in the continent. An exploratory study was undertaken to investigate these aspects, current challenges, and lessons learnt across Africa to provide future direction. Senior personnel across 14 African countries completed a self-administered questionnaire, with a descriptive analysis of the data. Vaccine roll-out commenced in March 2021 in most countries. COVID-19 vaccination coverage varied from low in Cameroon and Tanzania and up to 39.85% full coverage in Botswana at the end of 2021; that is, all doses advocated by initial protocols versus the total population, with rates increasing to 58.4% in Botswana by the end of June 2022. The greatest increase in people being fully vaccinated was observed in Uganda (20.4% increase), Botswana (18.5% increase), and Zambia (17.9% increase). Most vaccines were obtained through WHO-COVAX agreements. Initially, vaccination was prioritised for healthcare workers (HCWs), the elderly, adults with co-morbidities, and other at-risk groups, with countries now commencing vaccination among children and administering booster doses. Challenges included irregular supply and considerable hesitancy arising from misinformation fuelled by social media activities. Overall, there was fair to reasonable access to vaccination across countries, enhanced by government initiatives. Vaccine hesitancy must be addressed with context-specific interventions, including proactive programmes among HCWs, medical journalists, and the public.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olayinka O. Ogunleye
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Lagos 100271, Nigeria
- Department of Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Lagos 100271, Nigeria
| | - Brian Godman
- Department of Pharmacoepidemiology, Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
- Centre of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman 346, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria 02084, South Africa
- Correspondence:
| | - Joseph O. Fadare
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti 362103, Nigeria
- Department of Medicine, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti 360211, Nigeria
| | - Steward Mudenda
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka P.O. Box 50110, Zambia
- Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka P.O. Box 32379, Zambia
| | - Adekunle O. Adeoti
- Department of Medicine, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti 360211, Nigeria
| | | | - Sunday O. Ogundele
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Lagos 100271, Nigeria
- Department of Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Lagos 100271, Nigeria
| | - Modupe R. Oyawole
- Department of Pharmacy, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Lagos 100271, Nigeria
| | - Marione Schönfeldt
- Child, Youth and School Health Directorate, National Department of Health, Pretoria 0083, South Africa
| | - Wafaa M. Rashed
- Children’s Cancer Hospital, Egypt-57357 (CCHE-57357), Cairo 11441, Egypt
| | - Ahmad M. Galal
- Biomedical Research Department, Armed Forces College of Medicine, Cairo 11774, Egypt
| | - Nyasha Masuka
- CIMAS, Cimas House, Borrowdale Office Park, Borrowdale Road, Harare P.O. Box 1243, Zimbabwe
| | - Trust Zaranyika
- Department of Medicine, University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences, Harare P.O. Box MP167, Zimbabwe
| | - Aubrey C. Kalungia
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka P.O. Box 50110, Zambia
| | - Oliver O. Malande
- Department of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria 02084, South Africa
- Department of Child Health and Paediatrics, Egerton University, Nakuru P.O.Box 536, Kenya
- East Africa Centre for Vaccines and Immunization (ECAVI), Namela House, Naguru, Kampala P.O. Box 3040, Uganda
| | - Dan Kibuule
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Busitema University, Mbale P.O. Box 236, Uganda
| | - Amos Massele
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Hurbert Kairuki Memorial University, 70 Chwaku Road Mikocheni, Dar Es Salaam P.O. Box 65300, Tanzania
| | - Ibrahim Chikowe
- Pharmacy Department, Formerly College of Medicine, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS), Blantyre P.O. Box 278, Malawi
| | - Felix Khuluza
- Pharmacy Department, Formerly College of Medicine, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS), Blantyre P.O. Box 278, Malawi
| | - Tinotenda Taruvinga
- Department of Global Health and Development (GHD), London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London WC1E 7TH, UK
| | - Abubakr Alfadl
- National Medicines and Poisons Board, Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum P.O. Box 303, Sudan
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Unaizah College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Unaizah 51911, Saudi Arabia
