Study on awareness, knowledge, and practices towards antibiotic use among the educated and uneducated people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan

INTRODUCTION: Antimicrobial resistance developed through the inadequate use of antibiotics; is an overriding task for global public health. OBJECTIVE: To explore awareness, knowledge, and practices, and compare the elements associated with antibiotic misuse in different University students and uneducated people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. METHODS: Cross-sectional study was conducted from July to December 2020 using a validated questionnaire. Data were collected from eleven different university students and uneducated people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. RESULTS: 3,600 questionnaires were completed, consisting of 56.9% Male and 43.0% Female. 1,999 (55.5%) of the antibiotic users reported through the survey used non-prescription antibiotics within a one-month study period. Out of the participants, 230 (6.3%) were uneducated or their education level was below matric rest were university students. 1999 (55.5%) reported buying Antibiotics with Medical Prescription. Most self-medicated participants (56.9%) stop taking antibiotics when they feel better. More than 90% of the respondents answered that doctors and pharmacist staff do not guide them well that how to use antibiotics. 2,171 (60.03%) respondents mistakenly believed that antibiotics improve restoration from coughs and colds. Only 720 (20%) respondents knew that antibiotics also disturb normal flora and 547 participants (15.9%) agree that unnecessary use of antibiotics causes bacterial resistance. CONCLUSION: Finding from this study may have important implications for public health policy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan given the growing global resistance to antibiotics and the reported health issues related to their improper use.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci Isolated from Clinical Samples in Kashmir, North India: A Hospital Based Study.

Aims: To find out the prevalence and risk factors for vancomycin resistant Enterococci in a leading tertiary care center of north India. Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar. Kashmir. One year study. Methodology: A total of 400 isolates of Enterococci from patients admitted to our hospital were recovered using standard microbiological procedures, during a period of one year. Antimicrobial susceptibility of these isolates to various antibiotics was performed according to Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of isolates found to be resistant to vancomycin on disc diffusion was done by microbroth dilution method. Various risk factors like placement of IV line catheter, urinary catheter, hospital stay and prior use of antimicrobial agents was noted for all the patients. Results: A total of 25 (6.3%) isolates of Enterococci were found to be vancomycin resistant, most of them recovered from the blood samples. E. faecium 16 (64%) was the predominant VRE isolated followed by E. faecalis 9 (36%). Factors like stay in an ICU, prior use of antimicrobials, placement of IV line and urinary catheter were associated with vancomycin resistant Enterococci (VRE) acquisition. Conclusion: VRE were recovered from our hospital and strict adherence to infection control guidelines needs to be followed to control their dissemination.