Point-prevalence surveys of antimicrobial consumption and resistance at a paediatric and an adult tertiary referral hospital in Yangon, Myanmar.

BACKGROUND

Antimicrobial resistance is increasingly prevalent worldwide. The inappropriate use of antimicrobials, including in the hospital setting, is considered a major driver of antimicrobial resistance.

AIM

To inform improvements in antimicrobial stewardship, we undertook point prevalence surveys of antimicrobial prescribing at Yangon Children's Hospital and Yangon General Hospital in Yangon, Myanmar.

METHODS

We conducted our surveys using the Global Point-Prevalence Survey of Antimicrobial Consumption and Resistance (Global-PPS) method. All inpatients who were prescribed an antimicrobial on the day of the survey were included in the analysis.

FINDINGS

We evaluated a total of 1,980 patients admitted to two hospitals during December 2019. Of these, 1,255 (63.4%) patients were prescribed a total of 2,108 antimicrobials. Among antimicrobials prescribed, 722 (34.3%) were third-generation cephalosporins, the most commonly prescribed antimicrobial class. A total of 940 (44.6%) antimicrobials were prescribed for community-acquired infection, and 724 (34.3%) for surgical prophylaxis. Of 2,108 antimicrobials, 317 (15.0%) were prescribed for gastrointestinal tract prophylaxis, 305 (14.5%) for skin, soft tissue, bone and joint prophylaxis, and 303 (14.4%) for pneumonia treatment. A stop or review date was documented for 350 (16.6%) antimicrobial prescriptions, 673 (31.9%) antimicrobial prescriptions were guideline compliant, and 1,335 (63.3%) antimicrobials were administered via the parenteral route. Of 1,083 antimicrobials prescribed for a therapeutic use, 221 (20.4%) were targeted therapy.

CONCLUSION

Our findings underscore the need to update and expand evidence-based guidelines for antimicrobial use, promote the benefits of targeted antimicrobial therapy, and support the implementation of hospital-based antimicrobial stewardship programmes at the hospitals surveyed.