| | - Elfatih Malik
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum 11111, Sudan
| | - Margaret Oluka
- Department of Pharmacology & Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, University of Nairobi, Nairobi P.O. Box 19676-00202, Kenya
| | - Sylvia Opanga
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, University of Nairobi, Nairobi P.O. Box 19676-00202, Kenya
| | - Daniel N. A. Ankrah
- Department of Pharmacy, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra P.O. Box 77, Ghana
| | - Israel A. Sefah
- Pharmacy Practice Department, School of Pharmacy, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Hohoe PMB 31, Ghana
| | - Daniel Afriyie
- Pharmacy Department, Ghana Police Hospital, Accra P.O. Box CT104, Ghana
| | - Eunice T. Tagoe
- Department of Management Science, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0QU, UK
| | - Adefolarin A. Amu
- Pharmacy Department, Eswatini Medical Christian University, P.O. Box A624, Swazi Plaza, Mbabane H100, Eswatini
| | - Mlungisi P. Msibi
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Eswatini Medical Christian University, Swazi Plaza P.O. Box A624, Mbabane H100, Eswatini
| | - Ayukafangha Etando
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Eswatini Medical Christian University, Swazi Plaza P.O. Box A624, Mbabane H100, Eswatini
| | - Mobolaji E. Alabi
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Kwazulu-natal (UKZN), Durban 4001, South Africa
| | - Patrick Okwen
- Effective Basic Services (eBASE) Africa, Ndamukong Street, Bamenda 5175, Cameroon
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Adelaide University, Adelaide 5005, Australia
| | - Loveline Lum Niba
- Effective Basic Services (eBASE) Africa, Ndamukong Street, Bamenda 5175, Cameroon
- Department of Public Health, University of Bamenda, Bambili P.O. Box 39, Cameroon
| | - Julius C. Mwita
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Botswana, Gaborone P.O. Box 70480, Botswana
| | - Godfrey M. Rwegerera
- Department of Medicine, Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital, Gaborone P.O. Box 70480, Botswana
| | - Joyce Kgatlwane
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Botswana, Gaborone P.O. Box 70480, Botswana
| | - Ammar A. Jairoun
- Health and Safety Department, Dubai Municipality, Dubai P.O. Box 67, United Arab Emirates
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia
| | - Chioma Ejekam
- Department of Community Health, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Lagos PMB 21266, Nigeria
| | - Rooyen T. Mavenyengwa
- Medical Microbiology Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare P.O. Box MP167, Zimbabwe
| | - Irene Murimi-Worstell
- School of Pharmacy, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Stephen M. Campbell
- Department of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria 02084, South Africa
- Centre for Epidemiology and Public Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
- NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Johanna C. Meyer
- Department of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria 02084, South Africa
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Koya SF, Ganesh S, Selvaraj S, Wirtz VJ, Galea S, Rockers PC. Consumption of systemic antibiotics in India in 2019. THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. SOUTHEAST ASIA 2022; 4:100025. [PMID: 37383993 PMCID: PMC10305917 DOI: 10.1016/j.lansea.2022.100025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inappropriate use of antibiotics is a significant driver of antibiotic resistance in India. Largely unrestricted over-the-counter sales of most antibiotics, manufacturing and marketing of many fixed-dose combinations (FDC) and overlap in regulatory powers between national and state-level agencies complicate antibiotics availability, sales, and consumption in the country. METHODS We analyzed cross-sectional data from PharmaTrac, a nationally representative private-sector drug sales dataset gathered from a panel of 9000 stockists across India. We used the AWaRe (Access, Watch, Reserve) classification and the defined daily dose (DDD) metrics to calculate the per capita private-sector consumption of systemic antibiotics across different categories: FDCs vs single formulations; approved vs unapproved; and listed vs not listed in the national list of essential medicines (NLEM). FINDINGS The total DDDs consumed in 2019 was 5071 million (10.4 DDD/1000/day). Watch contributed 54.9% (2783 million) DDDs, while Access contributed 27.0% (1370 million). Formulations listed in the NLEM contributed 49.0% (2486 million DDDs); FDCs contributed 34.0% (1722 million), and unapproved formulations contributed 47.1% (2408 million DDDs). Watch antibiotics constituted 72.7% (1750 million DDDs) of unapproved products and combinations discouraged by the WHO constituted 48.7% (836 million DDDs) of FDCs. INTERPRETATION Although the per-capita private-sector consumption rate of antibiotics in India is relatively low compared to many countries, India consumes a large volume of broad-spectrum antibiotics that should ideally be used sparingly. This, together with significant share of FDCs from formulations outside NLEM and a large volume of antibiotics not approved by the central drug regulators, call for significant policy and regulatory reform. FUNDING Not applicable.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Senthil Ganesh
- Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | | | | | - Sandro Galea
- Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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Surveillance for substandard and falsified medicines by local faith-based organizations in 13 low- and middle-income countries using the GPHF Minilab. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13095. [PMID: 35908047 PMCID: PMC9338985 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17123-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
This study evaluates the use of the Global Pharma Health Fund (GPHF) Minilab for medicine quality screening by 16 faith-based drug supply organizations located in 13 low- and middle-income countries. The study period included the year before the COVID-19 pandemic (2019) and the first year of the pandemic (2020). In total 1,919 medicine samples were screened using the GPHF Minilab, and samples showing serious quality deficiencies were subjected to compendial analysis in fully equipped laboratories. Thirty-four (1.8%) of the samples were found not to contain the declared active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), or less than 50% of the declared API, or undeclared APIs, and probably represented falsified products. Fifty-four (2.8%) of the samples were reported as substandard, although the true number of substandard medicines may have been higher due to the limited sensitivity of the GPHF Minilab. The number of probably falsified products increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially due to falsified preparations of chloroquine; chloroquine had been incorrectly advocated as treatment for COVID-19. The reports from this project resulted in four international WHO Medical Product Alerts and several national alerts. Within this project, the costs for GPHF Minilab analysis resulted as 25.85 € per sample. Medicine quality screening with the GPHF Minilab is a cost-effective way to contribute to the global surveillance for substandard and falsified medical products.
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Ferreyra C, Gleeson B, Kapona O, Mendelson M. Diagnostic tests to mitigate the antimicrobial resistance pandemic-Still the problem child. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 2:e0000710. [PMID: 36962471 PMCID: PMC10022379 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Marc Mendelson
- Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, Department of Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Singhal T. Antimicrobial Resistance: The 'Other' Pandemic! : Based on 9th Dr. I. C. Verma Excellence Award for Young Pediatricians Delivered as Oration on 19th Sept. 2021. Indian J Pediatr 2022; 89:600-606. [PMID: 35064528 PMCID: PMC8782680 DOI: 10.1007/s12098-021-04008-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is projected to kill 10 million people by 2050. The biggest driver of antimicrobial resistance is excessive/unrestricted use of antimicrobials in humans and animals. Antimicrobial resistance is a problem in all types of pathogens including bacteria, mycobacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites both globally and India and in both adults and children. The areas of greatest concern for India is the epidemic of MDR and XDR tuberculosis and resistance in gram-negative pathogens. The alarming rate of extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) production in Enterobacteriales in both community and health care-associated infections is driving carbapenem use. Rates of carbapenem resistance are now significantly high in health care-associated gram negative pathogens with associated high mortality rates. The key solution to this antimicrobial resistance crisis needs participation of all stakeholders and lies in promoting rational antimicrobial therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanu Singhal
- Department of Pediatrics and Infectious Disease, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and Medical Research Institute, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400053, India.
