Antibiotic Guidelines for Critically Ill Patients in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: It is well documented that inappropriate use of antimicrobials is the major driver of antimicrobial resistance. To combat this, antibiotic stewardship has been demonstrated to reduce antibiotic usage, decrease the prevalence of resistance, lead to significant economic gains and better patients' outcomes. In Nigeria, antimicrobial guidelines for critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs), with infections are scarce. We set out to develop antimicrobial guidelines for this category of patients. METHODS: A committee of 12 experts, consisting of Clinical Microbiologists, Intensivists, Infectious Disease Physicians, Surgeons, and Anesthesiologists, collaborated to develop guidelines for managing infections in critically ill patients in Nigerian ICUs. The guidelines were based on evidence from published data and local prospective antibiograms from three ICUs in Lagos, Nigeria. The committee considered the availability of appropriate antimicrobial drugs in hospital formularies. Proposed recommendations were approved by consensus agreement among committee members. RESULTS: Candida albicans and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the most common microorganisms isolated from the 3 ICUs, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Escherichia coli. Targeted therapy is recognized as the best approach in patient management. Based on various antibiograms and publications from different hospitals across the country, amikacin is recommended as the most effective empiric antibiotic against Enterobacterales and A. baumannii, while colistin and polymixin B showed high efficacy against all bacteria. Amoxicillin-clavulanate or ceftriaxone was recommended as the first-choice drug for community-acquired (CA) CA-pneumonia while piperacillin-tazobactam + amikacin was recommended as first choice for the treatment of healthcare-associated (HA) HA-pneumonia. For ventilatorassociated pneumonia (VAP), the consensus for the drug of first choice was agreed as meropenem. Amoxycillin-clavulanate +clindamycin was the consensus choice for CAskin and soft tissue infection (SSIS) and piperacillin-tazobactam + metronidazole ±vancomycin for HA-SSIS. Ceftriaxone-tazobactam or piperacillin-tazobactam + gentamicin was consensus for CA-blood stream infections (BSI) with first choice+regimen for HA-BSI being meropenem/piperacillin-tazobactam +amikacin +fluconazole. For community-acquired urinary tract infection (UTI), first choice antibiotic was ciprofloxacin or ceftriaxone with a catheter-associated UTI (CAUTI) regimen of first choice being meropenem + fluconazole. CONCLUSION: Data from a multicenter three ICU surveillance and antibiograms and publications from different hospitals in the country was used to produce this evidence-based Nigerian-specific antimicrobial treatment guidelines of critically ill patients in ICUs by a group of experts from different specialties in Nigeria. The implementation of this guideline will facilitate learning, continuous improvement of stewardship activities and provide a baseline for updating of guidelines to reflect evolving antibiotic needs.

CONTEXTE: Il est bien établi que l'utilisation inappropriée des antimicrobiens est le principal moteur de la résistance aux antimicrobiens. Pour lutter contre ce phénomène, il a été démontré que la bonne gestion des antibiotiques permettait de réduire l'utilisation des antibiotiques, de diminuer la prévalence de la résistance, de réaliser des gains économiques significatifs et d'améliorer les résultats pour les patients. Au Nigéria, les directives antimicrobiennes pour les patients gravement malades dans les unités de soins intensifs (USI), souffrant d'infections, sont rares. Nous avons entrepris d'élaborer des lignes directrices sur les antimicrobiens pour cette catégorie de patients. MÉTHODES UTILISÉES: Un comité de 12 experts, composé de microbiologistes cliniques, d'intensivistes, de médecins spécialistes des maladies infectieuses, de chirurgiens et d'anesthésistes, a collaboré à l'élaboration de lignes directrices pour la prise en charge des infections chez les patients gravement malades dans les unités de soins intensifs nigérianes. Les lignes directrices sont basées sur des données publiées et des antibiogrammes prospectifs locaux provenant de trois unités de soins intensifs de Lagos, au Nigeria. Le comité a pris en compte la disponibilité des médicaments antimicrobiens appropriés dans les formulaires des hôpitaux. Les recommandations proposées ont été approuvées par consensus entre les membres du comité. RÉSULTATS: Candida albicans et Pseudomonas aeruginosa étaient les microorganismes les plus fréquemment isolés dans les trois unités de soins intensifs, suivis par Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii et Escherichia coli. La thérapie ciblée est reconnue comme la meilleure approche pour la prise en charge des patients. Sur la base de divers antibiogrammes et publications provenant de différents hôpitaux du pays, l'amikacine est recommandée comme l'antibiotique empirique le plus efficace contre les entérobactéries et A. baumannii, tandis que la colistine et la polymixine B se sont révélées très efficaces contre toutes les bactéries. L'amoxicilline-clavulanate ou la ceftriaxone ont été recommandées comme médicaments de premier choix pour les pneumonies communautaires, tandis que la pipéracilline-tazobactam + amikacine ont été recommandées comme médicaments de premier choix pour le traitement des pneumonies associées aux soins. Pour les pneumonies acquises sous ventilation mécanique (PAV), le consensus sur le médicament de premier choix est le méropénem. L'amoxycilline-clavulanate +clindamycine était le choix consensuel pour les infections de la peau et des tissus mous et la pipéracilline-tazobactam + métronidazole ±vancomycine pour les infections de la peau et des tissus mous. HA-SSIS. Ceftriaxone-tazobactam ou pipéracilline-tazobactam + gentamicine a fait l'objet d'un consensus pour les infections de la circulation sanguine de l'AC (BSI), le premier choix de régime pour les HA-BSI étant le méropénem/pipéracilline-tazobactam +amikacine +fluconazole. Pour les infections urinaires communautaires, l'antibiotique de premier choix était la ciprofloxacine ou la ceftriaxone, le régime de premier choix pour les infections urinaires associées à un cathéter étant le meropenem +fluconazole. CONCLUSION: Les données issues d'une surveillance multicentrique de trois unités de soins intensifs, d'antibiogrammes et de publications de différents hôpitaux du pays ont été utilisées par un groupe d'experts de différentes spécialités nigérianes pour élaborer ces lignes directrices sur le traitement antimicrobien des patients gravement malades dans les unités de soins intensifs, fondées sur des données probantes et spécifiques au Nigeria. La mise en œuvre de ces lignes directrices facilitera l'apprentissage, l'amélioration continue des activités de gestion et fournira une base de référence pour la mise à jour des lignes directrices afin de refléter l'évolution des besoins en antibiotiques. Mots clés: Antimicrobiens, Résistance aux antimicrobiens, Gestion des antibiotiques, Lignes directrices, Soins intensifs, Unité de soins intensifs, Infections associées aux soins de santé.

