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Antibiotic Resistance Awareness among Undergraduate Students in Quito, Ecuador.

ABSTRACT: The inappropriate use of antibiotics leads to antibiotic resistance, which reduces their efficacy. The education of undergraduates is likely to influence their practices. Assessing awareness is critical in the general effort to confront the spread of antibiotic resistance. This cross-sectional investigation was carried out using the questionnaire "Antibiotic resistance: Multi-country public awareness" developed by the World Health Organization. Students from different backgrounds at the Central University participated in the study (n = 733). The survey comprised five sections: demographics, knowledge, usage, sources of information, and attitudes. The rate of correct answers was 64.88%; differences were detected between programs of study (p < 0.001); effect size analysis showed that these differences cannot be considered large. Individuals from applied sciences scored higher than their counterparts from social studies. Mostly, interviewees were knowledgeable about usage, but mistakenly associated antibiotics with conditions such as cold/flu or viral illnesses; also, they associated antibiotic resistance with the patient and not with bacteria. Despite these misconceptions, positive attitudes were registered overall, and students generally adhered to common practices. They cited doctors/nurses and teachers as sources of information. As a consequence, it is recommended to develop courses that address deficient knowledge regarding antibiotic resistance, especially for individuals affiliated to social disciplines.

SUBMITTER: Ortega-Paredes D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8868098 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Antibiotic Resistance Awareness among Undergraduate Students in Quito, Ecuador.

Ortega-Paredes David D Larrea-Álvarez César Marcelo CM Torres-Elizalde Lilibeth L de Janon Sofia S Vinueza-Burgos Christian C Hidalgo-Arellano Luis L Šefcová Miroslava Anna MA Molina-Cuasapaz Gabriel G Fernandez-Moreira Esteban E Larrea-Álvarez Marco M

Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) 20220203 2

The inappropriate use of antibiotics leads to antibiotic resistance, which reduces their efficacy. The education of undergraduates is likely to influence their practices. Assessing awareness is critical in the general effort to confront the spread of antibiotic resistance. This cross-sectional investigation was carried out using the questionnaire "Antibiotic resistance: Multi-country public awareness" developed by the World Health Organization. Students from different backgrounds at the Central ...[more]

PMID: 35203800

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Project description:BackgroundDiarrheal disease remains a significant cause of child mortality, particularly in regions with limited access to healthcare and sanitation. Inappropriate practices, including unjustified medication prescriptions, pose challenges in the management of acute diarrhea (AD), especially in low- and middle-income countries.ObjectiveThis study analyzed antibiotic prescription patterns and assessed compliance with Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) guidelines in children under 5 with AD in the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) Ambulatory Care Centers of Quito city, Ecuador.MethodsA cross-sectional design was used, collecting electronic health records (EHR) of patients diagnosed with AD from 21 health facilities in District 17D03. A probabilistic and stratified sampling approach was applied. Patient characteristics, prescriber characteristics, treatments, and compliance of IMCI guideline recommendations were evaluated. A stepwise logistic regression analysis examined the association between antibiotic prescription and patient and physician characteristics.ResultsA total of 359 children under 5 years of age were included, with 58.77% being girls. 85.24% of the cases of AD were attributed to gastroenteritis and colitis of infectious and unspecified origin. Amebiasis and other protozoal intestinal diseases accounted for 13.37% and 1.11% of the cases, respectively. The completion rates of recording various IMCI parameters varied; parameters such as duration of diarrhea, presence of blood in stool, and evidence of sunken eyes had high completion rates (100%, 100%, and 87.47%, respectively), while parameters like state of consciousness, presence of thirst, and type of diarrhea had low completion rates (0.28%, 0.28%, and 0.84%, respectively). None of the cases had all parameters fully recorded. Antimicrobials were prescribed in 38.72% of the cases. Children aged 3 to 5 years had higher odds of receiving antimicrobial prescription for AD (aOR: 4.42, 95% CI 2.13-9.18, P < .0001) compared to those under 1 year, after adjusting for the number of loose stools per day, gender, and age of the health professional.ConclusionVariations in IMCI guideline compliance were observed, with no cases fully adhering to the guidelines. Antimicrobial prescription rates were notably high, especially among older children. Further research and specialized interventions are necessary to gain comprehensive insight into the factors underlying non-compliance with the IMCI guidelines.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Resistance to antimicrobial agents has become a problem in modern society. Antibiotic resistant bacteria undermine the prevention and treatment of infections. Undergraduate dental students in Europe are required to receive information in aspects of microbiology relevant for dental practice, including oral microbial pathogens and resistance mechanisms against antimicrobial compounds. The objective of this study was to implement a research-based strategy to aid the understanding of the increase in antimicrobial resistance in undergraduate dental student training. The primary outcome of this project is the efficacious delivery of the learning objectives. METHODS:Ten volunteer undergraduate student "ambassadors" were recruited to manage the project with assistance from lead academics. Student ambassadors were a source of peer learning for their colleagues. The project consisted of three phases: Pre-project preparation (in which the ambassadors received special instruction and training); Practical experience (in which the ambassadors worked with volunteer student colleagues to carry out the project); Public presentation of results (in which ambassadors presented study results at a scientific conference of their choosing). RESULTS:A total of 1164 students volunteered for the project, corresponding to an average participation rate of 76.4% students per year of the course. Following final debriefing, student participants and ambassadors were strongly positive in their evaluation of the achievement of 8 key student learning objectives. The results demonstrate that most volunteers improved their knowledge related to antimicrobial resistance mechanisms in microbiology. Additional benefits of participation in this project included an improvement in dental knowledge and ethics in biomedical research for the student volunteers, whilst the student ambassadors reported improved knowledge about critical thinking and study design, as well as a deeper understanding about microbiological analysis methods. CONCLUSIONS:To the best of our knowledge, this the first instance of the application of project-based methodologies to the teaching of a traditionally non-laboratory component of a subject taught in the dentistry curriculum. Results from both students and ambassadors highlighted the increase in dental knowledge and an increased awareness of antimicrobial resistance as the key outcomes of this project.

