Antimicrobial stewardship: Attitudes, perceptions, and practices of healthcare workers in a pediatric tertiary hospital
- Author:
Angelina C. Bernardo
;
Jay Ron O. Padua
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
AMS;
Pediatric
- MeSH:
Antimicrobial Stewardship;
Viperidae;
Health Personnel
- From:
The Philippine Children’s Medical Center Journal
2024;20(1):1-21
- CountryPhilippines
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Objectives:This study aims to determine the healthcare workers’ (HCWs) attitudes,
perceptions, and practices regarding Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) at the Philippine Children's
Medical Center (PCMC).
Materials and Methods:This cross-sectional study employed a validated online survey.
Results:The study included 288 healthcare workers, predominantly female (77.35% ) and
aged 31-40 years (47.74%), with physicians being the largest professional group (57.14%). HCWs
had positive attitudes toward AMS. They perceived moderate to high antimicrobial resistance
(AMR) levels in different contexts but believed the hospital had lower AMR levels than the
country. HCWs agreed that AMR impacts antimicrobial choices, patient outcomes, and safety.
Contributors to AMR were prescribing inappropriate antimicrobials, unnecessary prescriptions,
poor patient adherence, and inadequate infection control measures. HCWs, except medical
technologists, were aware of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) and its interventions.
Only nurses and pharmacists were aware of the hospital policies against AMR. Barriers to AMS
implementation include inadequate training in antimicrobial use, lack of infectious disease/
microbiology services, lack of electronic medication management services, and personnel shortages.
HCWs had high self-reported AMS practices, but a practice gap in single-dose surgical antibiotic
prophylaxis was identified, with low physician adherence (50.6%).
Conclusion:This study revealed positive attitudes and high self-reported AMS practices
among HCWs. They also perceived moderate to high AMR in different contexts but believed that
the hospital has lower AMR levels than the country. Addressing the identified barriers to
implementation and practice gaps is crucial for achieving antimicrobial stewardship goals.
- Full text:2024062614073078139Antimicrobial stewardship.pdf
