logo
Science Portal
Copyright © Médecins Sans Frontières
v2.1.5150.produseast1
About MSF Science Portal
About
Contact Us
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Copyright © Médecins Sans Frontières
v2.1.5150.produseast1
Antibiotic use in a district hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan: are we overprescribing? | Journal Article / Research | MSF Science Portal
Journal Article
|Research

Antibiotic use in a district hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan: are we overprescribing?

Bajis S, Van der Bergh R, De Bruycker M, Mahama G, Van Overloop C, Satyanarayana S, Bernardo R, Esmati S
Download

Similar Content
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Abstract
SETTING
A district hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, supported by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).

OBJECTIVES
To assess antibiotic prescribing practices in the out-patient department in summer (August 2013) and winter (January 2014).

DESIGN
Cross-sectional study, using routinely collected hospital data and using World Health Organization (WHO) defined daily dose (DDD) methodology.

RESULTS
An analysis of 4857 prescriptions (summer) and 4821 prescriptions (winter) showed that respectively 62% and 50% of all out-patients were prescribed at least one antibiotic. Prescriptions without a recorded diagnosis represented a sizeable proportion of all antibiotics prescribed. For upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), dental indications, urinary tract infections (UTI) and diarrhoea, good adherence to dosages recommended in the MSF standard treatment guidelines was observed when measured by DDD. However, certain drugs not indicated in the guidelines were prescribed, such as amoxicillin and metronidazole for UTI and azithromycin for URTI.

CONCLUSION
Rates of antibiotic prescriptions for out-patients in a district hospital in Afghanistan were high, double the WHO recommendation of 30%. While systematic non-adherence to recommended dosages was not observed, inappropriate prescriptions for specific conditions may have occurred. This study suggests that knowledge about context-specific determinants of antibiotic prescribing is a first step towards promoting rational prescribing practices in such settings.

Countries

Afghanistan

Subject Area

antibiotic resistanceoperational researchantimicrobial resistance

Languages

English
DOI
10.5588/pha.14.0068
Published Date
21 Dec 2014
PubMed ID
26400706
Journal
Public Health Action
Volume | Issue | Pages
Volume 4, Issue 4, Pages 259-64
Issue Date
2014-12-21
Dimensions Badge