Abstract

“CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY ON ANTIBIOTIC STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES AT A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE”

Praveen Kumar B and Padmaja Udaykumar*

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Physicians play an important role in the fight against antimicrobial resistance by their rational practices in usage of antimicrobials and by educating the society regarding usage of antibiotics and its consequences of developing resistance. Antimicrobial resistance is a result of irrational use of the antimicrobials and insufficient infection control policies in curbing this menace. There is growing evidence that hospital based programmes, known as “Antibiotic Stewardship Programmes” which are dedicated to optimize antibiotic use in hospital, can guide clinicians on antibiotic use, improve the frequency of correct prescribing, improve quality of care to patients, reduce development of drug resistance/ treatment failure, prevention of adverse effects of drugs, curb the expenses on unnecessary drug usage. Hence cross sectional survey was conducted to understand knowledge, attitude and practice of resident doctors regarding the antibiotic stewardship practices, at Father Muller Medical College Hospital Mangaluru, India, which will guide us in developing strategies for effective implementation of such programmes. Methodology: Cross sectional questionnaire based survey about knowledge attitude and practice of 60 resident doctors regarding hospital antibiotic stewardship programme. Results: Overall knowledge score showed mean of 14.459(out of max score 20) with SD of 3.921, mean percentage of 72.25%. Attitude assessment showed score of 16.98(out of max score of 20) with SD of 2.795, mean percentage of 84.9% and practice assessment had score of 27.05(out of max score of 40) with SD 5.309 and mean percentage of 67.62%. Relationship between knowledge, attitude and practice was statistically significant positively correlated at the 0.01 level. Conclusion: The findings of the study suggest that the knowledge had positive impact on attitude and practice regarding antibiotic use. Hence there is need for continuous /periodic educational intervention regarding antibiotic stewardship programmes among resident doctors, who are the primary care givers at a tertiary care centre.

Keywords: Antibiotics, antibiotic stewardship practices, hospital antibiotic policy, antibiotic programmes, antimicrobial resistance.