Kathleen Holloway

Trends in antibiotic use among outpatients in New Delhi, India

BackgroundThe overall volume of antibiotic consumption in the community is one of the foremost causes of antimicrobial resistance. There is much ad-hoc information about the inappropriate consumption of antibiotics, over-the-counter availability, and inadequate dosage but there is very little actual evidence of community practices.MethodsThis study surveyed antibiotic use in the community (December 2007-November 2008) using the established methodology of patient exit interviews at three types of facilities: 20 private retail pharmacies, 10 public sector facilities, and 20 private clinics to obtain a complete picture of community antibiotic use over a year. The Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification and the Defined Daily Dose (DDD) measurement units were assigned to the data. Antibiotic use was measured as DDD/1000 patients visiting the facility and also as percent of patients receiving an antibiotic.ResultsDuring the data collection period, 17995, 9205, and 5922 patients visiting private retail pharmacies, public facilities and private clinics, respectively, were included in our study. 39% of the patients attending private retail pharmacies and public facilities and 43% of patients visiting private clinics were prescribed at least one antibiotic. Consumption patterns of antibiotics were similar at private retail pharmacies and private clinics where fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins, and extended spectrum penicillins were the three most commonly prescribed groups of antibiotics. At public facilities, there was a more even use of all the major antibiotic groups including penicillins, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, cephalosporins, tetracyclines, and cotrimoxazole. Newer members from each class of antibiotics were prescribed. Not much seasonal variation was seen although slightly higher consumption of some antibiotics in winter and slightly higher consumption of fluoroquinolones during the rainy season were observed.ConclusionsA very high consumption of antibiotics was observed in both public and private sector outpatients. There was a high use of broad spectrum and newer antibiotics in the community. Suitable and sustainable interventions should be implemented to promote rational use of antibiotics that will help in decreasing the menace of antibiotic resistance.

Irrational use of antibiotics and role of the pharmacist: an insight from a qualitative study in New Delhi, India

What is known and Objective:  The overall volume of antibiotic consumption in the community is one of the foremost causes of antimicrobial resistance. In developing countries like India, pharmacists often dispense ‘prescription‐only’ drugs, like antibiotics, to patients who do not have a prescription. Not much data is available regarding detailed information on behaviour of antibiotic use by community pharmacists which is of particular significance to develop a suitable and sustainable intervention programme to promote rational use of antibiotics. A qualitative study was conducted to understand the dispensing practices and behaviour of community pharmacists to develop policy interventions that would improve the use of antibiotics at the community level.

Have we improved use of medicines in developing and transitional countries and do we know how to? Two decades of evidence.

To assess progress in improving use of medicines in developing and transitional countries by reviewing empirical evidence, 1990–2009, concerning patterns of primary care medicine use and intervention effects.

Antimicrobial resistance surveillance among commensal Escherichia coli in rural and urban areas in Southern India.

Objective  To assess antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Tamil Nadu, India.

Patterns of antibiotic use in the community and challenges of antibiotic surveillance in a lower-middle-income country setting: a repeated cross-sectional study in Vellore, South India.

OBJECTIVES There is considerable evidence linking antibiotic usage to bacterial resistance. Intervention strategies are needed to contain antibiotic use and thereby resistance. To plan appropriate strategies, it is imperative to undertake surveillance in the community to monitor antibiotic encounters and drivers of specific antibiotic misuse. Such surveillance is rarely in place in lower-middle-income countries (LMICs). This study describes antibiotic patterns and challenges faced while developing such surveillance systems in an LMIC. PATIENTS AND METHODS Surveillance of antibiotic encounters (prescriptions and dispensations) was carried out using a repeated cross-sectional design for 2 years in Vellore, south India. Every month, patients attending 30 health facilities (small hospitals, general practitioner clinics and pharmacy shops) were observed until 30 antibiotic encounters were attained in each. Antibiotic use was expressed as the percentage of encounters containing specific antibiotics and defined daily doses (DDDs)/100 patients. Bulk antibiotic sales data were also collected. RESULTS Over 2 years, a total of 52,788 patients were observed and 21,600 antibiotic encounters (40.9%) were accrued. Fluoroquinolones and penicillins were widely used. Rural hospitals used co-trimoxazole more often and urban private hospitals used cephalosporins more often; 41.1% of antibiotic prescriptions were for respiratory infections. The main challenges in surveillance included issues regarding sampling, data collection, denominator calculation and sustainability. CONCLUSIONS Patterns of antibiotic use varied across health facilities, suggesting that interventions should involve all types of health facilities. Although challenges were encountered, our study shows that it is possible to develop surveillance systems in LMICs and the data generated may be used to plan feasible interventions, assess impact and thereby contain resistance.

