Analysis of Lower Respiratory Tract Antibiotic Prescribing Patterns at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare, Zimbabwe

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance is an escalating global public health crisis threatening the effectiveness of antibiotics. In Zimbabwe like many nations the implication of antimicrobial resistance are becoming increasingly evident. One of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality globally, lower respiratory tract infections have a significant impact on healthcare-related costs. The prescription of last-line antibiotics which are often reserved for the most serious and resistant infection, without proper diagnostic support is a complex issue.The growing problem of antimicrobial resistance makes it harder to choose the right medicines, which increases the likelihood that empirical therapy will fail. Patients with LRTIs frequently experience treatment failure as a result of antibiotic resistance. The purpose of the study was to analyse antibiotic prescribing patterns at Parirenyatwa Hospital in Zimbabwe. The study used a descriptive cross-sectional approach and subscribed to a social model. Thirty (30) participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Data was analysed using STATA for the quantitative data and NVIVO for the qualitative. The result findings revealed that, (60%) identified that there were new strains of microbes and (93.3%) confirmed that there were existing microbes exhibiting resistance to conventional drugs. The most (73.3%) of clinicians discovered that drugs such as ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacillin, azithromycin, gentamycin and anti-TB drugs were the most resistant drugs to microbes. The most popular sources of antimicrobial resistance in Zimbabwe from the results were overuse and misuse of antibiotics, inadequate infection control and poor patient compliance, as well as treating flus and other viral infections that do not need antibiotics. Other sources included lack of proper laboratory support for culture and sensitivity and lack of antibiotic stewardship. The study findings revealed that (73.3%) of participants confirmed that according to EDLIZ, a prescription is required to purchase antibiotics, antibiotics are not sold over the counter. The results showed that (46. 7%) recommended the need for new policies and (66.6%) also recommended the need for new legislation on the use of antibiotics. The results discovered that (73.3%) recommended to retrain clinicians on the current and new evidence-based prescription guidelines.