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Sulis G, Pai M, Gandra S. Comment on: Global consumption of antimicrobials: impact of the WHO Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance and 2019 coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). J Antimicrob Chemother 2022; 77:2891-2892. [PMID: 35640655 PMCID: PMC9384159 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkac180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Sulis
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, School of Population and Global Health, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Madhukar Pai
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, School of Population and Global Health, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Sumanth Gandra
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis Missouri, USA
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Antibiotic prescribing trends in the US during the first 11 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Res Social Adm Pharm 2022; 18:3855-3859. [PMID: 35589530 PMCID: PMC9108895 DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2022.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Background The study aims to compare antibiotic prescribing trends for U.S. COVID-19 patients, categorized by disease severity, and non-COVID-19 population with similar symptoms during 2019–2020 pandemic. Methods A retrospective observational cohort design using Symphony Health (January–November 2020). Sample population included about 13.3 million patients with at least one prescription claim ±6 months from date of diagnosis of COVID-19 or COVID-19 like symptom. Cohorts were categorized based on diagnosis codes; COVID-19 positive cohorts 1 to 3 with severe, mild, and no symptoms, respectively and non-COVID-19 cohorts 4 and 5 with severe and mild symptoms, respectively. Descriptive statistics were calculated for demographic characteristics and acute antibiotic utilization (≤7 days) including total number of antibiotics, weekly rate of prescribing, and proportion of fills in three “appropriateness” categories (always appropriate, potentially appropriate, never appropriate). Results Three cohorts with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis code constituted a total of about 1.8 million patients (13.53%). About 22.79% of COVID-19 positive groups had severe symptoms, 24.43% had moderate symptoms and the majority, 52.78%, had no symptoms. In the analytical sample of 13 million, about 4.2 million antibiotic prescriptions were prescribed to 2.5 million patients (19%) within 7 days of the first diagnosis of either COVID-19 or COVID-19-like symptoms. Within the COVID-19 positive cohorts, about 11% received an antibiotic prescription, while the non-COVID-19 cohorts, about 19.70% received an antibiotic. Among patients with antibiotic prescriptions, about 37.01% were prescribed an antibiotic “appropriately”, 39.46% were prescribed a “potentially appropriate” antibiotic and about 22.64% received an “inappropriate” antibiotic. Among patients prescribed antibiotics, azithromycin was the most common, ranging from 21.80 to 44.80% for each cohort. Conclusions Although the overall proportion of COVID-19 patients receiving antibiotics was much lower than non-COVID-19 patients, the findings suggest use of antibiotics persisted despite guidelines against widespread use, particularly for patients with moderate and mild COVID-19 symptoms.
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Sulis G, Pradhan R, Kotwani A, Gandra S. India's ban on antimicrobial fixed-dose combinations: winning the battle, losing the war? J Pharm Policy Pract 2022; 15:33. [PMID: 35484606 PMCID: PMC9047325 DOI: 10.1186/s40545-022-00428-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and objectives India, the country with the largest market availability of antimicrobial fixed-dose combinations (FDCs), banned certain antimicrobial FDCs in September 2018. Our objective was to examine the impact of Government ban on the sales of antimicrobial FDCs. Methods The sales patterns of 14 of the 26 banned antimicrobial FDCs were analyzed using monthly private sector drug sales data from IQVIA (a comprehensive and nationally representative drug sales database) between January 2018 and December 2019. We carried out descriptive analyses to evaluate the trend in sales over time for banned and non-banned antimicrobial FDCs using cumulative sales volumes. Results Overall, the cumulative sales volume of banned antimicrobial FDCs declined by 75% between January and September 2018 and the same months of 2019, although some banned FDCs continued to be available in significant volumes. The effectiveness of the ban was offset by several pathways. First, the sales of combinations containing moieties belonging to the same drug-classes as the antimicrobials in the banned FDCs increased after the ban. Second, while certain formulations of particular combinations were banned, the sales of other non-banned formulation of these combinations increased. Third, in some cases, products containing new non-antimicrobial components added to the banned combinations remained available. Interpretation and conclusions While sales of the banned antimicrobial FDCs decreased in 2019, we identified several mechanisms that counterbalanced the ban, including implementation failure, rising sales of congeners, and products with additional non-antimicrobial components. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40545-022-00428-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Sulis