Surveillance of community antimicrobial use in resource-constrained settings – experience from five pilot projects

Objective  To investigate the feasibility of surveillance of antimicrobial use in the community in resource‐constrained settings. Overuse and misuse of antimicrobial medicines is contributing to the development of resistance. The WHO Global Strategy for Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance recommends surveillance of use at all levels of the health sector but this is not done in most low and middle income countries.

Antibiotic prescribing practice for acute, uncomplicated respiratory tract infections in primary care settings in New Delhi, India.

To obtain information on prescribing rates and choice of antibiotics for acute, uncomplicated respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in the community.

Antibiotic use and resistance: perceptions and ethical challenges among doctors, pharmacists and the public in Vellore, South India.

Inappropriate antibiotic use and resistance are major public health challenges. Interventional strategies require ascertaining the perceptions of major stakeholders and documenting the challenges to changing practice. Towards this aim, a qualitative study was conducted in Vellore, South India, using focus group discussions among doctors, pharmacists and public. There were eight groups with six to eight participants each. The themes explored were: understanding of infections, antibiotics and resistance; practices and pressure driving antibiotic use; and strategies for appropriate use. Data were transcribed, analysed, verified and a summary prepared with salient features and quotations. It was found that the public had minimal awareness of resistance, antibiotics and infections. They wanted symptomatic relief. Doctors reported prescribing antibiotics for perceived patient expectations and quick recovery. Business concerns contributed to antibiotics sales among pharmacists. Pharmaceutical industry incentives and healthcare provider competition were the main ethical challenges. Suggested interventional strategies by the participants included creating public awareness, better healthcare provider communication, improved diagnostic support, strict implementation of guidelines, continuing education, and strengthening of regulations. Perceived patient benefit, unrestricted autonomy and business-cum-industry pressures are promoting inappropriate use of antibiotics. Strategies improving responsible use will help preserve their effectiveness, and provide distributive justice and benefit for future generations.

Community intervention to promote rational treatment of acute respiratory infection in rural Nepal

Objective  To evaluate a community education program about treatment of acute respiratory infection (ARI).

The influence of user fees and patient demand on prescribers in rural Nepal.

Irrational prescribing and over-prescription is a world-wide problem. Prescribers often cite patient demand as one of the main reasons why they over-prescribe, but the degree to which this is so is unknown. This article describes a study to test the hypothesis that patient demand causes over-prescription. The study occurred within the context of different kinds of nominal user fee for drugs in Nepal, where it was assumed that charging per drug item would deter patient demand, and hence over-prescription, as compared to charging per prescription. Focus group discussions with patients attending rural health facilities explored patient attitudes towards drugs. Patients and health workers were interviewed to gather quantitative data on (1) patient demand, and (2) health worker views of patient demand and their own prescribing habits, and comparing these with the drugs actually prescribed and dispensed to patients. Patients felt they needed more drugs than they were prescribed or dispensed, but stated that they would be happy to accept advice from prescribers for fewer drugs. In all areas of whatever fee type, there was no association between the number of drug items patients felt they needed pre-consultation and the number of drug items that they actually received as observed postconsultation. However, there was a significant association between the average number of drug items per patient that prescribers stated they usually prescribed and the actual number that were prescribed. It was concluded that patient demand was not affected by different kinds of user fee and did not directly influence prescribing behaviour.