Antibiotic Use and Stewardship Indicators in the First- and Second-Level Hospitals in Zambia: Findings and Implications for the Future.

ABSTRACT: Introduction: There are increasing concerns with growing rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across Africa, including in Zambia, enhanced by inappropriate utilization of antibiotics across the sectors. There is a need in hospitals to document current prescribing patterns via point prevalence surveys (PPS) alongside recognized indicators to improve future use. The findings can subsequently be used to develop and instigate appropriate antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) to improve the quality of future antimicrobial prescribing across Zambia. This includes encouraging the prescribing of 'Access' over 'Watch' and 'Reserve' antibiotics where pertinent. Methods: A PPS was undertaken using the WHO methodology among 10 first- and second-level public hospitals across the 10

SUBMITTER: Kalungia AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9687079 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature