An Evaluation of the Knowledge, Attitude, and Behaviour to Pharmacovigilance in the Use of Antibiotics of Students in the Health Sciences Field

Background: Antibiotic resistance is a major problem worldwide. Misuse of antibiotics increases bacterial resistance. Therefore, pharmacovigilance education may contribute to rational antibiotic use. Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and behaviour about pharmacovigilance in the use of antibiotics of university students in the field of Health Sciences and to determine related factors. Method: This cross-sectional study was derived from a population of 2111 students in the field of Health Sciences during the 2019-2020 academic year. Using a simple randomization method, the sample included 1006 students who volunteered to participate in the study. Results: A total of 682 (67.8%) students reported that they had used antibiotics within the last 6 months and only 1 in 5 (20%) of the students had recommended others to use any antibiotic. According to the level of knowledge about antibiotic use, 64.2% of students considered antibiotics appropriate for viral infections. Recovery from coughs and colds was not thought to be accelerated by antibiotics according to 30.1% of the students, whereas half stated that they completed the antibiotic dose in treatment even if they felt well. Unused antibiotics were reported to remain in the home by 56.5% of the students. A statistically significant difference was determined between the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours about antibiotic use of students who had and had not received education about pharmacovigilance. Conclusion: The provision of pharmacovigilance education in all university departments and programs would make a positive contribution to rational drug use

Which Micro-Organisms are Transferred by Healthcare Personnel Between Hospital and Home?

Introduction: The most important factor in the spread of hospital infections is the hands of healthcare personnel. The aim of ths study was to determine which micro-organisms are transferred from home to hospital, and which from hospital to home, by the hands of healthcare personnel. Material and Methods: The sample universe of this research was the healthcare personnel in a tertiary level public hospital. A total of 10 doctors and 53 nurses, selected at random according to the clinics where they worked, were included. The study data were collected in two stages. In the first stage, the study participants completed a personal information form. In the second stage, samples were taken from the right and left hands of the healthcare personnel on entering and leaving the hospital. The samples were isolated and seeded in culture media. Bacteria identification and antibiotic sensitivity were determined using a BD Phoenix 100 automated system. Results: According to the samples taken, there was determined to be greater bacteria production on the hands of the healthcare personnel when entering the hospital. The greatest production was in the least washed area of the right hand (93.7% on entry, 74.6% on exit). Nurses and those working in surgical clinics were seen to have greater bacteria production on both entry to and exit from the hospital compared to other healthcare workers. The bacteria most produced were MSSE, Micrococcus, Staphylococcus strains, Streptococcus strains and MRSE. In the examination of antibiotic sensitivity, the antibiotics to which the produced bacteria were most sensitive were amikacin, ciprofloxacin, daptomycin, gentamicin levoflaxocin, teicoplanin, linezolid teicoplanin, trimetoprim/sulfamethoxazole and vancomycin. Conclusion: The study results showed that just as healthcare personnel transferred some micro-organisms from home to hospital on their hands, they also transferred some bacteria to home on leaving the hospital. This is of great importance in respect of the spread of hospital infections. With the necessary precautions taken to prevent the transfer of micro-organisms to or from hospital, the prevalence of hospital infections will decrease. Keywords: Healthcare personnel, Micro-organisms, Antibiotic resistance, Hand DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/110-04 Publication date:August 31st 202

Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococci Isolated From Various Clinical Specimens of Inpatients in Intensive Care Units: A 4-year Evaluation

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the change in methicillin resistance and antibiotic susceptibility of staphylococcal strains isolated from various clinical samples of patients hospitalized in intensive care units over the years. Materials and Methods: A total of 5144 staphylococcal strains isolated from various clinical specimens of inpatients in intensive care units in a university health practice and research hospital medical microbiology laboratory between January 2018 and December 2021 were (96.51%) included in the study. Bacteria identification and antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed using conventional methods and an automated systems. Results: Of the total 5144 staphylococci strains, 4503 were identified as coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) (87.54%) and 641 as Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (12.46%). Of these strains, 1451 (28.21%) were isolated from anesthesiology and reanimation intensive care unit, and 4573 (88.90%) from blood samples. The most dramatic increase in both S. aureus and CNS in 2021 occurred in levofloxacin (S. aureus 100%; CNS 99.45%) and ciprofloxacin (S. aureus 100%; CNS 98.54%). While a high rate of resistance to fusidic acid (96.51%) was observed in CNSs, the resistance, which was over 65% in S. aureus strains, decreased significantly (5.40%) in 2021. The lowest antibiotic resistance was in daptomycin, linezolid, and teicoplanin in both bacterial groups. Methicillin resistance, which was 62.31% in 2018 in S. aureus strains, decreased to 33.10% in 2021, while it decreased from 86.68% to 75.06% in CNSs. The rate of resistance to all the examined antibiotics were found to be significantly higher in CNSs. Conclusion: To prevent the development of resistance, antimicrobial resistance profiles should be determined through effective surveillance studies, and each hospital should establish its own antibiotic use policy. Additionally, it is important to ensure the rational use of antibiotics and to take effective infection control measures

Phenotypic and Genotypic Determination of Antibiotic Resistances of Some Clinical Staphylococcus aureus Isolates

Introduction: Staphylococcus aureus is a dangerous pathogen causing serious illnesses. The acquisitions of antibiotic resistance genes has largely led to the problem of finding effective treatments. This study was carried out to evaluate the relationship between the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of some antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes in S. aureus isolates obtained from various clinical samples of patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 clinical S. aureus isolates were subjected to the antimicrobial susceptibility test. The genes associated with resistance to oxacilline (mecA), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) (dfrA), erythromycin, clindamycin (ermA, ermB, ermC and msrA), quinupristin-dalfopristin (vatA, vatB, vatC) and ciprofloxacin (gyrA, gyrB) were investigated by PCR amplification. Results: Methicillin resistance ratio of one hundred S. aureus isolates was found 19%, and all of these isolates were carrying the mecA gene. Only 1% of the isolates were phenotypically resistant to TMP-SMX and carrying the dfrA gene. Erythromycin resistance ratio was found 26% phenotypically and 6% of the isolates were carrying both the ermA and the ermC genes, and 22% of them were carrying only the ermC gene. None of the isolates carried the ermB and msrA genes. None of the isolates was phenotypically resistant to quinupristin-dalfopristin and carried vatA, vatB, vatC resistance genes. All isolates were carrying the gyrA and gyrB resistance genes, but 6% of the isolates were phenotypically resistant to ciprofloxacin. Conclusion: According to the acquired results, phenotypic antibiotic susceptibility test results were partially similar to molecular observation. In pathogenic organisms, the use of rapid and reliable methods for determining antibiotic susceptibility is important in determining appropriate treatment outcomes. When biochemical methods and molecular approaches were combined, more accurate and reliable results were observed in a short time