Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of Latin American healthcare workers relating to antibiotic stewardship and antibiotic use: a cross-sectional multi-country study.

BACKGROUND: The burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Latin America is high. Little is known about healthcare workers' (HCWs) knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of antimicrobial stewardship (AS), AMR, and antibiotic use (AU) in the region. METHODS: HCWs from 42 hospitals from 5 Latin American countries were invited to take an electronic, voluntary, anonymous survey regarding knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of AS, AMR, and AU between March-April 2023. FINDINGS: Overall, 996 HCWs completed the survey (52% physicians, 32% nurses, 11% pharmacists, 3% microbiologists, and 2% "other"). More than 90% of respondents indicated optimizing AU was a priority at their healthcare facility (HCF), 69% stated the importance of AS was communicated at their HCF, and 23% were unfamiliar with the term "antibiotic stewardship". Most (> 95%) respondents acknowledged that appropriate AU can reduce AMR; however, few thought AU (< 30%) or AMR (< 50%) were a problem in their HCF. Lack of access to antibiogram and to locally endorsed guidelines was reported by 51% and 34% of HCWs, respectively. Among prescribers, 53% did not consider non-physicians' opinions to make antibiotic-related decisions, 22% reported not receiving education on how to select antibiotics based on culture results and 60% stated patients and families influence their antibiotic decisions. CONCLUSIONS: Although HCWs perceived improving AU as a priority, they did not perceive AU or AMR as a problem in their HCF. AS opportunities include improved access to guidelines, access to AMR/AU data, teamwork, and education on AS for HCWs and patients and families.

Deep Dive Into Gaps and Barriers to Implementation of Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs in Hospitals in Latin America.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance has worsened in Latin America. There is an urgent need to understand the development of antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) and the barriers to implementing effective ASPs in light of limited national action plans or policies to promote ASPs in the region. METHODS: We performed a descriptive mixed-methods study of ASPs in 5 Latin American countries in March-July 2022. An electronic questionnaire with an associated scoring system (hospital ASP self-assessment) was used, and ASP development was classified based on the scores (inadequate, 0-25; basic, 26-50; intermediate, 51-75; or advanced, 76-100). Interviews among healthcare workers (HCWs) involved in antimicrobial stewardship (AS) inquired about behavioral and organizational factors that influence AS activities. Interview data were coded into themes. Results from the ASP self-assessment and interviews were integrated to create an explanatory framework. RESULTS: Twenty hospitals completed the self-assessment, and 46 AS stakeholders from these hospitals were interviewed. ASP development was inadequate/basic in 35% of hospitals, intermediate in 50%, and advanced in 15%. For-profit hospitals had higher scores than not-for-profit hospitals. Interview data validated the self-assessment findings and provided further insight into ASP implementation challenges, which included limited formal hospital leadership support, inadequate staffing and tools to perform AS work more efficiently, limited awareness of AS principles by HCWs, and limited training opportunities. CONCLUSIONS: We identified several barriers to ASP development in Latin America, suggesting the need to create accurate business cases for ASPs to obtain the necessary funding for their effective implementation and sustainability.

Knowledge and compliance as factors associated with needlestick injuries contaminated with biological material: Brazil and Colombia. / Conhecimento e adesão como fatores associados a acidentes com agulhas contaminadas com material biológico: Brasil e Colômbia.

This was a cross-sectional study to start a cohort in two University Hospitals of two countries - Brazil and Colombia - for assessing the prevalence of needlestick and sharps injuries (NSI), the level of compliance with standard precautions (SPs), and knowledge on blood borne pathogens and associated factors among health students and professionals, within the framework of the implementation of the NR-32 standard. We created compliance scales based on 12 and 10 questions, for assessing knowledge. We used the Multinomial Poisson-Tweedie Regression to evaluate the relationship between knowledge and compliance with SPs within NSI. We evaluated 965 individuals (348 students and 614 professionals). The mean score points for level of knowledge was 10.98, with a median of 11 (10; 12) and α-Cr of 0,625. Compliance with SP had a mean of 30.74 and median of 31 (28; 34), with a α-Cr coefficient of 0.745, associated with country, group (student) and risk perception. Among the factors associated with the report of NSI, we singled out knowledge and compliance, country of origin, and full vaccination scheme against the Hepatitis B virus. We concluded that the level of knowledge and compliance were adequate among participants, but better among Brazilian participants, and it was associated with NSI reporting.

Fizemos estudo transversal para iniciar coorte em dois Hospitais Universitários de dois países - Brasil e Colômbia - para avaliar a prevalência de acidentes com material biológico (AT-MB), o nível de adesão às Precauções Padrão (PP) e o conhecimento sobre patógenos transmissíveis pelo sangue e fatores associados entre trabalhadores e estudantes da saúde, no marco da implementação da norma NR-32. Criamos escalas para estimar conhecimento e adesão baseadas em 12 e 11 perguntas respectivamente. Utilizamos Regressão de Poisson-Tweedie para avaliar a associação do conhecimento e da adesão às PP com sofrer AT-MB. Avaliamos 965 indivíduos (348 estudantes e 617 profissionais). O conhecimento teve média de 10,98 com mediana de 11 (10, 12) e α-Cr de 0,625. A média de adesão foi de 30,74 com mediana de 31 (28, 34) e α-Cr de 0,745, associando-se a País, grupo (estudantes) e percepção de risco. Entre os fatores associadas ao relato de AT-MB encontraram-se o conhecimento, a adesão às PP, País de origem e ter tomado o esquema completo de vacinação contra Hepatites B. Concluímos que o nível de conhecimento e adesão foram adequados, ainda melhores entre os participantes do Brasil e associaram-se ao relato AT-MB.

