Antimicrobial Resistance: KAP of Healthcare Professionals at a Tertiary-Level Hospital in Nepal

Knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of antimicrobial prescription and its resistance among health care providers in the COVID-19 era: A cross sectional study

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is considered as a global health and development threat. During COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in antimicrobial resistance. Health care providers (HCPs) play the main role in facing antibiotic resistance because they have the authority to prescribe antibiotics during clinical practice as well as in promoting patients' compliance with therapies and avoid self-medication. So, this study will serve as an important source of information in context with Covid19 pandemic in Egypt. The data was collected using a validated standardized self-administered online questionnaire compromised of four sections: socio-demographic data of the HCPs, the general knowledge on antibiotics and AMR, the HCP attitude towards antibiotic prescription and AMR and the practice in applying the appropriate antibiotic prescription. Most of HCPs (93.7%) recorded good knowledge level about antibiotic prescription and antimicrobial resistance with mean score of knowledge13.21 ± 1.83. About 79% of HCPs recorded a positive attitude towards proper antibiotic prescription with mean score of attitudes 63.02 ± 7.68. Fifty four percent of HCPs demonstrated a good level of practice with mean score of practice 9.75 ± 2.17. In conclusion, HCPs in our study have a good level of knowledge and attitude about antibiotics. However lower level of proper practice towards the problem of AMR in COVID19 era was noticed. Implementation of effective policies and guidelines is crucial to evaluate the antimicrobial use especially in the COVID-19 era to reduce the unintended consequences of the misuse of antibiotics and its impact on AMR.

Potential Factors of Primary Hospital Healthcare Professionals in Hindering the Abolition of Routine Skin Test for Cephalosporin: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background

In 2021, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of Chinese issued a document that no longer recommended the routine skin test for cephalosporin (RSTC). However, there is still resistance to the cancellation of RSTC in a primary hospital. The study aimed to explore the potential factors for hindering the abolition of the RSTC in a county-level hospital based on the PRECEDE model.

Methods

The cross-sectional study was conducted on healthcare workers in the Pidu District People's Hospital, Chengdu, by online questionnaire from September 10 to September 25 in the 2021.The PRECEDE model was used to divide the potential factors of healthcare professionals in hindering the abolition of the RSTC into predisposing factors, enabling factors and reinforcing factors. Data were analyzed by ANOVA, Chi-square test, multiple linear and multiple logistic regression analysis.

Results

We collected 605 respondents' valid questionnaires. 254 healthcare professionals were against cancellation of the RSTC, accounting for 41.98%. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that working for 6~10 years (β = 1.953, P = 0.024), medium (β = 1.995, P = 0.030) or senior (β = 4.003, P = 0.007) professional qualification, pharmacists (β = 3.830, P = 0.013) and working in surgical department (β= 4.462, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with higher score of predisposing factors, enabling factors, and reinforcing factors on abolition of RSTC. Furthermore, multiple logistic regression analysis showed that pharmacists (OR=3.113, 95% CI: 1.341-7.223, P=0.030), medium professional qualification (OR=1.272, 95% CI: 0.702-2.302, P=0.008), scores of predisposing factors (OR=1.335, 95% CI: 1.033-1.726, P=0.009), and scores of enabling factors (OR=1.208, 95% CI: 1.109-1.315, P<0.001) were independently associated with the positive anticipated behavior on the abolition of RSTC. While nurses (OR=0.516, 95% CI: 0.284-0.938, P<0.001) were independently associated with anticipated negative behavior.

Conclusion

Pharmacists, medium professional qualification, and healthcare professionals with higher scores of predisposing and enabling factors were more likely to have a positive anticipated behavior on the abolition of RSTC, while nurses did not.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices on antimicrobial resistance among pharmacy personnel and nurses at a tertiary hospital in Ndola, Zambia: implications for antimicrobial stewardship programmes

Introduction

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health problem that has led to increased morbidity and mortality, especially in low- and middle-income countries such as Zambia. This study evaluated AMR knowledge, attitudes and practices among pharmacy personnel and nurses at Ndola Teaching Hospital, Zambia's second-largest hospital.

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 263 participants using a structured questionnaire. Data analysis was performed with IBM SPSS version 23.0. All statistical tests were conducted at a 95% confidence level. Univariate analysis was used to determine differences in knowledge, attitudes and practices on AMR between pharmacy personnel and nurses.

Results

Of the 263 participants, 225 (85.6%) were nurses and 38 (14.4%) were pharmacy personnel. Compared with nurses, pharmacy personnel had better knowledge of the spread of resistant bacteria from one person to another (P = 0.001) and the use of antibiotics in livestock as a contributing factor to AMR (P = 0.01). Pharmacy personnel had better attitudes towards AMR as a public health problem (P = 0.001) and the use of antibiotics in livestock as a source of resistant pathogens (P = 001). Lastly, more pharmacy personnel than nurses participated in awareness campaigns (P = 0.029), continued professional development (P = 0.001) and courses on the use of antibiotics and AMR (P = 0.028).

Conclusions

The study showed that most participants had adequate knowledge, a positive attitude and good practices towards AMR. Significant differences in knowledge, attitudes and practices were observed between pharmacy personnel and nurses in AMR, highlighting a need for increased educational programmes for these healthcare personnel.

Antibiotic Prescribing Practices for Treating COVID-19 Patients in Bangladesh

Although national and international guidelines have strongly discouraged use of antibiotics to treat COVID-19 patients with mild or moderate symptoms, antibiotics are frequently being used. This study aimed to determine antibiotics-prescribing practices among Bangladeshi physicians in treating COVID-19 patients. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among physicians involved in treating COVID-19 patients. During September-November 2021, data were collected from 511 respondents through an online Google Form and hardcopies of self-administered questionnaires. We used descriptive statistics and a regression model to identify the prevalence of prescribing antibiotics among physicians and associated factors influencing their decision making. Out of 511 enrolled physicians, 94.13% prescribed antibiotics to COVID-19 patients irrespective of disease severity. All physicians working in COVID-19-dedicated hospitals and 87% for those working in outpatient wards used antibiotics to treat COVID-19 patients. The majority (90%) of physicians reported that antibiotics should be given to COVID-19 patients with underlying respiratory conditions. The most prescribed antibiotics were meropenem, moxifloxacin, and azithromycin. Our study demonstrated high use of antibiotics for treatment of COVID-19 patients irrespective of disease severity and the duty ward of study physicians. Evidence-based interventions to promote judicious use of antibiotics for treating COVID-19 patients in Bangladesh may help in reducing an overuse of antibiotics.