OBJECTIVES Self-medication (SM) means using drugs to treat self-diagnosed diseases or symptoms. Despite its important role in reducing load on medical services, it may bear many risks. This study aims to determine the prevalence of SM and its determinants among adult hospital patients in Syria. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study METHODS 453 adult patients were asked to complete a questionnaire through face-to-face interviews. Data were analysed using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS). Chi-Square test was used to detect correlation between variables. RESULTS Out of 453 respondents, 67.3% practiced self-medication. Most used drugs were analgesics, antipyretics, and antibiotics. Main indications for SM included headache, cough/flu, and body aches. Pharmacists were the main source of knowledge about the drugs used in SM. The leading reason for practicing SM was mildness of complaint. Approximately half of the participants declared they read leaflets of drugs they used in SM. In this study, SM was significantly correlated with monthly income exceeding 48 US dollars, ages younger than 40 years old, and living in the city. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of SM in Syria is high. Thus, awareness campaigns and serious regulatory measures should be implemented to control this phenomenon.

Objectives. Self-medication (SM) means using drugs to treat self-diagnosed diseases or symptoms. Despite its important role in reducing the load on medical services, it may bear many risks. This study aims to determine the prevalence of SM and its determinants among adult inpatients of Damascus Hospital, Syria. Study design. Cross-sectional study. Methods. 453 adult inpatients were asked to complete a questionnaire through face-to-face interviews. Data were analysed using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS). A chi-square test was used to detect correlation between variables. Results. Out of 453 respondents, 67.3% practiced self-medication. Most used drugs were analgesics, antipyretics, and antibiotics. The main indications for SM included headache, cough/flu, and body aches. Pharmacists were the main source of knowledge about the drugs used in SM. The leading reason for practicing SM was the mildness of the complaint. Approximately half of the participants declared they read leaflets of drugs they used in SM. In this study, SM was significantly associated with monthly income, age, and living place. Conclusions. The prevalence of SM in Damascus Hospital is high. Larger, nationwide studies are needed to identify the prevalence and determining factors of SM in Syria and to suggest the appropriate measures to control this phenomenon.

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Background Antibiotics resistance is a major concern as it renders antibiotics ineffective, which would have disastrous effects on patient care. The contribution of the Middle Eastern countries in limiting antimicrobial resistance is diminished due to instability and deteriorating healthcare infrastructure. This study aims to report on the antimicrobial resistance pattern in two tertiary care hospitals in Damascus, the capital of Syria in bloods, sputum, urine and others. Methods A cross-sectional study based on reports of bacterial cultures was performed between April and November in 2020 in microbiology labs of Damascus Hospital and Al-Razi Hospital. Identification of bacteria was performed using standard microbiological procedures. Susceptibility testing was performed using disk diffusion method. Interpretation of the results was done according to the guidelines of the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute. Data were analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences version 26. Results 412 cultures were positive for pathogens. Most frequently isolated pathogens were Enterobacter, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. Enterobacter was completely sensitive to doripenem and cefoperazone-sulbactam. The resistance rates of Staphylococcus aureus to vancomycin and linezolid were 23.5% and 24.5%, respectively. Escherichia coli was resistant to ciprofloxacin in 72.4% of samples. Klebsiella pneumonia had shown various resistance rates to all used antibiotics. Females had significantly higher frequency of Escherichia coli, Enterobacter, and Klebsiella pneumoniae in urine samples, while males had significantly higher frequency of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis. Conclusions This study highlighted the high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in Damascus Hospital and Al-Razi Hospital, two of major hospitals in Damascus. The decreasing potency of antimicrobials is concerning and may require urgent interventions, such as effective surveillance, development of national guidelines for prescribing antibiotics to treat common infections, and awareness campaigns in the community.

Antibiotics resistance is a major concern as it renders antibiotics ineffective, which would have disastrous effects on patient care. The contribution of the Middle Eastern countries in limiting antimicrobial resistance is diminished due to instability and deteriorating healthcare infrastructure. This study aims to report on the antimicrobial resistance pattern in two tertiary care hospitals in Damascus, the capital of Syria in samples of blood, sputum, urine and other. A cross-sectional study based on reports of bacterial cultures was performed between April and November in 2020 in microbiology labs of Damascus Hospital and Al-Razi Hospital. Identification of bacteria was performed using standard microbiological procedures. Susceptibility testing was performed using disk diffusion method. Interpretation of the results was done according to the guidelines of the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute. Data were analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences version 26. 412 cultures were positive for pathogens. Most frequently isolated pathogens were Enterobacter, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. Enterobacter was completely sensitive to doripenem and cefoperazone-sulbactam. The resistance rates of Staphylococcus aureus to vancomycin and linezolid were 23.5% and 24.5%, respectively. Escherichia coli was resistant to ciprofloxacin in 72.4% of samples. Klebsiella pneumonia had shown various resistance rates to all used antibiotics. Females had significantly higher frequency of Escherichia coli, Enterobacter, and Klebsiella pneumoniae in urine samples, while males had significantly higher frequency of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis. This study showed the high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in Damascus Hospital and Al-Razi Hospital, two of major hospitals in Damascus. The decreasing potency of antimicrobials is concerning and may require urgent interventions, such as effective surveillance, and development of national guidelines for prescribing antibiotics.