Rational use of antibiotics implies appropriate choice of an antibiotic administered at correct dose, frequency, and duration using the most suitable route of administration. Irrational antibiotics ...use is associated with antimicrobial resistance, drug failure, and high mortality in the critical care units (CCUs). This study sought to establish rational use of antibiotics and determinants of clinical outcomes of patients admitted to the CCUs at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). The findings would guide policy formulation of antibiotics use in hospital CCUs in Kenya and the region.
Retrospective review of 220 admissions to the KNH CCUs over the period February 2018-February 2020 was conducted. Participants' sociodemographics, clinical characteristics, antibiotics therapy, and outcome of admission were extracted from patient files and analyzed using STATA version 23. Determinants of irrational antibiotic use and covariates of clinical outcomes were computed at 95% confidence.
The prevalence of rational use of antibiotics was only 18.5%. Inappropriate choice of antibiotics (51.0%) and incorrect duration (32.3%) were the most common irrational practices. Flucloxacillin (100%), cefuroxime (93.3%), cefazolin (85.7%), and ceftriaxone (83.0%) were the most irrationally used antibiotics. Irrational use of ceftriaxone was significantly associated with clinical diagnosis (p = 0.012), while that of amoxiclav was associated with patient risk category (p = 0.039). Mortality in the CCUs was 10%, and the odds of dying were almost six times among intubated patients compared to those who were not (AOR 5.5, 95% CI = 1.1-28.1, p = 0.042).
Irrational antibiotics prescribing is high in the KNH CCUs, attributable largely to incorrect choice and wrong duration of antibiotic use. Mortality was significantly associated with intubation. Intensification of management in critical care settings should be directed toward intubated patients while ensuring appropriate choice of antibiotics administered for the correct duration. Future studies should explore factors that could promote rational antibiotics use in critical care settings.
Antibiotics are important in the management of infections. Therefore, they should be used properly as guided by the 5Rs of antimicrobials use, namely, right choice of antibiotic for a particular disease, administered at the right dose, for the right duration, at the right frequency via the right route of administration.
We sought to establish the extent to which the use of antibiotics adheres to the established guidelines in the treatment and prevention of infections among patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) of Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), Kenya.
We reviewed and analyzed medical records of 220 patients admitted in the KNH ICUs in the period between February 2018 and February 2020.
Antibiotics were used properly in only 18.5% of the cases. Unsuitable choice of antibiotics (51.0%) and incorrect duration (32.3%) were the major contributors to improper use. Flucloxacillin (100%), cefuroxime (93.3%), cefazolin (85.7%), and ceftriaxone (83.0%) were the most inappropriately used antibiotics. Approximately 10% of those admitted to the ICU died. Further, the probability of dying was almost six times among intubated patients compared to those who were not.
The use of antibiotics in the KNH CCUs is not in tandem with established guidelines, owing to inappropriate selection and wrong duration of use. Though death was associated with intubation, more studies are needed to find out factors promoting appropriate antibiotics use in the ICUs so that clinicians can follow them in the treatment of patients.