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Richeek Pradhan
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Anita Kotwani
- Department of Pharmacology, V. P. Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Sumanth Gandra
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
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Antimicrobial Dispensing Practice in Community Pharmacies in Russia during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11050586. [PMID: 35625230 PMCID: PMC9137661 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11050586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 has had a significant impact on health care systems, including drug use. The present study aimed to evaluate the patterns of community supply of antimicrobials from community pharmacies during the COVID-19 pandemic in five cities of Russia. In a cross-sectional study, a random sample of pharmacies reported all episodes of antimicrobials supply during a one-week period. Patterns of supply (age and gender of customer, drug name and formulation, prescription availability, indication, etc.) were analyzed. Altogether, 71 pharmacies took part in the study and 5270 encounters were recorded. In total, 4.2% of visits resulted in supply of more than one antimicrobial agent and 5.2% were for parenteral formulations. The rate of prescription-based purchase in participated cities varied from 40.5 to 99.1%. Systemic antibiotics and antivirals accounted for the majority of supplies (60.5 and 26.3%, respectively). Upper respiratory tract infections were reported as the indication for antimicrobials usage in 36.9% of cases, followed by skin and soft tissue infections (12.1%) and urinary tract infections (8.7%); COVID-19 accounted for 8.4% of all supplies. Amoxicillin with clavulanic acid, azithromycin and amoxicillin were indicated as the top three antimicrobials purchased for upper respiratory tract infections, and azithromycin, umifenovir and levofloxacin were the top three for COVID-19. In general, a high rate of drugs dispensing without prescription was revealed. Antibiotics for systemic use remained the most common antimicrobials, whereas presumably viral upper respiratory tract infections were the main reason for their purchase. COVID-19 infection itself was responsible for a small proportion of the supply of antimicrobial agents, but systemic antibiotics accounted for more than a half of supplies.
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Del Fiol FDS, Bergamaschi CDC, De Andrade IP, Lopes LC, Silva MT, Barberato-Filho S. Consumption Trends of Antibiotics in Brazil During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:844818. [PMID: 35387351 PMCID: PMC8978992 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.844818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: In 2019, a new type of coronavirus emerged and spread to the rest of the world. Numerous drugs were identified as possible treatments. Among the candidates for possible treatment was azithromycin alone or in combination with other drugs. As a result, many clinicians in Brazil have prescribed azithromycin in an attempt to combat or minimize the effects of COVID19. Aim: This study analyzed the sales data of the main antibiotics prescribed in Brazil to verify the change in consumption trends of these drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This is an interrupted time series that analyzed antimicrobial sales data between January 2014 and July 2021, publicly accessible information obtained from the Brazilian government's website. Monthly means of "defined daily doses of DDDs" (DDDs per 1,000 inhabitants per day) of antibiotics were compared by analysis of variance, followed by the Dunnett Multiple Comparisons Test. Monthly trend changes in antibiotic use were verified using Joinpoint regression. Results: Amoxicillin (31.97%), azithromycin (18.33%), and cefalexin (16.61%) were the most sold antibiotics in Brazil during the evaluation period. Azithromycin consumption rose from 1.40 DDDs in February 2020 to 3.53 DDDs in July 2020. Azithromycin sales showed a significant increase in the pandemic period [Monthly Percent Change (MPC) 5.83%, 95% 1.80; 10.00], whereas there was a fall in amoxicillin sales (MPC -9.00%, 95% CI -14.70; -2.90) and cefalexin [MPC-2.70%, 95% (CI -6.30; -1.10)] in this same period. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic changed the pattern of antibiotic consumption in Brazil, with a decrease in the use of amoxicillin and cefalexin and an increase in the consumption of azithromycin.