Hicimos estudio transversal como punto de partida de estudio de cohorte en dos Hospitales Universitarios en dos países - Brasil y Colombia - para evaluar la prevalencia de accidentes con material biológico (AT-MB), el nivel de adhesión a las Precauciones Estándares (PUs) y el conocimiento sobre patógenos transmisibles y factores asociados entre trabajadores y estudiantes de la Salud en el marco de la implementación de la norma NR-32. Creamos escalas para evaluar el conocimiento y la adhesión con base en 12 e 11 preguntas respectivamente. Utilizamos Regresión de Poisson-Tweedie para evaluar asociación entre el conocimiento y la adhesión a las PUs con sufrir AT-MB. Evaluamos 965 individuos (348 estudiantes e 617 profesionales). El puntaje medio de conocimiento fue 10,98 con mediana de 11 (10, 12) y α-Cr de 0,625. La media de adhesión fue de 30,74 con mediana de 31 (28, 34) e α-Cr de 0,745, asociándose a país, grupo (estudiantes) e percepción de riesgo. Entre los factores asociados al relato de AT-MB encontramos conocimiento, adhesión a las PUs, país de origen y tener el esquema completo de vacunación contra Virus da Hepatitis B. Concluimos que el nivel de conocimiento y adhesión fueron adecuados, aunque mejores entre los participantes del Brasil y se asociaron a los AT-MB.

Conhecimento e adesão como fatores associados a acidentes com agulhas contaminadas com material biológico: Brasil e Colômbia / Knowledge and compliance as factors associated with needlestick injuries contaminated with biological material: Brazil and Colombia / Conocimiento y adhesión como factores asociados a los accidentes con agujas contaminadas con material biológico: Brasil y Colombia

Resumo Fizemos estudo transversal para iniciar coorte em dois Hospitais Universitários de dois países - Brasil e Colômbia - para avaliar a prevalência de acidentes com material biológico (AT-MB), o nível de adesão às Precauções Padrão (PP) e o conhecimento sobre patógenos transmissíveis pelo sangue e fatores associados entre trabalhadores e estudantes da saúde, no marco da implementação da norma NR-32. Criamos escalas para estimar conhecimento e adesão baseadas em 12 e 11 perguntas respectivamente. Utilizamos Regressão de Poisson-Tweedie para avaliar a associação do conhecimento e da adesão às PP com sofrer AT-MB. Avaliamos 965 indivíduos (348 estudantes e 617 profissionais). O conhecimento teve média de 10,98 com mediana de 11 (10, 12) e α-Cr de 0,625. A média de adesão foi de 30,74 com mediana de 31 (28, 34) e α-Cr de 0,745, associando-se a País, grupo (estudantes) e percepção de risco. Entre os fatores associadas ao relato de AT-MB encontraram-se o conhecimento, a adesão às PP, País de origem e ter tomado o esquema completo de vacinação contra Hepatites B. Concluímos que o nível de conhecimento e adesão foram adequados, ainda melhores entre os participantes do Brasil e associaram-se ao relato AT-MB.

Abstract This was a cross-sectional study to start a cohort in two University Hospitals of two countries - Brazil and Colombia - for assessing the prevalence of needlestick and sharps injuries (NSI), the level of compliance with standard precautions (SPs), and knowledge on blood borne pathogens and associated factors among health students and professionals, within the framework of the implementation of the NR-32 standard. We created compliance scales based on 12 and 10 questions, for assessing knowledge. We used the Multinomial Poisson-Tweedie Regression to evaluate the relationship between knowledge and compliance with SPs within NSI. We evaluated 965 individuals (348 students and 614 professionals). The mean score points for level of knowledge was 10.98, with a median of 11 (10; 12) and α-Cr of 0,625. Compliance with SP had a mean of 30.74 and median of 31 (28; 34), with a α-Cr coefficient of 0.745, associated with country, group (student) and risk perception. Among the factors associated with the report of NSI, we singled out knowledge and compliance, country of origin, and full vaccination scheme against the Hepatitis B virus. We concluded that the level of knowledge and compliance were adequate among participants, but better among Brazilian participants, and it was associated with NSI reporting.

Resumen Hicimos estudio transversal como punto de partida de estudio de cohorte en dos Hospitales Universitarios en dos países - Brasil y Colombia - para evaluar la prevalencia de accidentes con material biológico (AT-MB), el nivel de adhesión a las Precauciones Estándares (PUs) y el conocimiento sobre patógenos transmisibles y factores asociados entre trabajadores y estudiantes de la Salud en el marco de la implementación de la norma NR-32. Creamos escalas para evaluar el conocimiento y la adhesión con base en 12 e 11 preguntas respectivamente. Utilizamos Regresión de Poisson-Tweedie para evaluar asociación entre el conocimiento y la adhesión a las PUs con sufrir AT-MB. Evaluamos 965 individuos (348 estudiantes e 617 profesionales). El puntaje medio de conocimiento fue 10,98 con mediana de 11 (10, 12) y α-Cr de 0,625. La media de adhesión fue de 30,74 con mediana de 31 (28, 34) e α-Cr de 0,745, asociándose a país, grupo (estudiantes) e percepción de riesgo. Entre los factores asociados al relato de AT-MB encontramos conocimiento, adhesión a las PUs, país de origen y tener el esquema completo de vacunación contra Virus da Hepatitis B. Concluimos que el nivel de conocimiento y adhesión fueron adecuados, aunque mejores entre los participantes del Brasil y se asociaron a los AT-MB.