Güran Mümtaz, Ali Ömer Barış, Ceylanlı Ekin, İyican Muharrem, Tepretmez Laden, Kuşi Dilara, Aktürk İpek Ü
Faculty of Medicine, Eastern Mediterranean University, Famagusta, N. Cyprus via Mersin 10, Turkey.
J Infect Dev Ctries. 2024 Dec 31;18(12.1):S310-S317. doi: 10.3855/jidc.19595.
The global healthcare system faced unparalleled challenges during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, potentially reshaping antibiotic usage trends. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, perceptions, and observations of community pharmacists concerning antibiotic utilization during and after the pandemic; and offer crucial insights into its impact on antibiotic usage patterns and infection dynamics.
This cross-sectional study involved 162 community pharmacists in Northern Cyprus. Data were gathered via a structured survey, including pharmacist demographics, antibiotic knowledge, perceptions of antibiotic resistance, and observations on antibiotic misuse during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The data were analyzed by biostatistical methods.
Over 90% of pharmacists demonstrated high awareness of antibiotic overuse and resistance. The average antibiotic use knowledge score was 5.09/7. The majority expressed interest in further education (85.2%) and participation in campaigns (96.9%) to promote appropriate antibiotic use. Notably, 87.7% of participants observed an increase in respiratory infections post pandemic, and 45.7% reported administering more antibiotics, reflecting heightened demand. Furthermore, 63.6% noted increased demand for unprescribed antibiotics, while 45.7% expressed concerns about potential neglect of the antibiotic resistance issue as a consequence of the pandemic.
The study highlights critical changes in antibiotic dispensing patterns among community pharmacists during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The results here underscore the pivotal role of pharmacists in antibiotic stewardship, advocating for ongoing education, and stricter prescription regulations to optimize antibiotic use and combat resistance.
在2019年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行期间，全球医疗保健系统面临着前所未有的挑战，这可能会重塑抗生素的使用趋势。本研究旨在评估社区药剂师在大流行期间及之后对抗生素使用的知识、看法和观察结果；并深入了解其对抗生素使用模式和感染动态的影响。
这项横断面研究涉及北塞浦路斯的162名社区药剂师。通过结构化调查收集数据，包括药剂师的人口统计学信息、抗生素知识、对抗生素耐药性的看法以及对COVID-19大流行期间及之后抗生素滥用情况的观察。采用生物统计学方法对数据进行分析。
超过90%的药剂师对抗生素过度使用和耐药性表现出高度认识。抗生素使用知识平均得分是5.09/7。大多数人表示有兴趣参加进一步的教育（85.2%）和参与宣传活动（96.9%）以促进抗生素的合理使用。值得注意的是，87.7%的参与者观察到大流行后呼吸道感染有所增加，45.7%的人报告使用了更多抗生素，这反映出需求增加。此外，63.6%的人指出非处方抗生素的需求增加，而45.7%的人担心大流行可能导致抗生素耐药性问题被忽视。
该研究突出了COVID-19大流行期间及之后社区药剂师抗生素配药模式的关键变化。这里的结果强调了药剂师在抗生素管理中的关键作用，倡导持续教育和更严格的处方规定，以优化抗生素使用并对抗耐药性。
