Background: Surgical site infections, a common cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients can be prevented using an antimicrobial agent (AMA) as prophylaxis. Inappropriate use of AMA leads to antimicrobial resistance.Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 208 patients in Owaisi Hospital and Research Centre (OHRC) for a period of 6 months on post-surgical patients admitted in the postoperative care unit. Included in the study were post-operative patients aged 18 years and above, who were willing to participate in the study. Data related to demography of the patients and the AMAs used in these patients was collected and analysed.Results: Majority of the patients belonged to the age group 50 to 59 years (32%) followed by 40 to 49 age group (23%). Male patients (54%) were more than females. Common route of administration was intravenous (89%) and the most common dosing frequency was thrice a day (54%). Most AMAs were used in combinations. Metronidazole (62%) was the most commonly prescribed AMA, followed by ceftriaxone (55%).Conclusions: Cephalosporins were the preferred antimicrobials for surgical prophylaxis of aerobic infections prescribed in 74% of cases, while metronidazole was used as the primary antimicrobial agent to prevent anaerobic infections. AMA utilization needs to be continuously evaluated in post-operative units of the surgery departments in order to promote rational prescribing to decrease morbidity, cost of therapy and to contain the problem of developing AMA resistance in the region.
A prospective observational study of 12 months duration was conducted in a teaching hospital on 278 cases of acute poisoning reported to emergency department from October 2018 to October 2019. Data regarding patient demographics, type of poisoning agent, duration of hospital stay and outcome were collected and analyzed. The common poisoning agents ingested were organophosphate compounds (41%), drug overdose (36%), Rodenticide (9%), House cleaning agents (6%), Mosquito repellents (4%), Corrosives (1%) and Kerosene (1%). Common drug overdose leading to poisonings were sedatives (9%), followed by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (4%). Of the 278 patients, 87 (31%) were males below 30 years of age. A major number of the patients worked as labourers (27%) and farmers (17%) and most were illiterate (36%). Suicide (79%) was found to be the major reason for poisoning. Acute poisoning is a major public health issue, especially among younger population and less educated. Analyzing the trends in poisoning in south India periodically will assist the healthcare workers and policy makers to device suitable management and effective prevention strategies like educational interventions about insecticide handling and establishing poison information centres.
Background: The injudicious and indiscriminate use of antimicrobials has led to the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), particularly in the low- and middle-income countries. Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) is the coordinated intervention to enhance the appropriate use of antimicrobials. Antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) is a multidisciplinary program with interventions and strategies to encourage AMS to prevent emergence of AMR.
Aims and Objectives: This study aimed at evaluating the knowledge, awareness, and practice (KAP) of AMS among prescribers of a teaching hospital in South India.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire based study conducted after obtaining Institutional Ethics Committee approval was conducted among prescribers of a teaching hospital from September 2022 to October 2022. Responses to the questionnaires issued to the prescribers through Google Forms were analyzed by descriptive statistics using Microsoft excel.
Results: A total of 230 prescribers submitted the filled in questionnaires. The definition of AMS was known to 62%. The constitution and functioning of ASP was known to 59%. However, only a few (38%) prescribers agreed that antimicrobials are avoided in viral infections. More than 60% had good awareness of AMS. However, only 25% were aware of an ASP program is their hospital. Fifty percent agreed to the practice of reviewing antimicrobial use after 48–72 h and only 38% to the practice of obtaining cultures before prescribing antimicrobials.
Conclusions: The prescribers had moderate knowledge and awareness and poor practice of AMS. To address these gaps, educational interventions and capacity building approaches are required.
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