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Gupta YK, Srinivasan S. A Silent Pandemic of Antimicrobial Resistance: Challenges and Strategy for Preparedness in India. ANNALS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES (INDIA) 2022. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1756285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yogendra Kumar Gupta
- Former Dean and HOD Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
- Global Antibiotics Research and Development Partnership, Switzerland
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Prabhu SR, Ware AP, Saadi AV, Brand A, Ghosh SK, Kamath A, Satyamoorthy K. Malaria Epidemiology and COVID-19 Pandemic: Are They Interrelated? OMICS : A JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY 2022; 26:179-188. [PMID: 35404686 DOI: 10.1089/omi.2021.0227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a systemic disease, impacting multiple organs in the human body. But COVID-19 also impacts other diseases of relevance to public and planetary health. To understand and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, we need an intersectional conceptual lens and systems thinking. For example, the strain on health care systems due to COVID-19 has adversely impacted global malaria elimination programs. With many epidemiological, clinical, and biological parallels documented, we examined in this study the scenario of malaria and COVID-19 syndemic in India. The disruptive influence of COVID-19 on the National Framework for Malaria Elimination (NFME), impact of unintended chemoprophylaxis, population genetic influences, and the shifting patterns of epidemiology are compared. Importantly, a time series analysis forecasted the burden of malaria increasing in the upcoming years. Although reported malaria cases showed a decline in 2020 compared to the previous years, an increase in cases was documented in 2021, with nine states reporting an increase up to July 2021. Pandemics often cause crosscutting disruptions in health care. Reshaping the priorities of the malaria elimination program and a diligent implementation of the priorities in the NFME would, therefore, be well-advised: (1) vector control, (2) antimalarial therapy recommendations, (3) monitoring drug resistance, (4) prevention of the spread of asymptomatic disease-causing low-density transmission, and (5) large-scale testing measures. In conclusion, the findings from the present study inform future comparative studies in other world regions to better understand the broader, systemic, temporal, and spatial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on existing and future diseases across public health systems and services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sowmya R Prabhu
- Department of Biotechnology, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
| | - Akshay P Ware
- Department of Bioinformatics, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
| | - Abdul Vahab Saadi
- Department of Biotechnology, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
| | - Angela Brand
- United Nations University-Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (UNU-MERIT), Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Public Health Genomics, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
- Department of International Health, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Susanta K Ghosh
- ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, Bangalore, India
| | - Asha Kamath
- Department of Data Science, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
| | - Kapaettu Satyamoorthy
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
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Rudrabhatla PK, Reghukumar A, Thomas SV. Mucormycosis in COVID-19 patients: predisposing factors, prevention and management. Acta Neurol Belg 2022; 122:273-280. [PMID: 34820787 PMCID: PMC8612391 DOI: 10.1007/s13760-021-01840-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
India is considered the diabetes capital of the world and has the highest burden of mucormycosis. Bacterial, viral and fungal co-infections are increasingly being reported in severe acute respiratory syndrome virus 2 (SARSCoV-2) infected patients. India is one of the worst affected countries during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. This combination of diabetes mellitus, COVID-19 and mucormycosis has led to the drastic upsurge of COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM) in India. Immunosuppression, iron disequilibrium, endothelial injury, ketoacidosis and hypoxia are some of the other COVID-19-related risk factors for CAM. There has been an increase in the proportion of mucormycosis affecting paranasal sinuses and central nervous system (CNS) in CAM compared to pre-COVID-19 literature due to the SARSCoV-2-related pathophysiological mechanisms, complications and treatment strategies. CAM is a medical and surgical emergency, and it can present with non-specific symptoms and signs initially resulting in diagnostic delay. High index of suspicion and regular screening for features of CAM are of paramount importance to prevent lethal consequences. Rapid action with a tripod approach consisting of withdrawal of immunomodulators, early antifungal therapy and extensive surgical debridement is considered the best possible treatment model. We review the published data to give a detailed account of the predisposing factors and their mechanisms, diagnostic work-up, treatment modalities and prevention strategies of CAM with special emphasis on CNS mucormycosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavan Kumar Rudrabhatla
- Department of Neurology, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | - Aravind Reghukumar
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | - Sanjeev V. Thomas
- Department of Neurology, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, India
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