Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Community Pharmacy Professionals on Poultry Antibiotic Dispensing, Use, and Bacterial Antimicrobial Resistance in Zambia: Implications on Antibiotic Stewardship and WHO AWaRe Classification of Antibiotics
Steward Mudenda,
Moses Mukosha,
Brian Godman,
Joseph Fadare,
Sydney Malama,
Musso Munyeme,
Christabel Nang’andu Hikaambo,
Aubrey Chichonyi Kalungia,
Audrey Hamachila,
Henson Kainga,
Flavien Nsoni Bumbangi,
Victor Daka,
Ruth Lindizyani Mfune,
Geoffrey Mainda,
Webrod Mufwambi,
Prudence Mpundu,
Maisa Kasanga,
Shereen Ahmed Mohammed Saad,
John Bwalya Muma
Affiliations
Steward Mudenda
Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka P.O. Box 50110, Zambia
Moses Mukosha
Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka P.O. Box 50110, Zambia
Brian Godman
Department of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria 0208, South Africa
Joseph Fadare
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Ekiti State University College of Medicine, Ado-Ekiti 362103, Nigeria
Sydney Malama
Department of Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka P.O. Box 32379, Zambia
Musso Munyeme
Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka P.O. Box 32379, Zambia
Christabel Nang’andu Hikaambo
Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka P.O. Box 50110, Zambia
Aubrey Chichonyi Kalungia
Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka P.O. Box 50110, Zambia
Audrey Hamachila
Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka P.O. Box 50110, Zambia
Henson Kainga
Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka P.O. Box 32379, Zambia
Flavien Nsoni Bumbangi
Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka P.O. Box 32379, Zambia
Victor Daka
Africa Center of Excellence for Infectious Diseases of Humans and Animals, University of Zambia, Lusaka P.O. Box 32379, Zambia
Ruth Lindizyani Mfune
Michael Chilufya Sata School of Medicine, Copperbelt University, Ndola P.O. Box 21692, Zambia
Geoffrey Mainda
Department of Veterinary Services, Central Veterinary Research Institute, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Lusaka P.O. Box 50060, Zambia
Webrod Mufwambi
Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka P.O. Box 50110, Zambia
Prudence Mpundu
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Levy Mwanawasa Medical University, School of Health Sciences, Lusaka P.O. Box 33991, Zambia
Maisa Kasanga
College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
Shereen Ahmed Mohammed Saad
Africa Center of Excellence for Infectious Diseases of Humans and Animals, University of Zambia, Lusaka P.O. Box 32379, Zambia
John Bwalya Muma
Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka P.O. Box 32379, Zambia
Globally, the inappropriate dispensing and use of antibiotics in animals has contributed to the development of bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In Zambia, there is insufficient information among community pharmacy professionals on antibiotic use (ABU) and AMR in food-producing animals. This study assessed community pharmacy professionals’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding poultry antibiotic dispensing, use, and bacterial AMR in the Lusaka district of Zambia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 178 community pharmacy professionals between February and April 2022 using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Stata version 17. Of the total participants (n = 178), 51.1% (n = 91) were pharmacists. The most dispensed antibiotic was oxytetracycline, a Watch antibiotic, mainly without prescriptions. Good knowledge of ABU and AMR was associated with work experience for more than one year (p = 0.016), while good practices were associated with male gender (p = 0.039) and work experience of more than one year (p = 0.011). The study found moderate knowledge, positive attitudes, and moderate practices of pharmacy professionals on poultry ABU and AMR. There was high dispensing of poultry antibiotics without prescriptions, which calls for strict implementation of antimicrobial stewardship and surveillance programs in poultry production in Zambia to reduce AMR.
