Improved Antibiotic Prescribing for Acute Conjunctivitis After Operational Research: A Before-and-After Study in a Ghanaian Eye Hospital.

ABSTRACT: Empirical antibiotic treatment is common in acute conjunctivitis despite most cases being non-infectious or viral infections. Operational research (OR) at an eye hospital in Ghana (January-December 2021) identified appropriate antibiotic prescription in 71% of cases. Research dissemination and the sensitisation of key stakeholders followed, including communication of findings and implications to hospital prescribers. We conducted this OR covering January-December 2024 to test the hypothesis that the appropriateness of antibiotic prescriptions will improve, and to investigate the types of antibiotics prescribed and their AWaRe classification. There were 220 acute conjunctivitis cases in 2024, comparable to 2021 (201 cases). Antibiotics were prescribed in 67% of cases in 2024 and 55% in 2021

SUBMITTER: Ansong HK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12656491 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature