The use of antibiotics at Buea Regional Hospital

Abstract

Degree Project Thesis, Programme in Medicine. TITLE: The use of antibiotics at Buea Regional Hospital. Abstract Master Thesis, Programme in Medicine. The use of antibiotics at Buea Regional Hospital, Frida Graumann, 2014, Institute of Biomedicine, Gothenburg, Sweden Key words: Antibiotic resistance, antibiotic treatment, point prevalence survey, E coli, K pneumoniae, urine cultures, Cameroon Background: Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem around the world. A rational use of antibiotics is one way to slow it down. Global action is needed. Cameroon is a low-income country in the west central Africa. Here, there are no national guidelines for the use of antibiotics, and few studies have been made on the topic. Aims: The main aim was to study the use of antibiotics at the Buea Regional Hospital. An additional aim was to investigate the prevalence of Gram-negative bacteria, mainly Escherichia Coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, in urine among in-patients. Methods: A modified point-prevalence survey (PPS) was conducted in three wards in the hospital during September-November 2014. Urine cultures were performed. When Gramnegative bacteria were found, an Analytical Profile Index (API 20E, bioMérieux, Marcy l'Etoile, France) was used for species determination. Results: 102 patients were included. Sixty-two of the patients (61 %) were on antibiotic treatment on the day of the study. Twenty-two urine samples were obtained, and 15 of these (68 %) showed bacterial growth. Seven were Gram-negative: 5 were E Coli and 2 were K pneumoniae. Discussion: In Cameroon, the burden of infections is high, and the health care system is based on ‘out-of-pocket’ payments from the patients. This makes empirical antibiotic use common. Conclusions: The proportion of patients on antibiotics was high, 61 %. More diagnostic methods, especially cultures, could be used prior to antibiotic prescription. More studies are needed on the use of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance in Cameroon.