Antimicrobial stewardship encourages appropriate antibiotic use, the specific activities of which will vary by institutional context. We investigated regional variation in antibiotic use by surveying ...three regional public hospitals in Kenya. Hospital-level data for antimicrobial stewardship activities, infection prevention and control, and laboratory diagnostic capacities were collected from hospital administrators, heads of infection prevention and control units, and laboratory directors, respectively. Patient-level antibiotic use data were abstracted from medical records using a modified World Health Organization point-prevalence survey form. Altogether, 1,071 consenting patients were surveyed at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH, n = 579), Coast Provincial General Hospital (CPGH, n = 229) and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH, n = 263). The majority (67%, 722/1071) were ≥18 years and 53% (563/1071) were female. Forty-six percent (46%, 489/1071) were receiving at least one antibiotic. Antibiotic use was higher among children <5 years (70%, 150/224) than among other age groups (40%, 339/847; P < 0.001). Critical care (82%, 14/17 patients) and pediatric wards (59%, 155/265) had the highest proportion of antibiotic users. Amoxicillin/clavulanate was the most frequently used antibiotic at KNH (17%, 64/383 antibiotic doses), and ceftriaxone was most used at CPGH (29%, 55/189) and MTRH (31%, 57/184). Forty-three percent (326/756) of all antibiotic prescriptions had at least one missed dose recorded. Forty-six percent (204/489) of patients on antibiotics had a specific infectious disease diagnosis, of which 18% (37/204) had soft-tissue infections, 17% (35/204) had clinical sepsis, 15% (31/204) had pneumonia, 13% (27/204) had central nervous system infections and 10% (20/204) had obstetric or gynecological infections. Of these, 27% (56/204) had bacterial culture tests ordered, with culture results available for 68% (38/56) of tests. Missed antibiotic doses, low use of specimen cultures to guide therapy, high rates of antibiotic use, particularly in the pediatric and surgical population, and preference for broad-spectrum antibiotics suggest antibiotic use in these tertiary care hospitals is not optimal. Antimicrobial stewardship programs, policies, and guidelines should be tailored to address these areas.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Objective: To characterize the predictors of potential drug-drug interactions among adult diabetic hypertensive outpatients at Kenyatta National Hospital.
Methods: This cross-sectional study ...collected and analyzed data on potential drug interactions from 104 diabetic hypertensive outpatients (aged ≥18 y) at the Department of Endocrinology Outpatient Clinic of Kenyatta National Hospital from 1st May 2019 to 31st August 2019. The main outcome measure was the prevalence of potential drug-drug interactions and their predictors among the study population.
Results: There was a female preponderance (70.2%). The mean age of the study participants was 61.6 y (SD±10.8). The prevalence of potential drug interactions was high at 57.7%. The average number of drug interactions was one interacting pair per patient, with a majority of the prescriptions (81.0%) having moderate drug-drug interactions. Patients receiving>2 drugs were almost three times more likely to have drug-drug interaction compared to those prescribed ≤ 2 drugs (AOR=2.79; 95% CI: 1.11-7.28); p=0.029). Participants who were at stage 4 of hypertension were 2.5 times more likely to have a drug-drug interaction compared to the other stages of hypertension (AOR=2.52; 95% CI 1.31-4.89; p=0.007).
Conclusion: Polypharmacy and stage 4 hypertension are independently associated with drug-drug interactions among patients with both diabetes and hypertension. Future studies should characterize the specific type of drug interactions and possible targets of minimization of drug-drug interactions.
Objective: To characterize the clinical significance of potential drug interactions and identify the targets for their minimization among adult diabetic hypertensive outpatients at Kenyatta National ...Hospital.
Methods: This cross-sectional study collected and analyzed data from 104 diabetic hypertensive outpatients (aged ≥18 y) at the Department of Endocrinology Outpatient Clinic of Kenyatta National Hospital from 1st May 2019 to 31st August 2019. The main outcome measure was the clinical significance of potential drug interactions and the targets for minimization. Participants’ sociodemographic data, drugs prescribed and targets for prevention of potential drug-drug interactions were extracted from patient medical records into predesigned data collection forms. Potential drug interactions were identified using the Micromedex® drug interaction checker. Data was exported to STATA® software version 13 for analysis.
Results: The study comprised predominantly females (70.2%) and the mean age was 61.6 (±10.8) years. Over 80% of patients were receiving renin inhibitors or metformin and the commonest potential drug interaction (25.0%) was antidiabetics-beta blockers. The most common potential clinical outcome of the drug-drug interaction was hyperkalemic lactic acidosis (14.4%), induced by combining enalapril with metformin, and hypoglycemia (9.6%) on concomitant use of antidiabetic and beta-blocker. Adverse clinical outcomes were mainly minimized through regular blood sugar checks (100%), blood pressure monitoring (98.1%), and minimal HbA1c (30.8%) checks as well as serum urea and electrolytes (17.3%) measurements.
