Point Prevalence Survey of Antimicrobial Utilization in Ghana's Premier Hospital: Implications for Antimicrobial...

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Hospital Pharmacy
• Public Health

Background:

• Antimicrobial resistance is a global health threat.
• Point prevalence surveys (PPS) are crucial for understanding antimicrobial use in hospitals.
• Establishing a baseline is essential for targeted antimicrobial stewardship interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct the first comprehensive point prevalence survey on antimicrobial utilization at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH).
• To establish a hospital-wide PPS baseline.
• To identify areas for antimicrobial stewardship program improvement.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the standardized Global-PPS methodology over three days in June 2019.
• Surveyed 988 patients across 69 wards.
• Collected data on antimicrobial prescribing, indications, and documentation.

Main Results:

• Overall antimicrobial prevalence was 53.3%.
• Community-acquired infections (CAI) were more frequently treated empirically than healthcare-associated infections (94.0% vs 86.1%).
• Pneumonia, skin/soft tissue infections, and sepsis were primary indications; amoxicillin/beta-lactam inhibitor, metronidazole, and ceftriaxone were most common systemic antibiotics.
• Guideline compliance was 89.0%, but stop/review dates were completed in only 33.4% and documented reasons in 53.0% of prescriptions.

Conclusions:

• The survey provides a critical baseline for antimicrobial prescribing at KBTH.
• Significant opportunities exist to improve antimicrobial stewardship through better documentation practices.
• Addressing prescribing patterns and documentation can lead to substantial improvements in antimicrobial stewardship at KBTH.