National Antibiotics Utilization Trends for Human Use in Tanzania from 2010 to 2016 Inferred from Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority Importation Data
Raphael Zozimus Sangeda,
Habibu Ally Saburi,
Faustine Cassian Masatu,
Beatrice Godwin Aiko,
Erick Alexander Mboya,
Sonia Mkumbwa,
Adonis Bitegeko,
Yonah Hebron Mwalwisi,
Emmanuel Alphonse Nkiligi,
Mhina Chambuso,
Hiiti Baran Sillo,
Adam M. Fimbo,
Pius Gerald Horumpende
Affiliations
Raphael Zozimus Sangeda
Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65013, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Habibu Ally Saburi
Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65013, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Faustine Cassian Masatu
Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority, P.O. Box 77150, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Beatrice Godwin Aiko
Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacy Practice, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65013, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Erick Alexander Mboya
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Sonia Mkumbwa
Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority, P.O. Box 77150, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Adonis Bitegeko
Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority, P.O. Box 77150, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Yonah Hebron Mwalwisi
Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority, P.O. Box 77150, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Emmanuel Alphonse Nkiligi
Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority, P.O. Box 77150, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Mhina Chambuso
Department of Pharmacy, Kampala International University in Tanzania, P.O. Box 9790, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Hiiti Baran Sillo
Regulation and Prequalification Department, World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
Adam M. Fimbo
Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority, P.O. Box 77150, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Pius Gerald Horumpende
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, P.O. Box 2232, Moshi, Tanzania
Antimicrobial use (AMU) is one of the major drivers of emerging antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The surveillance of AMU, which is a pillar of AMR stewardship (AMS), helps devise strategies to mitigate AMR. This descriptive, longitudinal retrospective study quantified the trends in human antibiotics utilization between 2010 and 2016 using data on all antibiotics imported for systemic human use into Tanzania’s mainland. Regression and time series analyses were used to establish trends in antibiotics use. A total of 12,073 records for antibiotics were retrieved, totaling 154.51 Defined Daily Doses per 1000 inhabitants per day (DID), with a mean (±standard deviation) of 22.07 (±48.85) DID. The private sector contributed 93.76% of utilized antibiotics. The top-ranking antibiotics were amoxicillin, metronidazole, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, and cefalexin. The DIDs and percentage contribution of these antibiotics were 53.78 (34.81%), 23.86 (15.44), 20.53 (13.29), 9.27 (6.0) and 6.94 (4.49), respectively. The time series model predicted a significant increase in utilization (p-value = 0.002). The model forecasted that by 2022, the total antibiotics consumed would be 89.6 DIDs, which is a 13-fold increase compared to 2010. Government intervention to curb inappropriate antibiotics utilization and mitigate the rising threat of antibiotic resistance should focus on implementing AMS programs in pharmacies and hospitals in Tanzania.