Conclusion: There are potential adverse outcomes of combination pharmacologic therapies among diabetic hypertensive patients in Kenyatta National Hospital. Apart from the clinical monitoring, clinicians should be aware that diabetic hypertensive patients are likely to have serious adverse effects of drug interactions and, therefore, institute or intensify other measures such as arterial blood gases and serum electrolyte tests.
Abstract
Objectives
To evaluate the practice of aminoglycoside use/monitoring in Kenya and explore healthcare worker (HCW) perceptions of aminoglycoside monitoring to identify gaps and opportunities ...for future improvements, given the low therapeutic index of aminoglycosides.
Methods
This was a two-phase study whereby we reviewed patients’ medical records at Kenyatta National Hospital (October–December 2016) in Phase 1 and interviewed HCWs face to face in Phase 2. Outcome measures included describing and evaluating the practice of aminoglycoside use and monitoring and compliance to guidelines. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential analysis.
Results
Overall, out of the 2318 patients admitted, 192 patients (8.3%) were prescribed an aminoglycoside, of which 102 (53.1%) had aminoglycoside doses that did not conform to national guidelines. Aminoglycoside-related adverse effects were suspected in 65 (33.9%) patients. Monitoring of aminoglycoside therapy was performed in only 17 (8.9%) patients, with no therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), attributed mainly to knowledge and skill gaps and lack of resources. Out of the 28 recruited HCWs, 18 (64.3%) needed training in how to perform and interpret TDM results.
Conclusions
The practice of using and monitoring aminoglycosides was suboptimal, raising concerns around potential avoidable harm to patients. The identified gaps could form the basis for developing strategies to improve the future use of aminoglycosides, not only in Kenya but also in other countries with similar settings and resources.
Pharmacy Practice in Kenya Aywak, Dorothy; Jaguga, Collins D P; Nkonge, Nancy G ...
Canadian journal of hospital pharmacy,
11/2017, Volume:
70, Issue:
6
Journal Article
Antimicrobial stewardship encourages appropriate antibiotic use, the specific activities of which will vary by institutional context. We investigated regional variation in antibiotic use by surveying ...three regional public hospitals in Kenya. Hospital-level data for antimicrobial stewardship activities, infection prevention and control, and laboratory diagnostic capacities were collected from hospital administrators, heads of infection prevention and control units, and laboratory directors, respectively. Patient-level antibiotic use data were abstracted from medical records using a modified World Health Organization point-prevalence survey form. Altogether, 1,071 consenting patients were surveyed at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH, n = 579), Coast Provincial General Hospital (CPGH, n = 229) and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH, n = 263). The majority (67%, 722/1071) were ≥18 years and 53% (563/1071) were female. Forty-six percent (46%, 489/1071) were receiving at least one antibiotic. Antibiotic use was higher among children <5 years (70%, 150/224) than among other age groups (40%, 339/847; P < 0.001). Critical care (82%, 14/17 patients) and pediatric wards (59%, 155/265) had the highest proportion of antibiotic users. Amoxicillin/clavulanate was the most frequently used antibiotic at KNH (17%, 64/383 antibiotic doses), and ceftriaxone was most used at CPGH (29%, 55/189) and MTRH (31%, 57/184). Forty-three percent (326/756) of all antibiotic prescriptions had at least one missed dose recorded. Forty-six percent (204/489) of patients on antibiotics had a specific infectious disease diagnosis, of which 18% (37/204) had soft-tissue infections, 17% (35/204) had clinical sepsis, 15% (31/204) had pneumonia, 13% (27/204) had central nervous system infections and 10% (20/204) had obstetric or gynecological infections. Of these, 27% (56/204) had bacterial culture tests ordered, with culture results available for 68% (38/56) of tests. Missed antibiotic doses, low use of specimen cultures to guide therapy, high rates of antibiotic use, particularly in the pediatric and surgical population, and preference for broad-spectrum antibiotics suggest antibiotic use in these tertiary care hospitals is not optimal. Antimicrobial stewardship programs, policies, and guidelines should be tailored to address these areas.
Full text
Available for:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK