Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control (Apr 2024)

Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of Latin American healthcare workers relating to antibiotic stewardship and antibiotic use: a cross-sectional multi-country study

  • Valeria Fabre,
  • Sara E. Cosgrove,
  • Fernanda C. Lessa,
  • Twisha S. Patel,
  • Guadalupe Reyes-Morales,
  • Washington R. Aleman,
  • Andrea Alvarado Alvarez,
  • Bowen Aquiles,
  • Ana B. Arauz,
  • Facundo Arguello,
  • Maria Fernanda Barberis,
  • Laura Barcan,
  • Maria P. Bernachea,
  • Marisa L. Bernan,
  • Carlos Buitrago,
  • Maria Del Carmen Bangher,
  • Ximena Castañeda,
  • Angel M. Colque,
  • Alfredo Canton,
  • Rosa Contreras,
  • Silvia Correa,
  • Gustavo Costilla Campero,
  • Lidia Espinola,
  • Clara Esquivel,
  • Cecilia Ezcurra,
  • Leandro A. Falleroni,
  • Johana Fernandez,
  • Sandra Ferrari,
  • Natalia Frassone,
  • Carlos Garcia Cruz,
  • Maria Isabel Garzón,
  • Carlos H. Gomez Quintero,
  • José A. Gonzalez,
  • Lucrecia Guaymas,
  • Fausto Guerrero-Toapanta,
  • Sandra Lambert,
  • Diego Laplume,
  • Paola R. Lazarte,
  • César G. Lemir,
  • Angelica Lopez,
  • Itzel L. Lopez,
  • Herberth Maldonado,
  • Guadalupe Martinez,
  • Diego M. Maurizi,
  • Mario Melgar,
  • Florencia Mesplet,
  • Carlos Morales Pertuz,
  • Cristina Moreno,
  • Gabriela L. Moya,
  • Yanina Nuccetelli,
  • Glendys Núñez,
  • Carolina Osuna,
  • Belén Palacio,
  • Florencia Pellice,
  • Carla Raffo,
  • Fanny Reino Choto,
  • Gerardo Ricoy,
  • Viviana Rodriguez,
  • Federico Romero,
  • Juan J. Romero,
  • Maria Eugenia Russo,
  • Graciela Sadino,
  • Nancy Sandoval,
  • Mirta G. Silva,
  • Alejandra M. Urueña,
  • Ligia Vence Reyes,
  • Hugo Videla,
  • Marisol Valle,
  • Silvia Vera Amate Perez,
  • Hernan Vergara-Samur,
  • Silvina Villamandos,
  • Olmedo Villarreal,
  • Alejandra Viteri,
  • Eduardo Warley,
  • Rodolfo E. Quiros

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-024-01400-w
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 1
pp. 1 – 7

Abstract

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Abstract Background The burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Latin America is high. Little is known about healthcare workers’ (HCWs) knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of antimicrobial stewardship (AS), AMR, and antibiotic use (AU) in the region. Methods HCWs from 42 hospitals from 5 Latin American countries were invited to take an electronic, voluntary, anonymous survey regarding knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of AS, AMR, and AU between March–April 2023. Findings Overall, 996 HCWs completed the survey (52% physicians, 32% nurses, 11% pharmacists, 3% microbiologists, and 2% “other”). More than 90% of respondents indicated optimizing AU was a priority at their healthcare facility (HCF), 69% stated the importance of AS was communicated at their HCF, and 23% were unfamiliar with the term “antibiotic stewardship”. Most (> 95%) respondents acknowledged that appropriate AU can reduce AMR; however, few thought AU (< 30%) or AMR (< 50%) were a problem in their HCF. Lack of access to antibiogram and to locally endorsed guidelines was reported by 51% and 34% of HCWs, respectively. Among prescribers, 53% did not consider non-physicians’ opinions to make antibiotic-related decisions, 22% reported not receiving education on how to select antibiotics based on culture results and 60% stated patients and families influence their antibiotic decisions. Conclusions Although HCWs perceived improving AU as a priority, they did not perceive AU or AMR as a problem in their HCF. AS opportunities include improved access to guidelines, access to AMR/AU data, teamwork, and education on AS for HCWs and patients and families.

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