Knowledge and attitudes towards antibiotic use and resistance among undergraduate healthcare students at University of Rwanda.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an imminent threat to modern medicine. As the efficacy of treatment regimens is reduced, mortality and morbidity attributed to infectious diseases is expected to rise dramatically across the globe. Antimicrobial stewardship and good prescription practices are critical to conserving available therapeutics; it is appropriate, therefore, to appraise our attitudes and knowledge of antimicrobial resistance, particularly for the future healthcare practitioners. METHODS: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study that was conducted among 282 medicals, dental and pharmacy students from the University of Rwanda. Questionnaires were used to collect data from the 4th to 29th March 2017. RESULTS: Students from Level 3 to level 6 have demonstrated a good knowledge on antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance. Generally, 95% (n = 218) agreed that the inappropriate use of antibiotics could lead to antibiotic resistance. It was found that 96% (n = 220) of the respondents had heard about AMR outside their degree courses. 49% (n = 112) of the participants reported that they are able to purchase antibiotics without a prescription. 96% (n = 220) agreed that it was important for healthcare students to be knowledgeable about antimicrobial resistance. Perhaps most surprisingly, it was found that 83% (n = 191) of participants were unfamiliar with the concept of antimicrobial stewardship and 49% (n = 21) had not yet discussed antimicrobial resistance as part of their education, albeit only 1% (n = 3) was completely unfamiliar with the term. Furthermore, 38% (n = 86) did not support that the antibiotics were overused in Rwanda, 23% (n = 10) did not agree that inappropriate antimicrobial use contributed to antimicrobial resistance, and 50% (n = 22) of participants agreed that antibiotics were indicated in the treatment of pain and inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: The present study reports a moderate knowledge on AMR among the healthcare students. The gaps in the current formal training of healthcare individuals have been identified as well. We highlight the necessity to enhance educational approaches to introduce the key concepts of AMR and antimicrobial stewardship to the curriculum of healthcare students.

Highly successful treatment outcome of multidrug-resistant and genetic diversity of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains in Rwanda.

OBJECTIVE: To determine prevalent MDR-TB genotypes and describe treatment outcome and bacteriology conversion in MDR-TB patients. METHODS: Review of laboratory records of 173 MDR-TB patients from all over Rwanda who initiated treatment under programmatic management of MDR-TB (PMDT) between 2014 and 2015. Fifty available archived isolates were genotyped by mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units - variable number of tandem repeats (MIRU-VNTR) genotyping. RESULT: Of the 170 patients whose outcome was known, 114 (66.3%) were cured and 36 (21%) completed the treatment, giving a successful outcome (cured and completed) of 150 (87.3%) patients. Of 20 MDR-TB patients with unfavourable treatment outcome, 18 died, one failed and one defaulted/stopped treatment. Of the 18 patients who died, 11 (61%) were HIV-coinfected. The treatment outcome was successful for 93.9% among HIV negative and 81.8% among HIV-coinfected patients (P = 0.02). Sputum smear conversion occurred in 3, 46, 57 and 78 patients before 2, 3, 4 and 6 months, respectively, with median time of sputum smear and culture conversion at 3 months. The 44 MDR-TB isolates with MIRU-VNTR result, showed high genetic diversity with low clustering rate (9.09%) and Uganda II being the most prevalent sub-family lineage detected in 68.2% of isolates. Beijing family was the least common genotype detected (2.3%, 1 isolate). CONCLUSION: The high success rates for MDR-TB treatment achieved in Rwanda were comparable to outcomes observed in resource-rich settings with HIV being an independent risk factor for poor treatment outcome. High genetic diversity and low clustering rate reported here suggest that reactivation of previous disease plays an important role in the transmission of MDR-TB in Rwanda.

OBJECTIF: Déterminer les génotypes prévalents de la TB-MDR et décrire les résultats du traitement et la conversion bactériologique chez les patients atteints de TB-MDR. MÉTHODES: Analyse des dossiers de laboratoire de 173 patients atteints de TB-MDR de l'ensemble du Rwanda qui ont débuté un traitement sous prise en charge programmatique de la TB-MDR (PMDT) entre 2014 et 2015. Cinquante isolats archivés disponibles ont été génotypés pour les unités répétitives intercalées de mycobactéries - nombre variable de tandems répétés (MIRU-VNTR). RÉSULTAT: Sur les 170 patients dont l'issue était connue, 114 (66,3%) étaient guéris et 36 (21%) avaient terminé le traitement, ce qui donne un résultat positif (guéri et complété) de 150 patients (87,3%). Sur 20 patients atteints de TB-MDR dont l'issue du traitement était défavorable, 18 sont décédés, un a eu un échec et le dernier a abandonné/arrêté le traitement. Sur les 18 patients décédés, 11 (61%) étaient coinfectés par le VIH. Le résultat du traitement a été positif pour 93,9% des personnes VIH négatives et 81,8% pour ceux coinfectées par le VIH (p = 0,02). La conversion des frottis d'expectoration est survenue chez 3, 46, 57 et 78 patients respectivement à 2, 3, 4 et 6 mois, avec une durée médiane entre le frottis d'expectoration et la conversion de culture de 3 mois. Les 44 isolats de TB-MDR avec un résultat MIRU-VNTR ont montré une diversité génétique élevée avec un faible taux de regroupement (9,09%) et la sous-famille de la lignée Ouganda II étant la plus prévalente détectée dans 68,2% des isolats. La famille Beijing était le génotype le moins fréquemment détecté (2,3%, 1 isolat). CONCLUSION: Les taux de succès élevés du traitement de la TB-MDR obtenus au Rwanda étaient comparables aux résultats observés dans les régions riches en ressources, le VIH étant un facteur de risque indépendant d'un mauvais résultat du traitement. La diversité génétique élevée et le faible taux de regroupement rapportés ici suggèrent que la réactivation d'une maladie antérieure joue un rôle important dans la transmission de la TB-MDR au Rwanda.

Hepatitis B vaccination coverage among healthcare workers at a tertiary hospital in Rwanda.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated post-vaccination immunity status and describe potential risk factors associated with the lack of response among healthcare workers (HCWs) at a tertiary care hospital in Kigali, Rwanda. RESULTS: Of 373 HCWs, 291 (78.2%) were female and 81 (21.8%) were male. The mean age of the study participants was 40.2 years (standard deviation [SD], 7.7 years), within a range of 24-41 years. Participants' mean BMI was 25.4 ± 6.6 kg/m2, with more than half of patients (60.3%) being overweight. 96% received all three doses of vaccination. A total of 36 participants (9.6%) were considered non responders as they did not develop a sufficient anti-HBs response post vaccination. The anti-HBs response was significantly higher in females when compared to males (p = 0.02). Interestingly, there was no significant association between decline in antibody levels with age (p = 0.242) and BMI (p = 0.516) of the participants. The anti-HBs titers were similar in the group of participants who had received two doses and those who had received three doses of the HBV vaccination. Overall the findings of our study provide a basis for testing for anti-HBs in all HCWs post vaccination in Rwanda.