Infectious disease specialists’ knowledge of antibiotic governance and activities related to the use of antibiotics in hospitals

Abstract

Objective: In our country, the use of antibiotics has been limited and Infectious Disease Specialist (ID) approval for the use of several antibiotics have been compulsory. The aims of this study are to identify the effectiveness of Infectious Disease Specialists on antibiotic policy and their judgement for antibiotic governance. Materials and Method:A survey was created for the study. The surveys were filled in two different ways. The first way was by e-mailing the online survey link to the members of the Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Specialty Society of Turkey (EKMUD) between March and April 2017 through Google Drive. The other way was in May 2018 during the EKMUD congrees, when the surveys were given to the ID participants for them to fill. An additional question to the congrees survey form was added about whether the survey answerer had filled the online form before or not. The responses were collected accordingly. Results: A total of 231 surveys were used in the study. Of these, 69.3% were members of Infection Control Committee and 64.9% were working at a university hospital. 60.6% of responders thought that they took enough responsibility for antibiotic use. The one out of third of the rest expressed using antibiotics that didn't require ID approval after the drugs that required approval were denied for use, which was followed by the distribution of such antibiotics in the hospital pharmacy without ID approval 2.1%). 47.2% thought they were competent in antimicrobial stewardship both theoretically and in practical life. 117 (50.6%), surveyors believed they had room for improvement, and 5 (2.2%) found themseles inadequate. When comparing according to the employees and non-employees in a university hospital or the Infection Control Comittee members and non-members, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) between the answers to the question of being competent in antimicrobial stewardship both theoretically and in practical life. Conclusion: This study shows that infectious disease specialists need postgraduate education for antibiotic governance and that they are not fully equipped. A serious duty falls on the shoulders of associations and ID's.