Implications of antibiotic exposure among children in low-income and middle income countries

Günther Fink and colleagues are to be congratulated for their analysis of antibiotic exposure among children younger than 5 years in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) with a range of common illnesses, including cough, fever, diarrhoea, and malaria.1 The authors explain that their study1 is the first to use a robust method to comprehensively quantify cumulative antibiotic exposure among children in LMICs by obtaining nationally representative data from surveys of households and formal-sector health-care facilities. Quantifying exposure is important, as previous surveys have only had limited coverage in low-income settings, particularly in sub-Saharan African countries, which have the highest incidence of infectious diseases globally.2,3 However, quantifying true antibiotic use in LMICs might be difficult if antibiotics are frequently purchased without a prescription due to issues with affordability and access. Obtaining antibiotics in this way accounts for up to 93% of all antibiotics dispensed in some LMICs.4,5 The remaining 7% or more include antibiotics obtained from ambulatory care and inpatient hospital care.2 Antimicrobial resistance is a growing publi

Liver enzyme elevations in a cohort of HIV/AIDS patients on first-line antiretroviral therapy in Namibia: Findings and implications

Introduction: All antiretroviral therapies (ARTs) are potentially toxic to the liver. In sub-Saharan Africa, the rising incidence of ART induced adverse events has complicated treatment leading to recent revisions of Namibian ART guidelines. Unfortunately there have been limited studies to date evaluating ART induced liver injury in Namibia to guide further revisions if needed. Objective: Determine the current patterns and grades of ALT elevation in Namibia’s HIV/AIDS. Methods: Retrospective cohort analysis. Patterns of alanine amino transferase (ALT) liver enzyme elevation were determined in a cohort of ART naïve HIV patients on firstline ART regimen in a referral hospital in Namibia over a 1 year treatment period. Patterns of ALT changes at baseline, 3 months and 6 months were analyzed using ANOVA and Bonferroni test for pairwise comparisons. Results: Of 79 eligible patients, 72 developed significant ALT elevation within 3 months of ART initiation (F (3, 76) = 6.4, p = 0.002, η2 = 0.193). Four 4 (5.6%) and 1 (1.38%) patient respectively developed grade 2 and grade 3 ALT elevation by month 3. There was no significant difference between mean ALT levels at baseline and month 6. A CD4 count of <350 cells/mm3; female gender and age over 40 years were the main factors associated with moderate or severe ALT elevation. Conclusions: First line ART commonly induces mild self-limiting liver enzyme elevation in Namibian HIV patients especially in the first 3 months. Consequently, there is a need to monitor ALT levels for at least 3 months after initiation mainly in high risk patients to reduce side-effect concerns. This is already happening

Proactive risk assessment of vincristine use process in a teaching and referral hospital in Kenya

Background: The chemotherapy use process is considered as potentially risky for cancer patients due to its complex process, use of agents with narrow therapeutic indeces, multiple drug use and use of potentially toxic compounds adding to morbidity and mortality for patients with cancer. Vincristine, a "High Alert" medicine, has been associated with fatal but preventable medication errors. Objective: To determine hazards associated with vincristine use process by performing proactive risk assessments using Healthcare Failure Mode Effect Analysis (HFMEA). Methods: A multidisciplinary health team identified and evaluated potential failure modes based on vincristine use process flow diagram using a hazard scoring matrix in a leading referral hospital in Kenya treating patients with cancer. The hazard score matrix was based on the published literature. Failure modes were prioritized using decision tree analysis in which recommendations to counteract the risks were determined. Results: The processes evaluated were; prescribing, preparation and dispensing, transportation and storage, administration and monitoring of use. A total of 77 failure modes were identified over the 3 months period of the study, April to June 2017, of which 25 were classified as high risk. Thirteen were adequately covered by existing control measures while the other 12 required the development of mitigation strategies. Two of the 12 failure modes were single-point weaknesses. Conclusions: Multiple medication errors, some with serious consequences, can occur at each stage of the chemotherapy use process making it a high-risk process. HFMEA is a useful tool to identify improvements to medication safety and reduce patient harm. The HFMEA process brings together the multidisciplinary team involved in patient care in actively identifying potential failure modes and therefore owning the recommendations made. This is now being followed up

Development of a web-based application to improve data collection for antimicrobial point prevalence surveys in the public health care system in South Africa; findings and implications

Background: Surveillance of antimicrobial use is one of the main recommended strategies in combating growing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) rates and a key part of developing pertinent policies and initiatives to reduce growing AMR rates in South Africa and wider. However, determining antimicrobial utilisation at a patient-level among public hospitals in South Africa can be a challenge given personnel and resource constraints. There are also currently no standardized data collection tools. Most countries in Africa currently undertake antimicrobial utilisation surveillance using paper-based data collection tools including point prevalence surveys (PPS). Unfortunately, paper-based systems have disadvantages including the time taken to complete the forms and analyse the findings, increasing costs and manpower hurdles. Electronic tools offer many advantages including mobile and real time data collection and also the opportunity for rapid analytics. Objectives: Develop and test a web-based application (APP) for future PPS studies to successfully address identified challenges. Methods: A web based application (APP) was developed based on previous PPS in Botswana and South Africa using a paper-based data collection tool and tested during July 2017 in a leading public hospital in South Africa. The developed APP was also evaluated for data quality by measuring the number of errors, work flow, and time taken for the survey versus the previous paper-based system. User acceptance was also measured via a questionnaire to the data collectors. Results: A total of 187 patients' files were surveyed in this leading hospital using the APP whilst also documenting the challenges and areas of improvement for the APP. The identified areas of improvement have now been incorporated into the revised APP for future studies. The data collectors agreed that surveying the patients' files took appreciably less time with the APP compared to the paper based tool, and should be used in the future. In addition, data analysis was hastened using the APP. Conclusions: The APP development process has been successful and the APP is a potential tool for future PPS in South Africa and wider. The APP methodology is now being tested in new studies across South Africa to help instigate pertinent educational and other interventions to improve the future use of antimicrobials among public hospitals in South Africa

Fixed dose drug combinations - are they pharmacoeconomically sound? Findings and implications especially for lower- and middle-income countries.

Introduction: There are positive aspects regarding the prescribing of fixed dose combinations (FDCs) versus prescribing the medicines separately. However, these have to be balanced against concerns including increased costs and their irrationality in some cases. Consequently, there is a need to review their value among lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs) which have the greatest prevalence of both infectious and noninfectious diseases and issues of affordability.Areas covered: Review of potential advantages, disadvantages, cost-effectiveness, and availability of FDCs in high priority disease areas in LMICs and possible initiatives to enhance the prescribing of valued FDCs and limit their use where there are concerns with their value.Expert commentary: FDCs are valued across LMICs. Advantages include potentially improved response rates, reduced adverse reactions, increased adherence rates, and reduced costs. Concerns include increased chances of drug:drug interactions, reduced effectiveness, potential for imprecise diagnoses and higher unjustified prices. Overall certain FDCs including those for malaria, tuberculosis, and hypertension are valued and listed in the country's essential medicine lists, with initiatives needed to enhance their prescribing where currently low prescribing rates. Proposed initiatives include robust clinical and economic data to address the current paucity of pharmacoeconomic data. Irrational FDCs persists in some countries which are being addressed

Activities across Africa to improve antimicrobial utilisation and reduce AMR

There are concerns with current prescribing and dispensing of antimicrobials in Africa. Point prevalence studies in hospitals shown variable rates with high rates HIV in some. Variable ASPs, extended prophylaxis and high rates self purchasing in some