Infectious Diseases

Biography

Biography: Daniel A Erku, Bpharm

Abstract

Statement of the Problem: Community pharmacists are key health care professionals for antimicrobial stewardship programs owing to their role in dispensing of antimicrobials. The aim of the present study was to assess the perception and practices of community pharmacists towards antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) in Ethiopia. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on facility based census between February-May 2015. Stratified simple random sampling technique was applied to select pharmacy sites. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Findings: Majority of respondents strongly agreed or agreed that AMS program is vital for the improvement of patient care (86.3%, Median=5; IQR=2-5). Almost all of respondents agreed that pharmacists can play a prominent role in AMS and infection prevention (93.2%, Median=5; IQR=2-5). Similarly, majority of respondents always or often communicate with prescribers in case of ambiguity about the correctness of antibiotic prescription (77.9%, Median = 4, IQR = 1-4). However, only 26.5% of respondents strongly agreed or agreed that AMS should be practiced at community pharmacy level (Median = 4, IQR = 1-3) and more than half of community pharmacists (59.9%) often/always dispense antimicrobial without a prescription. Qualification and experience of respondents considerably affected their median scores concerning their perceptions and practices towards AMS. Conclusion & Significance: The present study revealed a positive perceptions and practices of community pharmacists toward antimicrobial stewardship. Yet, some weak areas like integration of AMS program in community pharmacies, the significance of inter-professional involvement, and dispensing of antimicrobials without a valid prescription still needs improvement.