Project description:BackgroundEmergency care is an essential part of a health system. Ecuador has recognized emergency medicine as a specialty and has two emergency medicine residency training programs. However, little has been published about emergency department characteristics and capabilities in Ecuador.ObjectiveWe described the characteristics and capabilities of emergency departments (EDs) in Quito, Ecuador, in 2017, using the National Emergency Department Inventory (NEDI) survey.MethodsThe 23-item survey included questions pertaining to ED characteristics, including: visit volume, physical and administrative structure, clinical capabilities, technological resources, and consult personnel availability. This study included all EDs in Quito operating 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, and serving all patients seeking care. One representative from each ED was asked to complete the survey based on calendar year 2017.FindingsThirty EDs met the inclusion criteria, and 26 completed the survey (87% response). The median number of ED beds was 17 (range 2-61). Median annual visit volume was 22,580 (range 1,680 to 129,676). All but two EDs provided care for both children and adults. Cardiac monitors were available in 88% of EDs, CT scanners in 68%, and rooms for respiratory isolation in 31%. Most EDs could manage patients with general medicine (92%), general surgery (92%), and gynecology (88%) emergencies 24/7. Fewer were able to provide hand surgery (45%) and dental (28%) care 24/7. Typical length of stay was 1-6 hours in 65% and >6 hours in 31% of EDs. Half of EDs reported operating at full capacity and 27% reported operating over their capacity. When compared to private EDs, government EDs (public and social security) had a higher mean number of visits per year (50,090 government vs. 13,968 private, p < 0.001), higher mean number of ED beds (36 government vs. 9 private, p = 0.002), and higher length of stay (58% of patient stays > 6 hours in government EDs vs. 86% of patient stays 1-6 hours in private EDs, p = 0.009).ConclusionsEDs in Quito varied widely with respect to annual visit volume, ability to treat different pathologies 24/7, and resources. Most EDs are functioning at or over capacity, and a substantial number have long lengths of stay. Further research and investment in emergency care could help increase the capacity and efficiency of EDs in Ecuador.

Project description:BackgroundHealth-promoting education is essential to foster an informed society able to make decisions about socio-scientific issues based on scientifically sustained criteria. Antibiotic resistance is currently a major public health issue. Considering that irrational antibiotic use has been associated with the development and widespread of antibiotic resistant bacteria, educational interventions to promote prudent antibiotic consumption are required.Methodology/principal findingsThis study focuses on the outcomes of an interventional program implemented at the University of Porto, Portugal, to promote awareness about antibiotic resistance at high school levels (15-17 year old). The project Microbiology recipes: antibiotics à la carte articulates a set of wet and dry lab activities designed to promote the participants' understanding of concepts and processes underlying antibiotics' production and activity, such as the notion of mechanisms of action of antibiotics. Following a mix-method approach based on a pre-/post design, the effectiveness of this project was assessed by gathering data from surveys, direct observation and analysis of artifacts of 42 high school students (aged 15 and 16 years). The results indicate that the participants developed a more comprehensive picture of antibiotic resistance. The project was shown to promote more sophisticated conceptualizations of bacteria and antibiotics, increased awareness about the perils of antibiotic resistance, and enhanced consciousness towards measures that can be undertaken to mitigate the problem. The participants regarded their experiences as enjoyable and useful, and believed that the project contributed to improve their understanding and raise their interest about the issues discussed. Furthermore, there were also improvements in their procedural skills concerning the laboratory techniques performed.Conclusions/significanceThis study evidences the possibility of increasing high school students' awareness about the consequences of antibiotic resistance and the importance of judicious antibiotic use. The findings inform about the educational benefits of incorporating hands-on activities in science education programs.

Dataset Information

Antibiotic Resistance Awareness among Undergraduate Students in Quito, Ecuador.

Publications

Antibiotic Resistance Awareness among Undergraduate Students in Quito, Ecuador.

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