Changing susceptibility pattern of Neisseria Gonorrhoeae: A threat to management of sexually transmitted infections - Case series.

Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that increases the risk of infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and causes infertility and urethral stricture. We describe three cases of sexually active men, otherwise stable, who presented with a history of painful micturition and creamy white, urethral discharge. A clinical diagnosis of gonococcal urethritis was made and confirmed by microscopy, culture and 16SrRNA. Antimicrobial susceptibility revealed resistance to all the antimicrobial agents tested including ceftriaxone. A dual therapy was initiated using ceftriaxone and azithromycin, but at a higher dose for the patient with multi-drug resistant (MDR) Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Patients did well and were followed up for 5 months. Contact tracing was done for their sexual partners. While it is also important for healthcare workers to familiarize themselves with current treatment guidelines for gonococcal urethritis, the place of clinical laboratory in the management of STIs, with molecular techniques and the need for surveillance for MDR Neisseria gonorrhoeae cannot be overemphasized.

KNOWLEDGE, RISK PERCEPTION AND PREVENTIVE PRACTICES OF COVID-19 AMONG STAFF OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA.

INTRODUCTION: Kaduna State is among the three States with the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, risk perception and practices of staff towards prevention and control of COVID-19 infection in schools to provide policy makers, education and health managers required information to manage the epidemic as the schools prepare to re-open. METHODS: This was a school-based survey conducted using purposive sampling of 55 schools located in nine LGAs with the highest number of reported COVID-19 cases as at October 2020. Five schools with the highest students'/pupils' enrollment in each of the LGA were selected and all staff were interviewed. Information on knowledge, risk perception and practices of prevention was collected. Descriptive statistics were generated using Stata v14 software. RESULTS: A total of 1065 staff in 55 schools completed the interview. Major sources of information are television (73%), radio (61%), and social media (57%); and 76% indicated that a virus is the causative agent of COVID-19. Overall, 70%, 19%, 7%, 9.3% and 0% respectively had adequate knowledge of cause, preventive measures, respiratory hygiene, modes of transmission and symptoms of COVID-19; however only 14% ever attended a workshop on COVID-19. Eighty-two percent and 89% respectively believed in the efficacy of face masks and handwashing as means of prevention; 39% thought that they are likely to contract COVID-19. Ninety-nine percent and 90% have ever used face mask and hand sanitizer to prevent COVID-19; 96% and 85% respectively have use these methods in previous 24hours. Between 42% and 73% of schools needed additional commodities/requirements/supplies to comply fully with COVID-19 prevention protocols. CONCLUSION: While knowledge of COVID-19 is suboptimal, perception is positive and practice is high. Thus, teachers need to be well informed and encouraged to sustain current levels of preventive measures. Government needs to provide schools with adequate preventive commodities to ensure compliance.