Kakumba, J.M.; Kindenge, J.M.; Kapepula, P.M.; Iyamba, J.-M.L.; Mashi, M.L.; Mulwahali, J.W.; Kialengila, D.M. Evaluation of Antibiotic Prescribing Pattern Using WHO Access, Watch and Reserve Classification in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Antibiotics2023, 12, 1239.
Kakumba, J.M.; Kindenge, J.M.; Kapepula, P.M.; Iyamba, J.-M.L.; Mashi, M.L.; Mulwahali, J.W.; Kialengila, D.M. Evaluation of Antibiotic Prescribing Pattern Using WHO Access, Watch and Reserve Classification in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Antibiotics 2023, 12, 1239.
Kakumba, J.M.; Kindenge, J.M.; Kapepula, P.M.; Iyamba, J.-M.L.; Mashi, M.L.; Mulwahali, J.W.; Kialengila, D.M. Evaluation of Antibiotic Prescribing Pattern Using WHO Access, Watch and Reserve Classification in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Antibiotics2023, 12, 1239.
Kakumba, J.M.; Kindenge, J.M.; Kapepula, P.M.; Iyamba, J.-M.L.; Mashi, M.L.; Mulwahali, J.W.; Kialengila, D.M. Evaluation of Antibiotic Prescribing Pattern Using WHO Access, Watch and Reserve Classification in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Antibiotics 2023, 12, 1239.
Abstract
Background: The AWaRe tool was set up by the World Health Organization (WHO) to promote the rational use of antimicrobials. Indeed, this tool classifies antibiotics into four groups, Access, Watch, Reserve and not-recommended antibiotics. In Republic Democratic of Congo, data on antibiotic dispensing (prescribing) by health professionals according to the AWaRe classification are scarce. In this research work, we aimed to explore antibiotic dispensing pattern from health professionals according to the WHO AWaRe classification to strengthen the national antimicrobial resistance plan.
Methods: For this purpose, a survey was conducted from July to December 2022 in the district of Tshangu in Kinshasa. From randomly selected drugstores, drug-sellers were interviewed and randomly selected customers attending those drugstores were included in the study for medical prescriptions collection. The prescribed antibiotics were classified into the Access, Watch, Reserve and not recommended antibiotics group and by antibiotics number by prescription among pharmacies surveyed.
Results: Of 400 medical prescriptions collected, 301 (75.25%) contained antibiotics. Of 301 prescriptions containing antibiotics, 164 (164/301; 54.5%) contained one antibiotic, 117 (117/301; 38.9%) two antibiotics, 15 (15/301; 5%) three antibiotics and 5 (5/301; 1.6%) 4 antibiotics. Out of the total of 463 antibiotics prescribed, 169 (169/463; 36.5%) were from the Access group, 200 (200/463; 43.2%) from the Watch group and 94 (94/463; 20.3%) from not recommended antibiotics group, respectively. Based on the anatomical, therapeutic and chemical (ATC) classification, it can be seen that third generation cephalosporins contained 34.33% of the prescribed antibiotics, followed by penicillins 17.17%, macrolides 7.63%, aminoglycosides 7. 36% and Imidazoles 7.36%, thus accounting approximately for 74% of the classes of antibiotics prescribed. Of the 463 antibiotics prescribed, the most frequently prescribed antibiotics were Ceftriaxone (21.38%), Amoxicillin (11.01%), Gentamycin (5.61%), Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (5 .61%), Azithromycin (4.97%) and Metronidazole (4.75%), thus accounting for approximately 54% of all antibiotics prescribed.
Conclusion: These results highlight the importance of strict implementation of the national plan to combat antimicrobial resistance and the need to train health workers in the correct application of the WHO AWaRe classification.
Keywords
antibiotic; prescribing pattern; prescription; antimicrobial resistance; WHO AWaRe classification
Subject
Medicine and Pharmacology, Pharmacy
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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