Patterns of antibiotic use, knowledge, and perceptions among different population categories: A comprehensive study...

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Antibiotics are crucial for treating bacterial infections and are widely accessible without prescriptions in many developing countries.
• This widespread availability contributes to suboptimal antibiotic usage patterns in communities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the knowledge, practices, and attitudes concerning antibiotic use among diverse population groups.
• To identify gaps in understanding and inform strategies for promoting rational antibiotic consumption.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional descriptive study utilizing a pre-validated survey.
• Participants were categorized into three groups: healthcare professionals, medical students, and community adults.
• Data collected from 10,226 participants across these groups.

Main Results:

• A majority of participants reported antibiotic use in the past year, with significant prescription rates among healthcare professionals and medical students.
• Misconceptions regarding antibiotic use were prevalent, including use for fever and viral infections, and beliefs in consistent future effectiveness.
• A substantial proportion of participants recognized unnecessary prescriptions and identified key factors contributing to antibiotic resistance.

Conclusions:

• The study reveals unsatisfactory knowledge and perceptions regarding appropriate antibiotic use across all participant groups.
• There is a critical need for comprehensive antibiotic stewardship programs to address these knowledge deficits and promote rational antibiotic use.
• Implementing such programs is essential to mitigate the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.