Antimicrobial and Antibiotic Resistance from the Perspective of Polish Veterinary Students: An Inter-University Study.

The phenomenon of antibiotic resistance is a global problem that affects the use of antibiotics by humans and animal husbandry. One of the primary reasons for the growing phenomenon of antibiotic resistance is the over-prescription of antibiotics by doctors in human medicine and the overuse of antibiotics in industrial animal farming. Adequate education of veterinary medical students on the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry may reduce antibiotic resistance. For this reason, a survey was conducted among students at four primary research and didactic centers teaching veterinary medicine in Poland. The survey aimed to find out the knowledge and attitude of students towards the use of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. The survey was conducted in May/June 2021. Four hundred and sixty-seven students participated in the study. The study positively verified that antibiotics and antibiotic resistance knowledge increase with successive years of veterinary studies/education. For most students (82.2%), antibiotic resistance is a significant problem, but only 58.7% believe it is global, and one in three respondents heard about the One Health approach.

Knowledge-Based Attitudes of Medical Students in Antibiotic Therapy and Antibiotic Resistance. A Cross-Sectional Study.

We aimed to evaluate the knowledge-based attitudes of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance among medical students of Medical University of Warsaw using the questionnaire prepared by the study's authors. In May-June 2018, we carried out a cross-sectional study among the students of all years, embracing 291 respondents. The students were divided into two groups: A (students in their first to third years) and B (students in their fourth to sixth years). Our study has shown that students are aware of the dangers of antibiotic resistance, seeing the leading cause as antibiotic misuse. We have shown that they are also aware of their insufficient knowledge and believe that more antibiotic therapy classes should be included in the curriculum of Medical University of Warsaw. Our questionnaire also focused on attitudes towards antibiotics based on knowledge. One in four respondents (23.7%), based on their knowledge, negated antibiotic therapy ordered by a doctor in the event of their illness, and four in ten (40.9%) in the occurrence of disease of a family member or friend. The vast majority of students (92.4%) would like to broaden their knowledge on antibiotic therapy. However, only one-fifth of students have heard about the European Antibiotic Awareness Day campaign. We recommend increasing the number of hours on antibiotic therapy and resistance education combined with topics on hand hygiene.

Knowledge of antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance amongst final year dental students of Polish medical schools-A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Antimicrobial resistance has been one of the biggest global concerns. Dentists constitute an important group of antibiotic prescribers, and it was shown that their therapeutic decisions are not always rational. In this paper, we present knowledge of antibiotics prescription rules and antimicrobial resistance amongst graduating dentistry students from all dentistry faculties of medical universities in Poland, who will soon join the group of antibiotics prescribers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire consisting of 28 questions was developed. The survey was conducted in May-June 2015. RESULTS: The study group comprised a total of 752 students. About 54% expressed the opinion that dentists overprescribe antibiotics. One-tenth thought that they can be used for the treatment of flu (7%) and common cold (11%). Respondents pointed to amoxicillin (46%) and clindamycin (44%) as the first-choice treatment of dentoalveolar abscess, if medically indicated. More than half of the students (58%) suggested using doxycycline and metronidazole in aggressive periodontitis in an individual allergic to penicillin. The vast majority of students (97%) indicated that penicillins and cephalosporins were suitable for treatment of dental infections in pregnant women. The majority of participants (82%) said that rheumatic disease, chronic immunosuppression, chronic kidney failure and a history of infective endocarditis required a prophylactic administration of antibiotics before or during endodontic treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The research showed variable levels of understanding of antibiotics use amongst dental students in medical universities in Poland. Our results emphasise the need to educate dental students further regarding antibiotics and risks related to antibiotic misuse, especially in dental practice.

Surveys of public knowledge and attitudes with regard to antibiotics in Poland: Did the European Antibiotic Awareness Day campaigns change attitudes?

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance is a global public health problem. Monitoring the level of knowledge regarding antibiotics is a part of the European Union Community strategy against antimicrobial resistance. OBJECTIVE: To assess knowledge by the general public in Poland regarding antibiotics, AMR, and the impact of the European Antibiotic Awareness Day campaigns. METHODS: The repeated cross-sectional study was developed and carried out among the general public in Poland (in 5 waves between 2009 and 2011, embracing a total of 5004 respondents). The survey was based on a self-designed questionnaire, and carried out by Millward Brown SMG/KRC, using Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI). RESULTS: A high percentage of Polish adults had used antibiotics within the 12 months preceding their participation in the study (38%). Statistically relevant differences were observed regarding the respondents' gender, age, education and employment status. The majority of the antibiotics used were prescribed by physicians (90%). In all five waves, 3% of the respondents purchased an antibiotic without a prescription. Prescriptions were mostly obtained from a general practitioner. The prevailing reasons for taking antibiotics were the common cold, sore throat, cough and flu. Approximately 40% of the respondents expected a prescription for an antibiotic against the flu. The vast majority knew that antibiotics kill bacteria (80%) but at the same time 60% of respondents believed antibiotics kill viruses. Physicians, pharmacists, hospital staff and nurses were mentioned as the most trustworthy sources of information. A third of the respondents declared to have come across information on the prudent use of antibiotics in the preceding 12 months. In the fifth wave, nearly half of the participants (48%), who had come across information about antibiotics in the preceding 12 months declared that the information resulted in a change in their attitude towards antibiotic use. CONCLUSION: The survey generated information about the knowledge, attitude, and behavior regarding antibiotics among the general population of Poland. Inappropriate antibiotic use is still highly prevalent in Poland, although a positive trend in behavioral change was observed after the educational campaigns. Additional didactic and systematic education campaigns regarding appropriate antibiotic use are needed and the use of the Internet as an education tool should be enhanced.

