Point Prevalence Survey of Antibiotic Use in Level 1 hospitals in Zambia: Future Prospects for Antimicrobial...

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Infectious Diseases
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing contributes to antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
• Limited data exists on antibiotic prescribing patterns in Zambian level 1 hospitals.
• This study addresses the knowledge gap in antibiotic use among hospitalized patients in Zambia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate antibiotic prescribing patterns and use in five level 1 hospitals in Lusaka, Zambia.
• To assess adherence to national treatment guidelines for antibiotic use.
• To provide data for improving antimicrobial stewardship in resource-limited settings.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study utilizing the World Health Organization (WHO) Point Prevalence Survey (PPS) methodology.
• Data collected from inpatients in five level 1 hospitals in Lusaka, Zambia, in August 2024.
• Statistical analysis performed using IBM SPSS version 23.0.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of antibiotic use was 59.0%, with ceftriaxone being the most prescribed.
• Antibiotics were predominantly prescribed for pediatric and male inpatients.
• Adherence to national treatment guidelines was low (36.0%), with many antibiotics used empirically without culture and sensitivity testing.
• 53.0% of antibiotics were from the WHO Access group and 38.2% from the Watch group.

Conclusions:

• High antibiotic use and low adherence to guidelines observed in Zambian level 1 hospitals.
• Urgent need to establish and strengthen antimicrobial stewardship programs.
• Enhancing laboratory capacity is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective patient management to combat AMR.