Background: Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) in adults is still a common and serious illness in the sub-Saharan Africa. Identification of the pathogens is crucial in the management of CAP. This study was done to determine the common bacterial pathogens, treatment outcomes and associated factors for microbiological confirmed CAP among adults attending the Bugando Medical Centre and Sekou Toure hospital in the city of Mwanza, Tanzania. Methods: This was a hospital based cross sectional study involving patients with community acquired pneumonia attending Bugando Medical Centre and Sekou Toure regional Hospital. Demographic and other data were collected using standardized data collection tool. Sputum culture was done followed by identification of the isolates and antibiotics susceptibility testing. Results: A total of 353 patients were enrolled in the study. Out of 353 sputum samples, 265(75%) were of good quality. Of 353 non-repetitive sputum cultures, 72/353 (20.4, 95% CI: 16.2-24.6) were positive for the bacterial pathogens with five patients having more than one pathogen. Good quality sputa had significantly higher yield of pathogenic bacteria than poor quality sputa (26.1% vs.3.4%, P = 0.001). The majority 64 (83.1%) of the isolates were gram negative bacteria. Common bacteria isolated were Klebsiella pneumoniae 23/77(29.9%), Streptococcus pyogenes 10/77 (13.0%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 9/77 (11.7%) and Escherichia coli 7/77 (9.1%). Of 23 K. pneumoniae isolates, 20/23 (87.0%) were resistant to ceftriaxone. Resistance to ceftriaxone was found to be associated with prolongation of CAP symptoms (p = 0.009). Conclusion: Gram negative bacteria resistant to ampicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and ceftriaxone were most frequently isolated bacteria among adults' patients with CAP attending BMC and Sekou Toure hospital. Routine sputum culture should be performed to guide appropriate treatment of CAP among adults in developing countries.

Background: In 2017, Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital (MZRH) and the University of South Carolina (UofSC) agreed to collaboratively strengthen antimicrobial prescribing in the southern highlands of Tanzania and train a new generation of clinicians in responsible antimicrobial use. Methods: Key stakeholders and participants were identified and the Mbeya Antimicrobial Stewardship Team (MAST) was created. The team identified assets brought by the collaborators, and four investigations of baseline needs were developed. These investigations included (a) a baseline clinician survey regarding antimicrobial resistance and stewardship, (b) a serial chart review of inpatient antimicrobial prescribing practices, (c) an investigation of antimicrobial resistance rates using existing isolates at the MZRH laboratory, and (d) a survey of antimicrobial availability at community pharmacies in the city. Results: 91% of physicians believe antimicrobial resistance is problem in Tanzania, although only 29% of physicians were familiar with the term “antimicrobial stewardship”. Escherichia coli isolates had resistance rates of over 60% to the commonly used agents ciprofloxacin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and ceftriaxone. Thirteen out of 14 community pharmacies offered over-the-counter antibiotics for upper respiratory symptoms. Conclusions: International antimicrobial stewardship collaborations can successfully identify opportunities and needs. Evaluating the team’s efforts to improve patient outcomes will be essential.

Antimicrobial resistance is a growing concern in sub-Saharan Africa, and antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs have not been widely implemented in this region. We evaluated antibiotic prescribing patterns and concordance with national guidelines at Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital (MZRH) in Tanzania. Adult inpatient medical records were chronologically reviewed from January 1, 2018 until 100 records documenting antibiotic therapy were evaluated. The primary endpoint was concordance with national guidelines for indication-based antibiotic selection and duration. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics. Overall, 155 records with sufficient data were reviewed. The 100 records which involved antibiotic therapy represented 171 unique antibiotic courses. The most common indication for antibiotics was bacterial pneumonia. Ceftriaxone and metronidazole, the most commonly used antibiotics, were administered in 40% and 24% of courses, respectively. Indication-based antibiotic selection was concordant with national guidelines in 63% of courses, but this fell to 15% when course duration was taken into account. Antibiotic courses were completed as prescribed 28% of the time among evaluable courses. A microbiologic culture of any kind was obtained in 17% of patients. In conclusion, antibiotic therapy was often incomplete, was generally guideline discordant, exhibited limited diversity of selection, and frequently lacked diagnostic confirmation. These data, combined with local susceptibility patterns, may be used to foster AMS efforts for improved compliance with guidelines at MZRH in the future.