First Lebanese Antibiotic Awareness Week campaign: knowledge, attitudes and practices towards antibiotics

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Antibiotic resistance (ABR) poses a significant global health threat, leading to treatment failures and increased healthcare expenses.
• Self-medication and inappropriate antibiotic use by the public and professionals in clinical and veterinary fields are primary drivers of ABR.
• Addressing ABR requires multifaceted strategies, including public education and policy interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the level of antibiotic awareness in Lebanon.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of the first Lebanese Antibiotic Awareness Week campaign.
• To identify key factors contributing to the spread of antibiotic resistance.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of the first Lebanese Antibiotic Awareness Week campaign using a human-centered and interactive approach.
• Data collection on public knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding antibiotic use.
• Analysis of factors influencing antibiotic resistance spread.

Main Results:

• The campaign revealed a critically low level of antibiotic awareness among the Lebanese population.
• Evidence of widespread inappropriate antibiotic use practices across different sectors.
• Identification of self-medication as a major contributor to antibiotic resistance.

Conclusions:

• Urgent need for enhanced public education on appropriate antibiotic use.
• Collaboration among stakeholders, policymakers, and health professionals is essential to control ABR.
• Policy changes and targeted interventions are crucial to mitigate the threat of antibiotic resistance.