Polish Physicians' Attitudes Towards Antibiotic Prescription and Antimicrobial Resistance.

Antimicrobial resistance has been one of the biggest global current issues in medicine and public health. Overuse and imprudent use of antimicrobial agents are recognized as one of the leading causes of antibiotic resistance. The aim of this study was to analyze the attitudes of Polish physicians practicing at the community level towards antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance. The majority of physicians taking part in the survey believed that Polish people overuse antibiotics (98%). Most physicians (91%) considered that antimicrobial resistance is a major problem at present. The majority of physicians indicated the reasons for prescribing the antibiotic are related to health factors, such as optimal recovery (best effectiveness, least side effects) (80%), latest therapeutic guidelines (70%) and microbiological/epidemiological factors (63%). Knowledge of the National Recommendations for the management of Community-Acquired Respiratory Tract Infections 2010 (NR-CA-RTI) developed within National Programme for Protection of Antibiotics was declared by 84% of respondents. Among those who are aware of the NR-CA-RTI, the majority follow them in their daily practice (91%). Among physicians, 62% are not familiar with the Centor/McIsaac scores used to differentiate bacterial and viral infections in patients presenting with a sore throat. Among physicians familiar with the scores, 90% use them in their daily practice. Rapid microbiological detection methods for Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis are used only by 20% of respondents. Almost all of physicians declared readiness to use these tests. Main sources of information on antibiotics prescribing originate from Polish medical journals, scientific conferences organized by medical societies, pharmaceutical companies.

[European Antibiotic Awareness Day educational campaign--has it changed public attitudes to antibiotic use in Poland?]. / Kampania edukacyjna Europejski Dzien Wiedzy o Antybiotykach--czy wplynela na zmiane postaw spoleczenstwa w Polsce?

UNLABELLED: Widespread inappropriate antibiotic use is a global concern for public health care. That is why national and international antibiotic resistance control strategies recommend education of health-care professionals and the public to promote prudent antibiotic use. This paper show the effect of the 2009 public antibiotic campaign in Poland on the knowledge and social attitudes towards use of antibiotics. The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge and behaviour models of Polish people regarding antibiotics, recommendations for their use as well as sources of information on antibiotics. At the same time the study was aimed at assessing whether actions undertaken during educational campaigns resulted in growing knowledge on the subject of antibiotic use or a change in attitudes towards this group of medicines. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A two-stage survey was carried out from October to December 2009 based on 14 self prepared questions. The survey was carried out by Millward Brown SMG/KRC on the representative sample of 1000 people using CATI - Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews. RESULTS: In Poland there is still a high percentage of people taking antibiotics. 37% of Polish people used an antibiotic in the last 12 months. Most Polish people--88% use an antibiotic prescribed by a doctor. At the same time Polish people receive antibiotics due to viral infections which should not be treated thus. The results of the survey show that almost half of adult Poles would expect to have an antibiotic prescribed in case of a flu. Over half of Polish people believe that antibiotics kill viruses. Over 1/3 of recipients, who have come across information on prudent use of antibiotics (mostly due to National Program for Antibiotics Protection) claimed to have changed their behavior model regarding this group of medicines. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that further and systematic education regarding appropriate antibiotic use is needed.

[European Antibiotic Awareness Day--why needed?]. / Europejski dzien wiedzy o antybiotykach--dlaczego potrzebny?

Antibiotic resistance is a major European and global public health problem. There are a number of reasons for its emergence; however, the main reasons are the excessive and improper use of this group of antimicrobial drugs. Several recommendations on the prudent use of antibiotics have been developed by various national and intemational authorities. The main message is to use them more responsibly and rationally, since the very dynamic emergence and spread of resistant microorganisms, plus a lack of new antimicrobial drugs in the pipelines of pharmaceutical companies, may result in our inability to treat infections successfully in the near future. To strengthen the message on prudent use, an initiative of the ECDC resulted in a decision by the European Commission to establish the 18th of November as European Antibiotic Awareness Day every year.

Hospital antibiotic management in Poland--results of the ABS maturity survey of the ABS International group.

BACKGROUND: The increasing incidence of antibiotic resistance is a serious worldwide problem, as underlined by European Union documents. The project ABS International has been appointed to identify strengths and weaknesses of hospitals with regard to issues related to antibiotic policy. METHODS: The questionnaire "ABS hospital mature" was developed within the study to analyze the ABS-related maturities in nine member states of the EU. Several fields of antibiotic strategy in hospitals were explored. In Poland the questionnaire was sent to over 100 hospitals and the responses were delivered to the National Medicines Institute (the project representative in Poland) via the internet. MAIN FINDINGS: The hospitals involved represented three referral levels according to services provided. Within the hospital, the questionnaire was filled out by a microbiologist or an infectious disease specialist. Within the examined fields there were no serious differences between the referral levels. Microbial diagnostics obtained the highest score, whereas "antibiotic-related relationships" and "antibiotic-related personnel development" ranked lowest. Maturity in the field of the antibiotic strategy differs among Polish hospitals. The highest score in the general assessment was assigned to hospitals at secondary referral level. Knowledge on issues of antibiotic resistance and microbiological services and procedures obtained the highest score but its implementation was not sufficient. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest a need to increase the number of specialists in antibiotic usage and policy, and to improve collaboration within and between hospitals.