Pa Saidou Chaw1,2, Kristin Maria Schlinkmann1,2, Heike Raupach-Rosin1, André Karch1,2,3, Mathias W Pletz4, Johannes Huebner5, Rafael Mikolajczyk1,3,6,7. 1. ESME - Epidemiological and Statistical Methods Research Group, Department of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany. 2. PhD Programme, "Epidemiology" Braunschweig-Hannover, Germany. 3. German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hannover-Braunschweig site, 30625 Hannover Germany. 4. Center for Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747, Jena, Germany. 5. Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Dr. Von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, 80337 Munich, Germany. 6. Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany. 7. Institute for Medical Epidemiology, Biometry, and Informatics (IMEBI), Medical Faculty of the Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06110 Halle (Saale), Germany.
Abstract
Background: Inappropriate antibiotic use is the leading cause of antibiotic resistance worldwide. At the same time, the practice of antibiotic prescribing in Africa is less well documented when compared to developed countries. The objective of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of health practitioners towards antibiotic prescribing and microbiological testing in The Gambia. Methods: A KAP survey was conducted in The Gambia from March to May 2016. Self-administered paper-based questionnaires were distributed to health practitioners working in 12 health facilities. Results: Out of 241 questionnaires distributed, 216 (89.6%) were returned. One third of respondents reported making a request for microbiological tests or using results as a guide in less than 25% of patients with possible infectious disease. Thirty-two percent of the participants reported that '25-50%' of antibiotic prescriptions in their departments were inappropriate. Only 16.1% of the participants had some training on antibiotic prescribing in the last 12 months. Respondents agreed with the options 'inadequate supervision' (82.6%) and 'insufficient laboratory support' (82.5%) as the main causes of inappropriate antibiotic use in their settings. Conclusions: There are deficits related to antibiotic prescriptions in The Gambia. Availability and use of microbiological services and training should be emphasized.
Background: Inappropriate antibiotic use is the leading cause of antibiotic resistance worldwide. At the same time, the practice of antibiotic prescribing in Africa is less well documented when compared to developed countries. The objective of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of health practitioners towards antibiotic prescribing and microbiological testing in The Gambia. Methods: A KAP survey was conducted in The Gambia from March to May 2016. Self-administered paper-based questionnaires were distributed to health practitioners working in 12 health facilities. Results: Out of 241 questionnaires distributed, 216 (89.6%) were returned. One third of respondents reported making a request for microbiological tests or using results as a guide in less than 25% of patients with possible infectious disease. Thirty-two percent of the participants reported that '25-50%' of antibiotic prescriptions in their departments were inappropriate. Only 16.1% of the participants had some training on antibiotic prescribing in the last 12 months. Respondents agreed with the options 'inadequate supervision' (82.6%) and 'insufficient laboratory support' (82.5%) as the main causes of inappropriate antibiotic use in their settings. Conclusions: There are deficits related to antibiotic prescriptions in The Gambia. Availability and use of microbiological services and training should be emphasized.
Authors: Pa Saidou Chaw; Kristin Maria Schlinkmann; Heike Raupach-Rosin; André Karch; Mathias W Pletz; Johannes Huebner; Ousman Nyan; Rafael Mikolajczyk Journal: Antimicrob Resist Infect Control Date: 2018-07-16 Impact factor: 4.887
Authors: Annelies W Mesman; Musa Bangura; Sahr M Kanawa; Joseph S Gassimu; Kerry L Dierberg; Mohamed M Sheku; J Daniel Orozco; Regan H Marsh Journal: Afr J Lab Med Date: 2019-10-22
Authors: Cherry Lim; Elizabeth A Ashley; Raph L Hamers; Paul Turner; Thomas Kesteman; Samuel Akech; Alejandra Corso; Mayfong Mayxay; Iruka N Okeke; Direk Limmathurotsakul; H Rogier van Doorn Journal: Clin Microbiol Infect Date: 2021-06-07 Impact factor: 13.310